American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1861-08-03
LINcoLN's UsURPATloNs.
SPEECH OF
HON. C. L. vALLkADIGHAN, OF OHIO.
I'm the Z. y. House of Representative,
july 10, 1861. =


The bill to authorize the Secretary of the
Treasury to borrow, the credit of the
United States, sum not exceeding $780,
100000, being under consideration,
Mr.. Valiandigham said
Mr.. Chairman, in the constitution of the
United States, which the other day we swore
to support, and by the authority of which
we are assembled here to-day it is written
'sAll legislative powers herein granted
shall be vested in Congress of the United
States"
1t is further written, also, that the Con-
gress to which all legislative powers granted
are thus committed
"SEall make no law abridging the freedom
of speech or Of the press.''
And it is yet further written, in protection
ofSenators and Representatives in that free
dom of debate here, without which there
can be no liberty:
sThat for any speech or debate in either
House they shall not be questioned in any
other place"
Holding up the shield of the constitution,
and standing here in the place and with the
manhood of Representative of the people,
i propose to myself to-day the ancient free
dom ofspeech used within these walls; though
with somewhat more, l trust, of decency
and discretion than have been sometimes
exhibited here. Sir, do not propose to
discuss the direct questions of this civil war
in which we are engaged. Its present pros
ecution is foregone conclusion, and wise
man never wastes his strength on frnitless
enterprise. Ny position shall at present, for
the most part, be indicated by my votes and
by the resolutions and motions which may
submit But there many questions in
cident to the and to its prosecution,
about which have someW hat to say now.
Mr. Chairman, the President, IN the mes
sage before us, demands the extraordinary
loan of 500, 0,000-an amount nearly ten
times greater than the entire public debt,
State and Federal, at the close of the Revo-
luton in 1888, and four times as much as the
total expenditures during the three years
war with Great Britain in 1872.
Sir, that same constitution which again
hold up, and TO which gave my whole heart
and my utmost loyalty, commits to Congress
alone the power to borrow money and to fix
the purposes to which it shall be applied,
and expressly limits any appropriations to
the term of two years Zach Senator and
Representative, therefore, must judge fol
himself. upon his conscience and oath, and
before God and the country, of the Justice
and wisdom and policy OF the Presidents de-
mand, and whenever tEis House shall have
become but mere office wherein TO register
the DEGREES of the Executive, it will be high
time to abolish il. But have right, be-
iieve, sir, to say that however gentlemen
upon this side of the chamber may dIi1er
finally as to the war, we are Jet firmly and
inexorably united in one thing at least, and
that is the determination that our c--is-ights
and dIgnities and privileges as the represen-
tatives of the people shall be maintained IN
their spirit and to the very letter. And be
this as it may, l do know that there are some
here present who are resolved TO assert and
to exercise these rights, with becoming de-
Cency and moderation certainly, but at the
same time fully, freely, and at every hazard.
Sir il is an ancient and wise practice of
the English Commons, TO precede all votes
of supplies by an inquiry into abuses and
grievances, and esp 'cially into any infrae-
ton of the constitution and the laws by tue
Executive. Let us follow this safe practice.
We are now in the committee OF the whole
on the state of the Union, and in tie exer-
else of my right and my duty as Rep
resentative, and avaiing myself of the
latitude of debate allowed here, propose
to consi Ter the present state of the ma ion,
and supply also some few of tue many omis-
SONS of the President in his message before
Us. Sir, he has undertaken to give US in
formation of the State of the Union, as the
constitution requires him to do; and 1t was
bis duty, as an honest Executive, TO make
that information fall, impartial and complete,
iawyerly vindication of his own course OF
policy-a policy which has precipl tated US
into terrible and bloody revolution. lie
admits the fact; he admits that, to-day, we
are in the midst of general civil war, not
now mere petty insurrection, to be sup |
pressed in twenty days by proclamation |
and posse coaaitatus Of three months mil |
itia
Sir. it has been the misfortune of the I
n 1t, IL FL. -
totally and wholly underestimate the mag
nitude and character of the revolution with |
which he had to deal, or surely he never
would have ventured upon the wicked and
hazardous experiment of calling thirty mill |
lion of people to arms among themselves
without the counsel and authority Of Con-
gress. But when at last he found himself
hemmed in by the revolution, and this CITY
in danger, as he declares, and walked up thus,
rs the proclamation Of the 18th April proves
himself to have walked up, to the reality and
significance Of the movement, why did be
not forthwith assemble Congress, and throw
himself upon the wisdom and patriotism Of
tho representatives of the States and of the
people, instead of usurping powers which the
consfitutiop has expressly conferred upon us7
az, sir, and powers which Congress had but
little while before repeatedly and emphat-
ically refused to exercise, or to permit him
to. exerclse- But shall recur to this point
again. Ka
Sir, the President, ip his message, has nm
derfaken also to give Us . summary Of the
causes which have led to this present revo-
lutfoa He has made out . case-he might,
in ny Judgment, have made out much
stfoneee ouse--axainst the secessionists and
disunfonists Of che South. AL this sir, i
very ven Is far = Il goes. But the Presi-
dent does not go back far enough, nor