Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-02-06
sPERcH OF HON. JAS. n. ASHLEY,
OF OHIO,
n lhs Resss 0f RPrssHtetivss, Jauuay
lgM, 1891.


execute their executive, legislative and judi
cisl decre-s, Il re listed. This is a power in
separable from all governments. Il the city
Of New York, to-day, by the unanimous
voice # her citizens, were 70 declare herself
q sovereign and independent city, and set up
q government Of Der own, put ihe authority
| Of The Federal and S. te governments at de-
lance, and collect and appropriate all the
revenue derived from duties on imports, thus
cutting OF moro than half the entire eYenue
Of the national Government does any sane
man suppose for a moment that this Govern
nent would tolerate it2 ByHo means. Il
Il became necessary % subdue her, the Gov
-rnment would lay the entire city in ruins
Martial law would be declared, q blockade
proclaimed, the property Of all rebels con
iscafed and the leading traitors hanged or
shot The city of New York contains nearly
4 million inhahiiants-almOst, If not quite
tour times the number Of whites in South
Garolina-and, I believe, more wealth than
my one southern State, unless it he Virginia
The people living in the city Of New York
have just the same right to declare them
elves out OF the Union thar the people Of any
me or more Of the southern States have
10 more. no less. And that right IS the in
lerent right Of revolution. The Government
nee invoked in war, in its efforts 10 enforce
he laws and put down rebellion, could know
no rule but success. A blockade, martial
aw, the confscation OF all properly, real and
personal, Of the insurgents, the execution +
al the leading rebels, and ths removal bg
f'res. y necessary, Of tRs cause AafprOdUeed The
e5. Zion.
This is no new doctrine. John Quincy
Alams, nearly twenty years ago, in the House
1t Representatives, in speaking OF the war
power said:
when your country is actually in war,
whether il be a war Of inv sion or q war Of
nsurrectiOn, Congress has power 10 carry on
he war, and mus carry il on according t.
be laws Of war; and, by the laws OF war
IA invaded country has all its laws and mum
ripal institution swept by the board, and
martial law takes the place Of them. This
nwer in Congress has, perhaps, never been
allied into exercise under the present Con
iitution o. the United States. But whtn
the laws Of war are in force, what, ask, is one
ifthOse laWs2 tits this: that when country
IS invaded, and two hostile armies are set in
nartial array, the commanders of both armies
have power TO emancipate all the slaves l.
be invaded territory
The Constitution makes the President of
the United States the commander-in-ehiefo OF
the Army and Navy, and be is required to
see that the laws are faithfully executed
he cannot evade this just responsibility, it
he would, unless be is traitor. There Is
hen, but one course left. afer all peaceful
remedies fail; and that is, use all the power Of
he Government to crush rebellion and
reason, if we would preserve the nation from
ertain and utter ruin.
Asto the powers and duties Of the Govern
ment, and in case of rebellion, quote, and
indOrse in full, the declaration Of Henry Clay
made in a letter to Hon. Daniel Ullmau and
'thers, Of New York, dated October 3, 1850.
q speaking ofsecessiou, be said:
"Suppose e standyr I'd should be raised Of
open resistance to the Union, the Constitu-
tion, and laws: what is to be done9 There
an be but one possible answer. The power
he authority, and The dignity of tie Gov
rnment ought TO be maintained, and resis-
'ance put down at all hazard. The duty Or
xeeuting the laws and suppressing insurrec-
ions is without Limitation or qualification; il
coextensive win the jurisdiction Of the
United States. No human government can
xist without the power Of applying force,
and the actual application Of it in extreme
sse. Ny belief is, that il it should be ap.
piled to South Carolina in the event Of her
accession, sle would be speedily reduced to
obedience; and the Union, instead Of being
weakened, wouldacquire additional strength
Aud in e speech delivered in the United
States Senate in 1850, he said:
Nov, Mr.. President, stand here in my
lace, meaning to be unswed by any threats,
whether they come from individuals or from
states. I-h0uld deplore as much as any man
wing OF dead, that arms should be raised
,gainst the authority Of the Union, either by
Individuals or by States. But after all that
ias occurred, il any one State, or a portion
,fthe people of any one State, choose to place
themselves in military array against the
Government Of the Union, am for trying the
,trength Of fhe Government Am for ascer-
ttining whether we havt Government o.
l0t-practical, Efficient capable Of mainIain
ng its authority, and Of upholding the pow
rs and interests which belong to a govern
nent. Nor, sir, am to be alarmed or dis
uaded from any such course by intImation>
if the spilling Of blood. DbiOOd is 10 Be split
jy ghoss fauLt ISL Upon the supposition,
maintain it will be the fault Of those who
hoOse 70 raise the standard Of disunion, and
ndeaFOr to PROSTATE this Government and |
", wben that is done, 50 long as it please
~ to git-s me Il vOic- TO express my senu
,,snts or an ,'rm, weak and eufeebled as il
onv he bv ace. Il, - voice and that arra viii
Il On the side o. nv country Tor the support
# the general authority. and for The main
enance Of the powers 9th Union
Again, in reply 10 some eul5As 8 " ,nt |
senator IRON South Carolina, Ar. DAN "e4ii'l |
Mr. Clay said:
q Mr. President, ! said nothing wiz res
ect 70 th, character Of Mr. Rhett, Q1g
a ght as well name him) know him P,T
ionally, and have some respect for him; bus
. be pronounced the sentiment attributed 10
aim, on raising the standard OF disunion and
# resistance 10 the common Government.
ghatever be has been, il be follows up that
declaration By corresponding overt acts, he is
, TRAITOR, and hope will meet with the fate
f TEATToR"
Oi South CarOlina, be said
'if will tell lhsr, and / will tell the Senator
himself that there are as brave, IS daunt-
ess, as gallant men and as devoted PARROTS,
N ny opinion, in every other State in the
Union as are 10 be found South CHrOlina
nerself ana, if in any unjust cause South
Carolina or any other STATE, should hoist the
dag Of disunion and rebellion, thousands,
ems Of thousands, Of Ksnluckians would /
lock to the standard Of their country to dis
sipate and repress their rebellion. These are
my sentiments-make the most Of them
4Pp.sd,z CoRgrssaOnal Globe, First session
Fhirty-FiFst Congrtss, P. l4l4.
Our first duty, then. it seems to me, Mr.
Chairman, is TO abolish ali ports Of entry
which il may be iuconvenient 70 occupy; 10
proclaim a blockade of all ports in the rebel
ious States; employ the navy in connection
With priynteers, who shall be authorized 10
capture and hold ss prizes all vessels with
their cargoes, leaving any port without
clearance from an officer duly commissioned
By the authorities of the United States as
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