The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1861-08-10
SPEECH or
hn. c. l.. VaIhndisLan, u Ohis
ON THE LOAN BILL.
!" ne HoSss Of Representatives, U. S. ConGreus
WxDulsDAY, JULY 10, "a.

| ~SOOoAt sSbs ~, -.
Ma. CHAIRMAN In the Constitution o.
the United States, which the other day
we sworc to support, and by authority
OF which we are assembled here today
II 10 written:
AN legislative powers herein granted
shall be vested in y Congress of the Uni
ted States"
X Is further written also that the Con.
gress to which all legislative powers
granted are thus committed
Shall make no law abridging the
freedom Of speech or Of the p,ess.'
Aud it is yet further written, in pro-
lection of senators and representatives
in that freedom Of debate here, without
which there can be no liberty:
That for any speech or debate in
either house they shall not be questioned
in any other place"
Holding up the shield Of the Constitu.
ton, and standing here in the place aud
with the manhood of representative Of
the people, propose to myself, to-day,
the ancient freedom Of speech used with
in 2esc walls though with somewhat
more, trust, of decency and discretion
than have sometimes been exhibited here.
Sir, do not propose TO discuss the d.
rect question of the civil war in which
we are engaged. Its present prosccu-
ton is forcgone conclusion and wise
man never wastes his strength on fruit
less enterprise. My position shall at
present for the most part. be indicated
by my votes, and by the resolutions aud
motions which may submit But there
are many questions incident to the war
and TO its prosecution. about which !
have somewhat to say now.
Mr.. Chairman, the President, in the
message before us, demands the extraor
binary loan of t400, 000, 000-an amount
nearly ten times greater than the entire
public debt, State and Federal, at the
close of the revolution in 1888, and four
times "a mnch as the total expenditures
during the three years war with Great
Britain in 1872.
Sir. that same Constitution which
again hold up, and to which give my
whole heart and my utmost loyalty, com
mi.s to Congress alone the power to eor'
row money aud to fix the purposes to
which il shall be applied, and expressly
limits any appropriations to the term o,
two wears Each Senator aud Represen-
tative. therefore, must Judge for himself,
upon his conscience and oath, and before
God and tn, country, OF the justice and
wisdom and policy of the Presidents
demand and whenever this house snail
have become but a mere ofl'ce wherein To
register the DEGREES Of the Executive, u
will lee high time to abolish II. But
have a right. ! believe sir, to say that,
however gentlemen upon this side OF the
chamber may differ finally as to the war,
we are yet firmly aud meSorobly united
in one thing at least aud that is the de-
termination that our own rights and dig
mites and privileges, as the representa-
tives Of the people, shall be maintained
in their spirit and TO the very letter Mud
be this a. 1t may, ! do know that there
are some here present who are resolve d
to assert and to exercise these rights,
with becoming dcoency and moderation
certainly, but at the same time July,
freely, and at every hazard.
Sir, it is an ancient and wise practice
of the English Commons, to precedc all
votes Of supplies by an inquiry into
abuses and grievances, and especially
into any infrac,ion Of the Constitution
aud laws OF the executive. Let us follow
this safe practice. We are now in the
committee of the whole on the state OF
a in, th., ~
right and my duty As q representative,
aud avaling myself of the latitude OF de-
bate allowed here, 1preposc 10 consider
tie presem state Of tie nafion, and supply
also some few Of the many omissions OF
the President in the message before MS.
Sir. he has undertaken TO give us INFORM
alton of the state of the Union, AS the
Constitution requires him TO do +; and 1t
was his duty, as an honest executive, TO
make that information full, impartial,
and complete, instead Of spreading be-
fore ~ a labored and lawyerly vindica-
ton 81 his own course Of policy-a poll
cy which has precipatcd us into terri
bic and bloody revolution. He admits
that. today. we are in the midst OF
general civil war. not now mere Petiy
insurr.u ION, to be suppressed in twenty
DAYS by n proclamation and posi- CONF
totr. of three months militia.
Sir Il has been the misfortune Of the
President from the beginning that he has
totally aud wholly underestimatcd the
magnitude and character OF the revolution
9TH which he had TO deal, or surely he
never would have vcnturcd npon the
wicked and hazardous experiment OF
calling thirty million Of people to arm,
among themselves without the counsel
and authority Of Congress. But when 81
l.st he found himself hcmmed in by the
revolution, aud this city in danger ~ nc
declares. and walked up thus, a. the pro-
clsma,ion Of thxl5th Of April proves him
to have walked up. 20 the reality and arg
n;6csnce Of the movement, why did nc
not forthwith assemble Congress, and
throw himself upon the wisdom and pa
triotism Of tho Representatives OF the
States and Of the people, instead Of nsarp'
inc movers which the Constitution has
"rsnre.s,v conferred upon u 7 ~, s'r'
.nf novcrs which Ccngrcss had but .
little vhile before repeatedly ana en-
phstically refused to exercise, or 20 per
nit him to exercise. But ana" 'eo"'
TO this point again.
Sir. the President, In his mesrage' mas
undertaken also TO give ~ summary o.
the causes which have led TO this prese"'