Litchfield enquirer., 1861-02-07
HON. o. s. FERRIS SPEECH,

IN THE HoUsE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THl
 REPORT OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE OF s.
 Mir. Speaker, recognize, today but two par ties in this country the party of law and or der, and the party of revolution; the party which would preserve the Federal Governmen and the party which would destroy that Gov ernmcnt the unionists and the disunionsts The rapid growth of the latter organization which. emerging from the lurking places of con spiracy little more than two months ago, has in that short space of time, become dominant ir several of the States, and has led thousands o citizens into open rebellion against the Govern ment, requires of us careful scrutiny into the avowed reasons for so unnatural revolt. and an impartial investigation of its origin, of the ob iects of its leaders, and of the results to which | it tends On the other hand, the absolute ne cessty which exists for the maintenance of so cial order demands of us that we ascertain and adopt the most effective methods for the preser vation of the social fabric. The consideration of the measures reported by the majority and minority of the committee, necessarily involves the inquiries which have just indicated.
 In the manifestoes published by the disunion- ists for their own justification, I find various circumstances assigned as furnishing sufficient reasons for rebellion. The first is, that Abra ham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin have been elected President and Vice Paesident of the United States. Was there any violation of the Constitution, any infringement of the law, in the mode of accomplishing that result? None whatever The result, then, is not, in itself sufficient cause for disunien.
 But it is said that Abraham Lincoln dislikes slavery, and is of opinion that it will ultimately disappear from the Republic. George Wash ington, the first President of the United States held the same views. So did John Adams; so did Thomas Jefferson so did James Mad;s,n so did James Monroe. Clearly, then. this is not cause for disunion.
 It is urged, however. that Mr. Lincoln thinks that slavery ought not to expand into free terri tory. So did President Jefferson, when he ap proved the act to enable the people of Ohio to form State constitution with an express pro- vision to prevent the expansion of slavery into the future State So did President Madison when he approved the act to enable the people of Indiana to form State Constitution with the same restrictions. So did President Monroe when, with his approval, the same conditions were imposed upon the admission of the State of Illinois. So did President Jackson, when he approved the act organizing the Territory of Wisconsin, including the present States of Wis consin and Iowa. with an express prohibition of the existence of slavery therein. So did President Polk, when he signed the sct to es- tablish the territorial government of Oregon with the same wise prohibition imposed upon the inhabitants and future States" of that Ter ritory. How, then. can the opinions of Presl- dent Lincoln upon this subject justify a dissolu- ton of the Union?
 But we are told that the number of the free States is increasing more rapidly than that of the Slave States; that, in process of time, the former will compose threefonrths of all the members of the Union, and will then so amend the Constitution as to secure the abolition of slavery. What if liberty is outstripping slavery in the march of empire? Will you fetter the indomitable energies of freedom, till 1t shall linn and halt along at the slow pace of bon dage? How can the free States acquire the apprehended preponderance? When all our territory is organized into States when Kan sas, Nebraska, Dacatah, Washington, Pike's Peak, New Mexico. Arizona, Utah, and the h. dian reservation, shall be members of the Union with constitutions such as Jefferson would ap, prove, there will be but twenty seven States