, 1862-01-29
TEE CONDUCT OF THE WAR.
Speech of Thaddcua Stevens. delivered
in the House Of Representatives,
Jan. 20, lS62.

Mr.. Stevens {Pa.) remarked that this was
mcaitatcd for years past Tic secession party
lad diligently prepared themselves for eiollt-
ing all constitutional obligations. Il Breckia-
ridge had been elected President, the South
Weuld naye lad Jour Years more II which 20
enc cs1 hour rtc 100 % soon Ts Ii Ism Is not ia st IG to t
nog can it he accomplished without the loss
Of thousands Of valuable lives and millions
Of money. The rebels arc proud, naughty
aid obstinate. They believe that they
are born to command. They declare
that they will suffer their homez to be
laid in ruins before they submit That issue
n,ust lie accepted Better lay their whole
country waste than to sutTer the nation to
be murdered. Better depopulatc them. and
plant new race Of frecnen on their dcsolated
and deserted fields, tlan suffer this rebellion
to triumph: Such is the voice Of the frce.peo
pie Of the Nor1A Nor shall there lc, if our
fn1e,s be equal to the task, ANY truce until eve
ry rebel shall have laid down Lis arms and SUBJ
nitted 10 the Government. The people arc
ly1nanc, and this is humanity. Honor, man.
hood, national and personal pride-to say
nothing Of patriotisul-forh that either
party should yield except under the most over
wle1ming necessity. Il the Government sub
mits to the rebels, if luses its character, and
cca5cs to be a power among the nations
Of the Garth. How, then, and when,
MIL tui6 Wit tuQ- III olQtE HuTQ3,
how can the South be wholly exhausted
It will not end until the Government
shall more fully comprehend the magnitude Of
the crisis, in which one party or the other
must be reduced to hopeless ftebleness, and
tie power Of future efforts shall be utterly an
initiated. THIS Is 4 sad bnt true alternative.
The South can never be reduced TO that con-
dition go long as this war is prosecuted on its
present prinCiples-so long as they are left the
means Of culti7ating their fields through
fo1ctd labor. You may cxpcnd the blood of
tens of thousands of free men, and billions OF
money year after year, without being any
nearer the end, unless you reach it by your
OWN submission. Their domestic institutions
give them great advantages in war. They
know that, and do not withdraw q single
hand from the cultivation Of the soil Their
willie men call be spared for tie army,
old and iuiirm can oversee the slaves, and al
their industrial pursuits can go on uninter-
rapted. Although The black NAY never lifts
weapon he is really the main stay Of the var.
To end The war successfully and promptly,
therefore, the slaves must be made our allies
Universal emancipation must be proclaimed.
Then would this war cease il six months.
It could not be maintained even if the 1ibcra-
ted elases should not lift hand against their
mastefs. Their fields would no longer pro-
duce the means by which they sustain the
var. and unconditional submission would be
tie immediate and necessary result. Which Is
most to be aDhorTcd, rebellion Of siayes
fighting for their liberty, or rebellion Of free
men Sighting to murder the nation Built wlU
be Faid that the Constitution does not author
ice Congress 10 interfere with slavery in the
States. TAat Is true, as long a. The Constltu-
ton ard the laws arc in fact supreme. 81 il
! times Of peace. But when the Constitutions i
| rcpudiatcd and set at defiance by rebels too
| powerful to be put down By peaceful means,
which it was impossible to define. The Com
stitution says that "the President shall take
| care that the laws ehau be faithfully exccutr
t ed,' and creates him for the time Of emer.
! gency IS much dictator IS = decree Of the
Roman Senate, whose dictatons exercised
al proper power Necessary for the put
Lie sattty. shelter the msars ~cre in
sc7::sva OF t-eir tables CT ro. II: