Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-08-07
ANOTHER WORD FOR THE UNION.
SPEECH OF HON. AND'w JOHNSON.

| SPEECH OF HON. AND'W JOHNSON.
| In the Senate of the United States, on Saturday.
July p, 1861, on the joint resolution approx
ing the acts of the President coming up,
| Mr.. johnson (Tenn.) said he was unwilling
to let the Senate adjourn without saying some
thing of the present state of affairs. On our
return here we find ourselves in the midst of
a civil war, which seems to be progressive,
with not much hope of a speedy termination.
1t seemed to him that the Government had
| reached one of three periods which all Gov
ernments must pass through. First. They
have to pass the ordeal to establish their inde
pendence. This Government passed that in
the war of the revolution; next, after having
obtained their independence and taken po-
Sition among Nations, then they must main
tain themselves against foreign powers and
foes. This Government passed that ordeal in
1872. There is another ordeal, when the
Government has to contend against internal
foes. We are now in the midst of this third
ordeal. The struggle now is whether the
Government is capable of maintaining its
istence against traitors to the Constitution of
the country. This is the problem before
people. He trusted, and had perfect
confidence that the Government would sue
cessfullv pass this ordeal but the time has ar
rived when the energies of the people must
be put forth, and there must be union and
concert of action. 1t had been argued that if
we proceed We will be in great danger of
Dictatorship, ard that the character and geni-
us of our Government will be wholly changed.
1t is argued that this is an attempt to change
the nature and institutions of the Government.
HE referred to Mr.. Breckinridgeis speech.
We agree in an effort to change the Govern
ment, but differ as to the parties trying to
make the change. 1t is a struggle now wheth-
er the people shall rule and have Govern
ment based on intelligence, integrity and pu-
rity of the people. There is an effort being
made, and it is the result of long contem-
plated plan, to overthrow the institutions of
this Government.
He referred again to Mr.. Breckinridge's
speech, when he said that Washington carried
the country through the Revolution without
a suspension of the habeas corpus; but Presi-
dent Lincoln could not carry on the Govern
ment three months without it. He cited a
case during the war of the Revolution, when
forty citizens were taken and imprisoned
eight months, and the soldiers refused to de-
liver them up on writ of habeas corpus, and
the Legislature of Pennsylvania commended
the officers for the suspension of the writ. He
referred to the case of General Jackson at New
Orleans, as precedent for establishing mar
tial law in case of an emergency. Had Gen.
Jackson refused to put the city under martial
law and thus lost the Government, he ought
to have lost his head. The President was
obliged to act as he did to save the Govern
ment, and this is very unpropitious time to
aSsail the Government. when armed bands of
traitors are actually in the field, trying to
overthrow it. The increase of the army and
navy was justified by the great plea of neces-
sity. But how does the case stand now, when
we are called on to support the Government?
Who will find fault with the President for do
ing just what Congress ought to do? Why
not come forward and support the Govern
ment3 MOI The fact is too apparent that
we had enemies TO the Government here last
INT.
mics fthe Government here now-that we
have got those here who make long pathetic
speeches in favor Of compromise. But the Sem
ator from California, Mr.. Latham, showed con-
clusvely that the thing the traitors most feared
last year was compromise, and great effort
was made TO get out of Congress before the
compromise could be made.
The argument has been made that the Free
States would get the power and then amend
the Constitution SO to destroy the instiiu-
tion of slavery; hence the South must not
wait till tho fatal day came. Then eight
States withdrew, and we reached point when
the Free States had maj orty, and the pow
er to amend the Constitution to over
throw the institutions of slavery. Now, what
was done then? Why, we passed an amend
ment to the Constitution that no amendment
should be made to the Constitution that would
give any power to legislate on the subject of
slavery. Talk about compromise How can
we get any guaranty more binding than that +?
This was done when the Free States had the
power, and it places slavery completely be-
yond the control of Congress. What more
can be asked Why don't the States who
talk OF compromise come forward and accept
this offerl But no instead Of 1t they pass
ordinances to violate the Constitution and take
the State out. What else did Congress do
when the Free States had the power2 They
came forward and passed three territorial bills,
an of hnn had cla
ton, and declared that no law shall be passed
by Territorial Legislatures imparing the
rights of private property. Can there be any
thing more conclusive Now, take this "a
mendment to the Constitution and the Terri
torial bils and what else is left OF the slavery
question? Yet the Union must be broken up
Some are sincere in the compromise, but 9TH
ers come here simply to make it pretext, in
the hope that it will be refused and then, on
the refusal. these States will be declared out
of the Union. A Senator from Georgia once
said, "When traitors become numerous O.
nough, treason would be respectable Per-
haps it is SO but, God being willing, let
them be as many as they please, he commen-
ded war against traitors and treason against
the Government framed by our fathers, and
we intend to continue it to the end. [Ap-
plause in the galleries. Now we are in the
midst Of civil war; blood has been spilled and
life sacrificed. Who commenced it? Yet
now we are told that we must come forward
and seperate the Union, and make peace with
traitors and rebels. Let them ground arms,
obey the laws and acknowledge the Constitu-
tion. Then, perhaps, we will talk about COM
promise. The best compromise is the Con- |
stitution of the United States.
He referred to Mr.. Breckinridge's speech,
that it is desired to change the Government,
and quoted from Alabama papers that mon
archy was desirable; and from Mr.. RusselFs
letter to the London Times. He also quoted
the Richmond papers, that said, rather than