Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-01-21

tlev come to us and demand new guarantees
of fidelity to their peculiar institution, If not
positive pledges of servility on the part of the
free States. They go further, sir, and act
ually ask that our people walk up to the
polls and record the ediets Of few hundred
men at Charleston or Baltimore. And il we
refuse to do tAat, what do they say2 What
have they said in this House ? They will
pull down the pillars Of this great Republic
and "look to their guns for justice and right"
The moment we dare to east our votes as
freemen should, and select the man of our
deliberate choice for President in corre-
spOndence with the Constitution and the laws
Of the land, we commit an objectionable sin,
and there is an end to free government. On
this principle, we can have no higher politi-
cal privileges than the people of Austria or
Russia. We are required to become the
obedient servants of q cottonoeracy, and
sink the freeman in a craven political de-
pendant.
maintain, sir, that there is no excuse, no
apology whatever, for rebellion against
government where the people themselves
make and control it. Violent revolutions
are justifable against kingly despotism, with
out doubt; but not against our Government,
where each man is himself a-ruler. Revolu-
ton against that is high crime. 1t is a leap
in the dark. 1t is wild anarchy; and, if sue
cessful, must end in military rule, in general
war, and general oppression. If we fail to
preserve the present Confederacy, a recon-
struction upon the basis that will be de-
manded is impossible; and twelve months
will not pass from the time of its overthrow
before we shall have upon us all the horrors
of Mexican warfare.
Thisgreat Union and Constitution are now
in the keeping of the peoples servants here,
| and they have the control of the Army and
| the Navy. Let them guard the former well;
- IL, -, A1,,s-
hands, the great historian of nations will
write them down as the most feeble, pusil-
| Luminous towards that ever disgraced free
| country.
But, sir, let us look at some of the results
| of breaking up our Government. If States
may separate at will, where is your public
faith? What better are your treaties than
the naked parchment upon which they are
| wIitten2 Who, then, will become the pur-
chasers of your bonds2 In what condition
will be your widow and orphan and benevo-
lent societies that have placed their all in
the public credit2 What man would trust a
people for 81 who would tamely permit trait
oTs to insult their flag and steal their property
with impunity? One thing is certain; if the
organized Government here does not vindi-
| cate its honor and resent its wrongs and
anarchy comes, the people of thesfree States
| will do that work most thoroughly.
Mr.. Chairman, so long as gentlemen con-
fine themselves to the harmless business of
dissolving this Union upon paper and set
ting up in their poetical imaginations gov
ernment antngonistic to that of the United
States, l certainly have no disposition to
break in upon their dreams of wealth and
glory consequent upon the new order o.
| things; but If the attempt Is 10 be made tc
! Iaaho these mere dreams the basis of eetion
against our great temple of republican free.
dom, reared by patriotic hands and minds
if indeed they should take practical form
and result in the actual invasion of the rights
Of our General Government as illustrated in
the conduct of those who have recently
seized upon its property in the South, then
sir, am for using every means which AL
mighty God has given US to maintain thu
laws the Constitution and the Union. This
sir, am sure is the sentiment OF the 10000,
coo people living in the West and North
west, with here and there an exception anC
would now most respectfully suggest t
| The Secessionists of the South, and to al
who are disposed to break up this great anC
glorious Confederacy, that it would be a
least an act Of prudence to consult those 10,
900.
They are now power in the nation to th
/ extent of third; and they meau to bt
heard, and if need be, felt, on this impending
question. will notsay that no traitors will
lie found in the free States west of the Allie
us one TO twenty tories in the Revolution
And now, sir, is there single man so besid
| himself as to suppose that these l0000, 90
| hardy people will look calmly on or take
neutral position, aud see State after Stat
] leave The Union, and the Mississippi Rive
9 pass into the control of fCreigu Govern
ment2 l deny it. No, sir : they settled u
, that country with a clear understanding tha
: the river and its various tributaries shoul
fpr avcr AnNU in tho ITnited States nf Tnprip,
free for a commerce that already rivals this
: of the Atlantic coast-the great unObstructe
IS highway to the ocean. Heaven have mere
0 upon the men who attempt to make it an
y thing else, or place a single disability upo
Il its trade or commerce
s l know the spirit and the temper of I'll
e people of the West, and I know also thi
IS they never will submit to the Mississippi
River being cor trolled by any power eXceI
that Of the Union. Sir, there is gatherin
I. storm in the West. The South may not Sc
If and if they see, may not heed it; but
mighty storm is coming nevertheless. o.
:, people are slow to anger, and will be
IL much before they strike down the invade
of their rights; but there is a point of e
v dursnce beyonn which they will not go.
I This work of driving our people from te
II ritory where they have guaranteed rights
y American citizens; this work of plaptiI
le cannon upon the Mississippi River f
y reasonable purposes; this work of person
= violence in New Orleans and other places,
Is must cease, or tens of thousands Of men.w
"a rush to the combat and sweep the enti
eC coast of Mississippi and Louisiana; and, the
3, Just Indignation once fairly aroused, !
oil power this side of Heaven can prevent the
y from making the foundation of New OrleaI
N the bed of lake, where fishes will dwell i
u stead of men, ... .-
le ] now wish to call the attention of t
"a Committee to some outrages committed
the commerce of the Mississippi River. a
d to have a short extract read. ..
~ [The Clerk read an account of the refus
or of New York insurers to insure proper
N from the Northwest by way of the Miss
~ sippi, on account of the disturbances on
eS se river, and the danger of its being seized.l
ye Mr.. Maynard-I should like to ask t
Sc gentleman from Ohio, if this occurs in t
IN present state of affairs, what would II
he when the Union is dissolved and the Cover
le ment broken up2 "lf this thing be done
by the green tree, what win not be done in I
at Mr.. Gurley-If the Union be broken !
dl end war follow, let the consequences fall
Il, those who are responsible. Do SouthC
es gentlemen expect that the people Of the
ID, West will fold their hands in indifferen
is and see their commerce interrupted, th
o. steam boats fired intO2 How long do Il
nv expect. us to submit TO it2 Sir, no fore
ms Government on the face of the earth Co
to commit such outrages against this nat
nd without an immediate declaration OF "
.,,t nd now / sav that with strong hands {