Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-05-28

with whom, in this reconstruction am
sorry | do not see the Senator from Call-
fornia here, because know, from the po-
sition he holds toward those who make
these assaults, he would be able to give US
light on the subject. l accuse them OF
deliberate purpose to assail, through the
judicial tribunals, and through the SEN
ate and the House of Representatives OF
the United States, and everywhere else,
and to overawe, intimidate and trample
under foot, if they can, the men who bold
ly stand forth in defense Of their country,
now imperiled by this gigantic rebellion.
have watched it long. / have seen 1t IN
secret. ! have seen its movements ever
since that party got together, with col
league of mine in the other House as
chairman of the committee on resolutions
"a man who never had any sympathy
with this Republic. but whose every
breath is devoted to its destruction, Just
us far his heart dare permit him to do.
But. sir. there was salt in the old-Dcmo-
cratic party. They do not talk of recon-
structing with the followers of Stepen a.
Douglas. Mr.. Douglas was once a strong
partizan of the Democratic faith. He
went along with them until he found
they were bent upon treason and the de
struction of the country in which they
lived. The moment Mr.. Douglas ascer-
tanned that this was their full, deliberate
purpose, he came out from among them
like an honest man, and became separate,
and his honorable followers came along al
so, and they are cooperating most cor
daily to-day with the Republican party
everywhere. The Senator seeks no re-
f,pI
how could they join in any reconstruc-
ton? They would look well coaleseing
again with the wretches who have perse-
cuted their great and venerable leader
to death. How could his disciples form a
coalition with those who erucified him
with those recOnstructors under the lead
of Mr.. Vallandigham of the House of
Representatives
The senator talks about things being
done in the dark | should like to know
where this meeting was held for recon-
structing and fixing the policy that was to
govern the Democratic party in its reno
waited form. 1t was some dark purlieu,
perhaps, of this Capitol-a fit place for
the conspirators who concocted the idea of
rising in their places and assaulting the
Administration, accusing it of tyranny,
and comparing it to an inquisition. Ey
cry man of that stamp in the Senate has
already risen, and belched forth his ana
themas against the Administration of the
country, and especially against the Sec
retary of War, Mr.. Stanton.
What has he done? The Senator says
that he was in the Administration of Mr.. |
Buchanan. That is true. When Mr.. Bu- |
chanan's Administration became so cor
rupt with treachery, when it became so
well known that it could not hold togeth-
er any longer, when its rottenness had
tornit to pieces and sunk it beneath con-
tempt, it was necessity that they should
call an honest man into their administra- |
tion-a man who unwillingly a man
whose character has always been above re-
prOach a man who, though of Demo-
cratic predictions, had retired from pol
itics; a man whose great mind and clear
ness of intellect had placed him at the
very head of one of the most honorable
professions a man who could command at
his will whatever price he asked. He did
take it upon himself, at the call of Mr..
Buchanan, TO take part in his Admins
tration. So far from acting with those
corrupt traitors who had broken it down,
say here in my place, and / speak what
IS known to many Senators, If this nation
Vas saved from utter shipwrch by treach=l
cry, Mr.. Stanton, in that Administration
IF Mr. Buchanan. did more to uphold it
han any other. Sir, he saved it from ut
he saved your Constitution
rom revolution and ruin. Is he to be as
allied here? Sir he never sought any Of
ice. His pure life, his great knowledge
If affairs and his ability, had commend
ID him in these perilous times as the best
Wounds of this Republic, and guide the
Ship of State through the terrible storm
which is now upon it. He is an inquisi-
or! Why?
Mr.. President that man is not quite
honest who thus argues constitutional
luestions in this Senate and involles the
Constitution IN behalf of the rights of ev- !
.rv man precisely as he would in times of >
,eace, where there were isolated cases
# delinquency, and where it was safe to
ring man to trial The man who SAYS
t, and would have you proceed with
hese traitors precisely as you would in
ime of peace, is endeavoring to deceive :
he public. Can you prosecute traitor
outh of Mason and DiXon's line f? As the ,
Id saying is you might as well try the
levil in hell, and summon as jurors his /,
hief angels 1t is impracticable it can
lot be done. Why, then, stand up here
ontending that men should be tried by
II the constitutional guarantees that are
brown around them in peaceful times
repeat what ] said as no iurist has yet
Undertaken to define the limits to which {
man might 90 in the honest defense of {
lis life when assailed, so no statesman
rould undertake to limit the powers that
he Government might use to preserve its
fe when assailed by traitors. / defy the
Gentleman to make an argument worthy '
f the name against that proposition. '
Do YOU think that We will stand by, {
ielding to your argument, while you fet- q
er our legs and bind our arms with the '
Constitution of the United States, that /
on may stab it to death? Is that your c
lea of the Constitution, that it is made a
D tie the hands of the honest men from {
S defense, while traitors may stab it to
he heart? That is the use you would
lake of the Constitution of the United \
tates. Sir, l say again, | have no scru- 1
les about the Constitution of the United 9
tates as welded against traitors in this {
me Oh NlOlelll IcNtiulltll- on HdNC q
cen that the ordinary course of the i
ommon law and of the Constitution can a
ot be followed Shall the Constitution n
c down and die? Must we give up all Il
ur glorious principles that were defend
4 by it because traitors have assaulted
in such way that they have prevent
L its operation? Sir, folly like that u
ould deserve the ignominious fate which y
ould inevitably follow so foolish a course.
Mr.. President, as have said heretofore, I
is a remarkable fact, that although +
lousands upon thousands of men have Il
Hen victims to this rebellion on the field .
battle, and many thousands more have
cen mangled and wounded, inhicting
lisery, poverty, and death upon millions s.
people. we are yet told on this floor |,
nat we should be tender-footed; that we L
lnnot tie the hands of a miserable trait d
, from giving information TO the enemy, O
4 II II Il. I