Shreveport daily news., 1861-08-08
Hon. c. l.. vallandingham, Of
Ohio.

A-S . SoS~-~~---'
livered a powerful speech on the
10th ult. in the United States House
of Representative. We have before
us copy of this document, it is wor-
thy of perusal, and publication in
every paper, but it's length prevents
our giving publicity to it, however
we make a few extracts, as follow !:
Sir, the right of blockade-and l
begin with it's belligerent right,
incident to state OF war, and 1t
cannot be exercised until war has
been declared or recognized, and Con
gress alone can declare or recognize
war. But Congress has not declared
or recognized war. On the contrary,
it had bnt little while botore ex-
pressly refused to declare it, or to
arm the President with the power
to make it. And thus the Presi-
dent, in declaring blockade Of Ger
tain ports in the States of the South,
aud in applying to it the rules gov
erning blockades as between indie
pendent powers, violated the con-
stitution.
But If, on the other hand, he meant
to deal with these States as still in
the Union, and subject to Federal
authority, then he usurped a power
which belongs to Congress alone
the power, too, which Congress had
also refused few weeks before to
exercise. And yet. without the re-
peal or abolition OF ports of entry,
any attempt by either Congress or
the President to blockade these ports
is a violation of the spirit. if not of
the letter, of that clause of the con-
stitution which declares that .'no pre-
ference shall be given by any regu-
lation OF commerce or revenue to the
ports of one State over those OF an
other.
Sir, upon this point l do not speak
without the highest authority In
the very midst OF the South Carolina
notification controversy, 1t was sug-
gested that in the recess of Congress,
and without law to govern him,
| the President, Andrew Jackson,
meant to send down a fleet to Char
lesion and blockade the port. But
the bare suggestion called forth the
indignant protest of Daniel Web
ster, himself the arch enemy of null
LITIGATION, and whose brightest lau-
reIs were won in the three years
conflict in the Senate Chamber with
it's ablest champions. lnan address,
/ in October, 1882, a. Worcester,
Mass, before national Republican
Convention-it was before the birth
or christening at least, Of the Wing
party-the great expounder of the
constitution said:
1--WE are told, sir, that the Presi,
dent viii Immediately employ the
military force, and at once blockade
Charleston A military remedy, &
remedy by direct belligerent opera
ton, has thus been suggested, anC
nothing else has been suggested, as
the intended means of preserving tn,
Union, Sir, there is no little reason
to think that this suggestion is true
We cannot be altogether unappre
hensive Of the future. For one, sir
| raise my voice beforehand agains
the unauthorized employment of mill
; tary power, and against supersedinl
the authority of the laws, by an arm
ed force under pretense OF putin!
>, down notification. The Presidea
las no >zuthority to blockade CAarles
t to0."
Jackson! Jackson, sir! the grea
; jackson! did not dare to do it with
:. out authority of Congress but ou
Jackson of to-day, the little Jack
son at the other end of the avenue
t and the mimic Jacksons around hin
2 do blockade, not only Charlesto