The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-08-06
SENATOR JOUNsON'S SPEECH IN THE
SEN

) speak nj length in favor of the resolution. lie
said he was unwilling to let the Senate ad'
iourn without saying something of the present
state of affairs. On our return hero we find
ourselves in the midst of civil war, which
seems TO bo progressive, and without much
hope Of speedy termination. lt soemad to
him that the Government had reached one OF
the three periods ~hich all Governments must
pass through. First, they have to pass
through the ordeal of establishing their inde-
pcrdence. This Government passed that in
tie war of tho Revolution. Next. after hav
ing obtain independence and taken posi-
ton among nations, they must maintain 1t
against foreign powers and foes. This Gov
eminent passed that ordeal in 1912. There
is another ordeal, when the Gov'rnmon, has
10 contend sgains, internal foes. We are now
in the midst of this third ordeal. The strug.
Gle now is whether the Government is capable
Of maintaining It's existence against traitors TO
the Con sti,ution " the country. This is the
problem now before the people OF the earth.
He trusted and peri. ct conf Hence that the
Government would successfully pass this ord ,a,
but the time had arrived when the energies
of tho peopl, must be put iorth, and there
must be union and concert Of action. 1t has
been argued that if we proceed there will tie
great danger of Dictatorship, and that the
character and genius Of the Go~Inncnt will
he wholly changed II is AROUSED that this
is an attempt to change to aatrre and initu-
iion of the Government. ne referred to Mr..
Breekimidge's speech. We agree that 1t is
an effort to change the Government, but dltfer
as TO the parties trying TO make the change.
/ 1t is n struggle now whether the people shall
rule and have Government based on tho
intelligence integrity, and purity o. the poo
pie. There is an effort being made, and 1t Is
the result Of long contemplated plan. to
overthrow the intitntlonS OF this Government.
He referred again to Mr. Brcckinrilge's speech,
when he said Washington carried the country
though the Revolution without suspension
of the daheas corpus. but the President could
not carry on the war three months without II,
and cited cas- during The war OF the Revo'u-
tion when twenty ctizcns were taken and
imprisoned for eight months, and the soldiers
refused to deliver them M on a writ of hab
ems corpus, and the Legislature of Pennsyl-
vania inlemnif, ID the officers for the suspcn-
sion of the writ. He referred to the case OF
General jackson at New-Oreans, as prcce
dent for establishing martial law in case OF
emergency. Had Jacks N refused to put the
city unler marti, law, aud thus lost the Gov
crnmcnt, he ought to have lost his head
The President was Obliged to act as he id to
save the Government, and this was very
unproptiouS time to assail the Government
when armed traitors are actually in the field,
trying 10 overthrow il. The increase Of the
army and navy was also justified by the
great plea Of necessity. But how does the
cas-, stand nov, when YOU are called on to
support the Governn cnt? viii You increase
the army and nayyl Or, will you find fault
with the President for doing Just what Con-
gress ought to dol Why not como forward
and support the Government. No the fact
is too apparent that we hal enemies Of tn"
Government here last Winter, aud in opinion
we have got enemies Of the Govern ncnt here
now. And we have got those here who make
long and pathetic speeches in favor OF com
promise But the Senator from California
(Mr. Lathan) showed concusivelv that the
thing the traitors most feared las, year was
compromise, and their great effort was to got
ont Congress before a compromise could be
made The argument has been made that
the Free States would ct the power, aud
then amend the Constitution So rs to destroy
the Institution of Slavery, and hence the
South must not wait till the fatal day came.
Then eight States wjrhlrnw, AMI We reached
the point wharc the free States had a MAORI.
ty and the power to amend the Constitution,
SO as to overthrow the institution Of Slavery.
Now, what was done lhcn? Why, they pass
ed on amendment 10 the Constitution that
81, e,,h
jet Of Slavery. Talk about compromi,e.-
How can YOU ga guaranty more bind ~ than
that? This is done when the Free States
have the power, and it places slavery beyonl
the conuol Of Crngrcss. What more can
YOU ask Why don't the States who talk com.
promise come forward and accept this offor?
But no, instead Of that they pass ordinances
to violate The Constitution aud take the State
out What else did Congress 10 when Free
States had the powers. They came forward,
passed three territorial bills and none Of them
had any Slavery prohibition and declare tha'
no law shall be passed by territories pairing
the rights Of private property. Can there be
anything moro conclusive! Now right here
take the amendment to the Constitution and
the Territorial bills, aud what else is eft Of
the Slavery question! Yet the Union must
be broken up. Some are sincere in com.
promise, but Others come here simply to
make it preteX. in the hope that it will I've
refused, and then on refusal the States
are declared out Of the Union. Senator
from Georgia once said, when terrtors become
numerous enough, treason will be respectable.
Perhaps il is so now but, God icing willing
let there be as many as they please he COM
mcuced the war against traitors and treason
against the Government framed by the fathers,
and intended to continue it to the end Tap-
plaus in the galleries. We are now in The
amidst Of a civil war Blood has been shed
and lie sacrificed Who commenced it? Yet
we are row told that we must come forward
aud separate the Uuion, and make peace
with traitors and rebels. Let them ground
their arms, obey the laws, and acknowledge
tic Cors,itu;lon, then perhaps we will talk
about compromise. Tie best compromise is
the Constitution Of the United States, and
here Mr.. Johnson referred to Mr.. Broekn.
ridges speech. Is there disre to change the
Government! He quoted from Alabama
papers that manarchy was desirable, and al.
80 fr m Mr. Russclrs letter 10 The LogIoq