Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-07-24

and the Senator declared that,
unless the people of these States were willing to
obey the Federal Government, they must be re-
duced to the condition of the Territories: and, he
added, he would govern them by Governors from
Massachusetts and Illinois. This was said seri
ously, and afterwards repeated.
Mr.. Baker Rep from Oregon, explained.
He said he was delivering a speech against Civ
ing TOO much power to the President, and was
keeping his usual constitutional guarded position
against an increase of the standing army, and
gave. as an excuse for voting for the bill, the
present state of public affairs. He did say he
would take some rssk of despotsm, and repeated
that he would risk little to save all. He hoped
the States would return to their allegiance, but if
they would not, he thought il better for civiliza
ton and humanity that they should be gox emed
as Territories. He did say so then, and believed
so now, and thought the events of the next six
months would show that it would be better if the
Senator believed it too.
Mr.. Breckenridge said the answer of the Sena-
tor proved what he said. and contended that it
was evident that the Constitution to be put
aside. 1t was utterly subversve Of the Consttu
ton and of public liberty to clothe any one with
dictatorial powers He then referred to the speech
of Mr.. Dixon of Connecticut. who said, in sub
stance, that if African slavery stood i'll the way
must be abolished.
Mr.. Dixon (Rep.) of Connecticut, had the Sen
atOr read what he did say on the subject, as
published Yesterday?
Mr.. Breckenridge said it appeared to him that
the most violent Republicans bad possession oi
the Government, and referred to the bill intro
duced by Mr. Pomeroy to suppress the slave
holding rebellion. and which also contained pro-
vision for the abolition of slavery. He contend
ed that the very title was enough to show that the
Constitution was to be put aside.
Mr.. Bingham (Rep.) of Michigan, asked il
he contended that this was not slaveholdng re.
bellion?
Mr. Breckinridge-I do, sir; / do. He ther
referred to the refusal of last session to make any
compromise, though the Southern leaders said
they would be satisfied with the Crittenden com
promise. But all efforts were refused, and now
any offers of peace are ruled out of order in one
House, and it is vain and idle to argue for it. he
wanted to let the country know that Congress
deliberately refused the last effort to avert the
horrors of internal struggle. But why utter
words? ! shall trouble the Senate no longer
know that no argument or appeal will have an
effect i have cherished all my life an attach
ment to the Union of these States under the Con.
stitution of the United States, and have always
reyered that instrument one OF the wsest OF
human works; but now it is put aside by the Ex
ecutve of the United States, and those acts are
about to be approved by the Senate, and / see
proceedings inaugurated which, in my opinion
will lead to the utter subverson of the Constitu
ton and public liberty. Il is vain to oppose it
| am aware that, in the present temper of Con.
gress, one might as well oppose his uplifted hanc
to the descending waters of Niagara, as to risl
an appeal against these contemplated proceed
ings. The few of US left can only look with sad
ne IN ha me nj Hrsp hal tod ha
fore US. We can only hope that this fash Of
frenzy may not assume the form of chronic mad
ness, but that Divine Providence may preserv,
for us and for posteritory, out of the wreck of
broken Union. the priceless principles of constitu
tionsl liberty and self-government.
Mr.. Lane. (Rep.,) OF Indiana. said he wanteS
to know if the President had not saved tic coun
try by prompt action. He sanctioned all done
and the people sanctioned it; and he sanctioned
all to be done, when our victorious columns shall
sweep treason from Old Virginia. The Presiden
had suspended the writ of hobeas corpus, and Il,
only regretted the corpus of Baltimore treason
had not been suspended at the same time. Sup
pose the Senator from Kentucky had been electeS
President, would he have refused to defend tn,
Capital when he found that armed rebellion wa
endeavoring to capture it? He believed not. II,
proceeded to allude to the seizure of telegraphit
dispatches; severely commented on as n usarpa
ton oil power by the Senator from kentucky
That seizure would be necessary perhaps to i'm
| plicate certain Senators ON this floor. He Ia,
| read this day in paper that a certain Sensto
had telegraphed that President LncoIn's Con
gress would not be allow we'd to meet here on tin
Fourth of July.
Mr.. Breckenridge said he supposed the Senate
| alluded to him
Mr.. Lane replied that he did.
Mr.. Breckinride replied that his personal rela
tons with the Senator precluded him from believ
| ing that he would do anything of the kind bu
| he had to say that the statement that he sen
| such dispatch WAS totally unfounded. II
would not pretend to deny all the charges mad
| against him in the papers. He had attempted
once, but found the charge reiterated in the sam
journal the second day after he had expressly de
MED it. He would say, however, now, that tn
statement that he had telegraphed Mr.. Jefferso
Davis, or written him that Kentucky would fur
| nsh him with Z, 900 armed men was, like othe
charges, totally false And he had been informe
by the Governor of Kentucky that the charge il
respect to him was equally false.
Mr.. Lane then proceeded to defend the sup
preston of certain traitorous newspapers, dsarm
| ing the people in rebellion and other acts whicl
the Senator from Kentucky deemed to be uncon
stitutional. Allusion had been made to the com
| promise of last session, but he would only sa
| that none made because of traitors who oc
| cupied the now vacant seats. All that the
asked now was the Kentucky remedy for treason
hemp.