, 1862-03-18

t@~-~ 0-~-@ |
i'm with force. -. 80.
Mr.. Bineham-Thc gentleman has not an
weFed the question, and will not permit any |
urther interruption from him. I want to
Know By what right Kentucky comes to this
!oor and declares in advance that she will not
lbide by the decision Of . majority Of the peo-
oie's Representatives in Congress, sanctioned,
90, b5 the Executive. He will fight against it.
Mr.. Nadsworth interrupted; but his words
Sere inaudlble. :.
md what tBe gentleman now says IS an af1er
Lhonght. He said hewould fight, and that is
sufficient. He would leave The Union and
light US, throwing his strength into the ranks |
Of the seeded States~
Mr. Wadsworth was understood to say he |
would do 20 in certain contingency.
Mr.. Bingham-An1 for that the people,
speaking through their representatives and |
Executive, have declared jeff Davis traitor.
But it the Sensleu,an's presumptions are right |
jeff. Davis Is no traitor, and the people have |
no night to he seeking to slay hial-we have |
brow and brand him 4 traitor, and marshal |
1tgions si1 hundred Thousand strong to seize |
his capital, drag him forth to the Judgment !
seat, convict him Of treason, and hang him by !
the neck till he be dead ! want 70 know |
from the gentleman Why this would not be |
jeff Dayis's assumption Was that he had
right 10 go out Of the Union, because we did
not by legal enactmcnts giye protection
to slave property everywhere within the
limits Of cur Jurisdiction, by land or by sea
That Was exactly the position Of Davis-nota q
Waasworth) seems to be an apt student Of
this arch1eader Of the rebellion. The preser-
1ation Of the nation ia the first and paramount
duty Of governments; aud if it becomes nee
essary for the common defense, if it be nec-
eesaIy for the preservation OF the Constitu-
ton and the Union, and for the maintenance
Of the nation, Of the noblest government Of
the earth, to sweep away slaverT-thi6 modern
ciyilizcr Of the children Of Dahomey-wil
the gentleman, on that day when this becomes
necessary he, ask, rise iu revolt against
his coun try? That Is the question.
hIr. Wadsworth rose, but Ills words were
lost. =
Mr.. Bingham continuation have already
answered, sir. I'm surprised to her gentle
men say that the constitution of the United
States and this new Civilization, slavery, arc
WadEwortb) says be did not say so. It is hard
to know What he would say, from his frequent
interruption. repe1 all such assertions as
that, come from what quarter they may. The
constitution is the great charter Of human
liberty; and further, in the words Of Madison,
It was not tit to incorporate the words slave,
slavery or servitude in that instrument, which
was intended to live through all coming time,
and If it Was now intended that it should be
known to after generations Of men that any
such system Of civilization as the African Stare
trade, with all its kindred atrocities, existed
in the times Of the American constitution. I
am sick Of the supercilious manners Of gen
t1emen who assall the measures introduced
here exclusively for the common defense,
and declaring them violations upon the
constitution. Where are the violations
{Mr. Wadswosth) was few days ago seized
with holy horror because yenturcd to assert
that four millions of slaves held By the rebels,
and who we're IN the bands Of the rebels, and
were the mainstay Of the rebellion, ought to
be liberated, and protected, too, whenever
Of American liberty. I said, also, that every
loya. citizen in the land held his life and the
lives Of his wife and children in sacred trust
for the common defense That rsuaark did
not excite any horror in the gentleman's mind.
Oh, no, not atal1. Isaid that not only the father
OF tho household, but the eldest born, was
subject to be sent to the tented field, to be
placed under military rule, exposed to the pes
thence Of the camp and the destruction of the
battlefield. Bnt this excited uo surprise in
Ito mind Of the gentleman, and he did not
threaten us with the opposition Of the fifteen
Slave States to the tyranny. But when it is
said that this measure Of emancipation is nee
essary for the..common defense, for the prescr-
yation Of the. Constitution and the Uniou,
then risesS4fe gentleman from Kentucky in
holy horror, and threatens Us with the oppo-
sition OF the combined fifteen States. lido
would represent her. When she throws off
her allegiance, under the leadership of the
gentleman CIR. Wad=Torth), will then speak
Of fher as she deserves thrust in God, however,
that day may never come. ! speak now only OF
cottondom, and Of the Internal atrocities of the
system which prevails there by Law, where it
is a crime, punishable by fine and inprison-
mcnt, to teach the slave the rights of his COIL
mon humanity-ayc, even to teach him that
there is q God, in whose image he has been
created. speak Of the region where exists
TINT internal atrocity which dooms four mill
ions Of men to chains and slavery. 1 speak in
the spirit of John Randolph, one of the nob1cst
OF men, a Virg ginian, who said that he looked
with uDutterable 6corn and contempt upon
that Northern man who would Offer himself as
the apologist of the internal atrocity Of slave
| r.. It is from the slaFe-pen and the barsacoon
Of the slave that has CONC up the cril influence
| which has inEtlgatcd rebellion against the Re-
| pullic--wbfch has urged to treason against 4
government that never imposed upon its pre-
sent enemies any thing but benefits and bless
I ings-which has given birth to treason
which has no parallel since the reasonable re-
volt Of the angels against the God that made
them. Congress has the right to declare all
the properly Of the rebels subject to capture
and confscation. Everything Tint helps the
canse Of treason and rebellion should be swept
| AWAY. ana LnG SLT0DE arm OF the febel5 III
this war Ii the four millions of slaves who DIG
their intrenchments, cultivate their fields
| and gather the crops that furnish them with
| the bread on which they live. 1t Is the duty
| Of the Government: to administer the laws il
| the rebel States until such times as loyal
| State governments are organized by the
| people. assert the proposition, au6
| challenge contradiction, that the Gov
crnDcnt Of the United States has full
| and ample power over all the rcyolted State:
| until the time comes when the people re
establish State governments under the Con
stitution, and in obedience to the Constitu
ton, and have taken the oath to support It,
/ shall never consent that South Carolina or AM
other 1eroltcd State shall send representative
to this floor, or hold any election even for suc1
purpose, till she has first organized q gov
ernnent, every department of which shall b
loyal, md shall have taken solemn oath tt
support the Constitution Of the country. Tn
til this is done we hnvc the right to govern
those States in the manner prescribed for tn
government Of the territories.
11r. Wadsworth Was Understood to soy thai
he would never submit to this.
Mr.. Bingham-The gentleman will have f
submit to whatever: may come, and that de
4 pends on circumstances. Emancipation wouli
put down this rebellion. 1t is the sole maste
Of this quarrel, and at this time the worl'
comprchcnds and understands that this Is
fight between the friends Of free governmen
ard the friends Of tile blackest and most wick
ed despoti6m the world eyer saw.
The Committee then arose and tho Hous
adjourned.