The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-06-04


proposed and adopted. All the people ask
is competent and efficient lcrdcaship. and
millions ot money and IN mjTtads of men are
at our disposal. With impumty have trai-
tors remained III our Army, in our Navy.
and IN almost every department of the Gov
ernmcnt. We have done more. for more
regret to say ito encourage than to ter
rty traitors, by our inaction andiour divis-
ions.
MIR. WlCKLlFFE. do not know whcth.
or understood the gentleman in remark
which he has just made, and therefore
rise to ask him a question. Are we to uu-
derstand him as saying that there are trail
tors still remaining in the Army and Navy,
and in every department of the Govern
mcnt,
Mr.. ASHLEY. Yes, sir; I made that
statement.
MIR. WlCkLlFFE In Gods name. then.
let us know who they are.
Mr. ASHLEY. give that as my opini-
on, basscd on facts which are within reach
OF every member Of this House, believe
that there still remain in az ;,,ae departments
ol tins Government men who, at heart are
traitors to IT. know that to he the opni-
on of = majority of the members of the
select committee on the conduct of the war.
ana OF the Potter committee. The mem
bers OF both these committee with whom
| have conrerscd are well satisfied that
there are many now in office under this
Government who sympathi2c with those
who are to-day seeking the nations life,
and yet we remain apparently indifferent
and divided.
Sir, we spent weeks in discussing a tax
bill, which might without much impropric-
ty be called Il hill to coniiscatu the property
of loyal citizens, while we refuse, pcrsis-
tently refuse, to touch the property ofrcbcls
in arms against the Government. We pre-
fer to tall back upon musty prcCcdcnts, and
thus attcmptto divert the will of the nation
from its purposes by discussing learn
ed ahsurditics and constitutional tcchnCal-
ties rather that grappc as practial men
with the cause of the rebellion. TrrachcrN
and treason stalk before us on all sides and
defy us. We are told not only by tra-
tors, but 10y some who profess 10 he our
friends, that we have 40 constitutional
power to coniiscatc the property of rebels
III arms against the Governments; that we
have no constitutional power to remove the
cause and admitted support of the rebellion.
and thus make II like rebellion from the same
cause forever impossible hereafter. Thus.
amid this diversity of opinion, we are
divided in council and rendered powerlcss
in action. and are drifting as u nation no one
knows whittier. Instead of directing the
public mind, as statesmen should do. by
playing the politician we divide and district
it. Now, sir
The SPEAKER. The gentleman must
coniine his remarks to the subject under
discussion, The motion is to postpone.
Mr.. ASHLEY. In my Judgment, in the
remarks which am submitting, | am not
out of orders and if the Chair had waited
to see the application which I propose to
make of them, he would not, | am sure. have
decided me out of order. However, if that
be the decision of the Chair, | will not
further continue them.
The SPEAKER. The Chair cannot see
what relevancy the coniiscatiun of the pro-
pcrty rebels has to the pending question.
Mr.. ASHLEY. Papers and resolutions
are often prcsen:ad at the Clerks desk to
be read for the action of the House. and
questions of order arc not unircqucutly
raised upon them. The Chair usually delays |
a decision until they are read, to asccrtciu |
their contents and relevancy, and in this
instance do not see why hc should have |
departed from his usual course. certainly !
do not intend to make any remarks which |
which make to coiiscation and our divis-
ions on other subject is not rcIovont but |
propose to make, with your consent an
application of these remarks, and you and
the House may then Judge whether they
are pertinent to the pending proposition or
not.
Now, Mr. Speaker, when interrupted, |
was saying that we had failed utterly to do
anything effective in behalf of the country
at this session if | except the act emanci-
pating the slaves in this District, and the
pcssage by this House of the homestead
bill Pacific railroad. We not only have
permitted ourselves to be divided in cOlln-
sci; we have not only failed to grapple
with the cause of this rebellion,
as statesmen and practical men by playing
the politician, have divided the people at
home. To-day we yield 10 the supercili-
Gus demands and pocket the insult of
foreign Government, and tomorrow grow
jubilant over victory which means moth
ing. To-day we declare the backbone of
this rebellion broken, and tomorrow re-
verse destroys this faith, and we grow as
skeptical as before but whether rejoicing
in victory or mourning in defeat, we are
constantly assured by the friends and apollo
gists of slavery that we must not pass any
law which will this question We are as
sured by gentleman that if wo are only
patriotic-if we are only patient, concilia-
tory, and magnanimous--our erring south
ern brethren will soon return and sin no
more, which simply means, us interpret it,
that they will return to the Union when we
give them all that they ask, and more they
ever asked before the rebellion, Thus, day
by day, week byweek, and month by month,
for a whole year, has this panorama of vic
tories and defeats been passing in review
before our eyes and yctwe remain undecid-
ed, and "sit here celebrating III cold de-
bate" without unity oipurpose or harmony
of action, This bill imposes Just punish
ment upon slavery, which has brought
about this rebellion. 1t puts it under the
ban of the national Government and gives
an earnest Of our purpose, by declaring that
slavery and involuntary servitude shall
cause in this Territory forever.
Sir the motion to postpone this bill prac-
tically secures direct vote upon it, The
defeat of this motion, and the prompt or
ganization of this Territory, ] regard as
very important. Its passage will secure
not only the Appropriation of tho great major
ity of the loyal people of this country, but
it will secure the appreciation Of the liberal
people of every Government in Europe. IL
will place the national Government where
every earnest man in this House desires it
to be placcd-on the side of freedom.
Sir, this indifference this division Of SEN
timent, to which have felt it to be my duty
TO allude, sits like an incubus rpcn many
and they seem powerless to dispel it
Many who should be with us in action, as
they profess to be in sentiment, untortunaee-
ly are encouraging others to vote against
Ia, l;u ,,b, otber wise wOull sustain il.