The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-01-04
Speech Of senator Johnson.

speech OF senator johnson.
Mr.. Johnson's democrat OF Ten.
Deesee) resolutions proposing amend
ments to the Constitution were then
taken up. when Mr.. johnson resumed
his remarks. He said that when he
gave way yesterday, he was speak
ling of the laws OF the North which
were in conflict with the Fugitive
slave law. He proceeded to argue
that such laws were unconstitutional
and nulliIying. The government
should execute the laws in every
state, and their enforcement could
not be considered an invasion. He
went on TO argue that state could
mot go out OF the Union by its own
volition, and said that such was the
opinion OF the founders of the gov.
ernment. Mr.. johnson here read
exit acts from the writings OF Mr..
Madison to show that such was the
opinion of Mr.. Madison. He quoted
also from letters Of Mr.. Jefferson on
the same subject, to show that il wac
not necessary to give the government
power to enforce the laws in a state,
as they had it by the law of the ma.
ton. MIR. Johnson claimed that the
power TO enforce the laws was ex-
pressly delegated by the states to the
general government. II any state
sets itself up in opposition to this
power, it is aggression and rebellion.
II the government fails TO perform
it's duty in this respect, it is at an
end. Mr. johnson here qnoted fur
ther from the opinion OF Judge Mar.
shall to strengthen his POSITION
He also called attention TO the views
of jackson and Webster on this
subject The government was called
into existence by states, and could
not he broken up by u single state.
The Constitution was intended to be
perpetual. When Congress Q793) J
passed low taxing dlstiierlcs. p
part Of the people of Pennsylvania
resisted. There was no difference
between that and resistance hv the
whole people OF a state The talk
now is about the coercion ot a state
only, but he lancied there was no
great distinction 10 be made. Con.
gress enforced the laws. but there
was no talk about the coercion Of u
state. Mr.. Johnson here read rom
the proclamation OF ashirgton 10
show that he considered the laws
should he enforced and that the
Union was in-eparnhle. General
Washington sent Ii 600 men to put
down rebellion. That is the way
Washington enforced the laws. -
Suppose ~ ( tie y hole people ui the
state ~ Pennsylvania had rebelIed =,
would it not have been inst IA con-
-tjtu'ipnal to enforce the laws again, +
INC whole AS "A part Of them. In
1892 there WAS another rebellion
against Ie laws Of the United States.
Mr. Johnson paid u high eulogium
10 the character of jackson. who
Was then President. lie said that
Jackson held the same views in re-
gard to the enforcement OF the laws
that Washington dill, snl pnt rebel
lion down. The government then
went on. Now how 10 it. The
duties now are the same-thr con.
sequences belong to God. lie in.
tended to discharge his duty, what
ever the cCnsl qnences may be-
Have we not the power 10 enforce
! the laws in the state OF South Caro-
, lima as well rs in the state OF Yer.
mont or any other state! And,
notwithstanding they may resolve
and declare themselves absn we'd
from ali allegiance to this Union,
yet, it does not save them from the
compact. II South Carolina drives
out the federal Courts from the state
then the fc cral government has a
right to establish the Courts. II she
excludes the mails, the federal gov.
ernment has Il right and the author,
ity to carry the mails. Ii she resists
the collection OF revenue in the port
.lof Charleston, or any other ports.
then the government has right Il
enter and enforce the law. Ii she
undertakes TO take possession OF the
property OF the government, the
government has a right to take all
means to retain that property. Aad
it they make any effort to dispossess
the government, Or to resist the ex
ecution oi the Judicial system. ther
I South Carolina puts herself in The
wrong, and it is the duty of the gov
ernment to SEQ the Judiciary faith
fully execcted. Yes, sir. iaithiull,
executed. In Dec, 1905, Soutl
I. Carolina made deed OF cession o
.. the land on which these forts stand,
!. full and Tree cession-with certail
> nnditions. The government com
piled with the conditions, and ha
had possession OF these torts till thi
I lay. And now has South Carolin
e any right to attempt to drive til
y government from that properry2
she secedes and makes any attemE
OF this kind, does she not com
S within the meaning Of the Constitu
3 ton, where it speaks Of lcvyiug WA
And in levying war, she does whs
. . the Constitution declares to be tres
d son, We may as well talk OF thing
Il as they are, tor il anything can /
treason, within the scope Of the Coz
!" stiiution, is not levying war upo
$. the government treasons Is not a
:. tempting to take the property OF tn
government and expel the govern
- ment Soldiers therefrom treasop2-
n, Is not attempting to resist the co
81 llaction Ot the ravanue atta n Dtinu