Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-01-25
nxrRAors kom snwAnDps srnnoH

EXTRACTS 6om REWARDS srnHcH.
know how difficult it is to decide, amid
so many and so various counsels, what ought
to be, and even what can be done. Certainly,
however, it is time for every senator to declare
himself I, therefore, following the example
of the noble senator from Tennessee (AIr.
Johnson), avow my adherence to the Union
in its integrity, and with all its parts, with my
friends, with my party, with my state, with
my country, or without either, as they may
determine, in every event, whether of peace
or of war, with every consequence of honor
or dishonor, of life or death. Although la
ment the occasional hail with cheerfulness
the duty Of lifting up my voice among dis
tracted debates, for my whole country and its
incstimable Union. -
think it easy to pronounce what measure
or conduct will not save the Union. agree
with the honorable senator from North Caro-
lima, (Mr. Clingham), that mere eulogums
will not save it. Yet think that as prayer
brings us nearer to God, though it cannot
move Him toward us, so there is healing and
saving virtue in every word of devotion to
the Union that is spoken, and every sigh that
it's danger draws forth. | know, that, like
virtue, it derives its strength from every ir-
reverent act that is committed and every
blasphemous phrase that is uttered against it.
Mr.. Jefferson did not hesitate to
say that states must be kept within their con-
stitutional sphere by impulsion, if they could
not be held there by attraction. Secession
was then held to be inadmissable in the face
Of public enemy. But if it is untenable in
one case, it is necessarily so in all others.
fully admit the originality, the sovereignty,
and the independence OF the several states
within their sphere. But hold the federal
government to be equally original, sovereign
and independent within its sphere. And the
government Of the state can no more absolve
the people residing within its limits from allie
glance to the Union, than the government Of
the Union can absolve them from allegiance
to the state. The Constitution of the United
States, and the laws made in pursuance
thereof are the supreme law of the land, par
amount to all legislation Of the states, whether
made under the constitution. or by even their
organic conventions The Union can be dis
solved, not by secession, with or without
armed force, but only by the voluntary con-
sent of the people of the United States, col
lected in the manner prescribed by the Con-
stitution of the United States. ...
Congress, in the present case, ought not to
be impassive. 1t ought, il it can, to redress
any real grievances of the offended states, and
then it ought to supply the President with all
the means necessary to MAINTAIN the Union
in the full exhibition and discreet exercise of
its authority. Beyond this, with the proper
activity on the part Of the Executive, the
responsibility Of saving the Union belongs to
the people, and they are abundantly compe-
tent to discharge it. =
Dissolution would not only arrest, but ex-
tinguish the greatness four country. Even
if separate confederacies could exist and en-
dure, they could severally preserve no share
of the common prestige of the Union. *
While listening to these debates [ have
sometimes forgotten myself in marking their
contrasted effects upon the page who Gus
tomarily stands on the dais before me, and
the venerable secretary who sits behind him.
The youth exhibits intense but pleased emo
ton in the excitement, while at every irrev-
erent word that is uttered against the Union.
the eyes of the aged man are sufiiused with
tears. Let him weep no more. Rather re-
joice, for yours has been a lot of rare felicity,
You have seen and been a part of all the
greatness Of your country, the towering ma
" you, and weep with all the bitterness Of
anguish, who are just stepping on the
threshold of life; for that greatness perishes
prematurcly and exists not for you, nor for
me, nor for any that shall come after us. Il
Lastly, public liberty, our own peculiar lib
erty, must languish for a time, and then
cease to live. And such liberty free move
ment everywhere through our own land and
throughout the world free speech, free press,
free suffrage; the freedom of every subject
to vote on every law, and for or against eve
ry agent who expounds, administers, or ex-
ecutes. Unstable and jealous confederacies,
constantly apprehending assaults without
and treason within, formidable only to each
other and contemplate to all beside; how
long will it be before on the plea of public
safety, they will surrender all this incstima-
bic and uneqraled liberty, and accept the
hateful and intolerable espionage of military
despotism? ii
What, then, is the ground of discomfort?
1t is that the disunionists did not accept as
conclusive the argument which were obscrv-
ed in behalf Of the successful candidate in
the canvass. This is ALL Were their own
arguments against him more satisfactory to
his supporters? Of course they were not !;
they could not be- Does the Constitution,
in letter or spirit, require or imply that the
arguments Of one party shall be satisfactory
to the other9 No; that is impossible
What is the constitutional remedy for this
inevitable dissatisfaction Renewed debate
and ultimate rehearing in subsequent cleo
ton. Have the now successful majority per-
yerted power to purposes of oppression p
No F; they have never before held power.
| Alas how prone we are to undervalue
privileges and blessings. How gladly, how
proudly, would the people of any nation in
Europe accept, on such terms as we enjoy it,
the boon of elccting chief magistrate every
four years by free, equal, and universal SUI
frage! How thankfully would they cast
aside all their own systems Of government,
and accept this republic of ours, with all its
shortcomings and its disappointment, main.
tain it with their arms, and cherish it in their
hearts. 1t is not the very boon for which
they supplicate God without ceasirg, and
even w::.ge war, with intermissions only re-
sulting from exhaustion?