The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-04-22
sPEEoH6F -
HON. r. q. BE EAMAN,
OF Michigan, ia he House Of Representa-
tves, AprH an, 1862.
Mr.. BEAMAN said |:

tVeS, siP'" '''i
Mr. BEAMAN said:
Mr.. Chairman, majority of the Commit.
tee on Territories lately reported to the House
bill TO establish provisional governments
over the districts of country now in rebellion
against the lawful authority Of the United
States. The House, in the exercise Of its
Judgment, of which | do not complain, de
clined to order it printed, Tut laid it upon the
table. Two minority reports were also made,
one Of which-if l heard arigbl-character
lied the bill as unconstitutional, If not treas.
enable. Having concurred with the majority
Of the committee, deem it due to myself to
state briefly the reasons that governed my nc
ton, and to attempt TO show, that whatever
may be the policy of the bill, it is not obnox-
ious TO the grave charges Of unconstitutional
ty aud treason.
! | am aware, sir, that the proposition is nov
ell; but We are surrounded by novel circum
stances. Indeed the entire history Of the IA.
tion-if we regard its origin, its development,
| its form Of government, its present condition
! is novel, peculiar, ard wonderful, and to af-
ter ages it will appear exaggerated perhaps
/ mythical. Within the memory of men still
I Il
broken away from the dominion oF powerful
monarchy, established their independence, in.
creased to great population, enjoyed "a meas.
ure OF freedom and prosperity never before at
tanned, become a first class Power, and final
! ly, without obvious excuse, have been plung
cd into terrible civil war, conducted by a
million Of combatants. And now n large por
ton Of the country is in state Of undi.gused
rebellion against lawful authority, and with
ou' the pale Of constitutional, local govern
ment. have said that the proposition is
new; but not so are the principles upon which
it is based. 1t is not speculative; it looks T.
practical results, and 10 me it seems worthy
of careful investigation. In large portion
of the Republic the due execution of the Fed
eral laws is suspended by estile mpediment
which must be removed; and lawful local gov
ernmcnt has been exliuguished, which must
be replaced. The mode and the means are
practical questions lying in our way, which, if
we would we cannot avoid
The substantial proposition contained 10 the
b'll, briefly stated, is this: the United States
is nationality, a sovereign Power with vast
territorial posse,so $, amounting, in the ag
gregatc, to about three million two hundred
and fifty thousand square miles, over which it,
s entitled TO governmental jurisdiction, from
which allegiance is due, and to which i owes
the obligations Of protection and a just al
mini>tratlon Of law. Let us examine it,
The American Government is not part.
nership or league Of States. bu; a unity, n
! sovereignty, n Government Of the people. II
was not established by the action Of States it
was based upon the popular will. In the pro.
amble 10 the organic law il is declared, that
ave, the people Of the United Statcs,' - do
ordain and establish thi, Constitution for the
United States Of Amcrcn;' and in the sew
cnth and last article of that instrument, in OF
der h give ,it'ct 10 the popular will, aud TO
exclude tn idea Of State au'I Ioti'y in tho f,r-
nation of tie Union, it i. expressly Ir1yi led
that It's establishment shall he hv the "raiiti
cation not If States. hut ''of the conventions
Of nine States" By the adoption Of the Con
,tjIu',n in the mode prescribed hy its own
terms, We became one people AMI one nation.
Nor was this communication tie result Of acci
dent. 1t WAS induced by judgment, reason,
r Election, and experience. 1t was urged 10y
the n ccssitics Of the occasion.
From l775 TO 1857, thc people Of tho thjr-
teen States SIR gged through a precariou, cx
istcncc. During that delicate and dangerous
period, SO pregnant Of future results, tlley W ,r"
separated and cstranged by pernicious lines Of
feeble States, and cnervated 10y the j"alousrs
and autagouisms Of petty severe gntics. They
had no executive, no Judiciary, no nationality,
no central sovereign power. The Articles OF
Confederation had proved failure. EXperi.
Cnce bad convinced the great minds Of that
time that the fruits of the Revolution were
about 10 perish, through setishucss, iurisdic.
tioual strife and ultimate anarchy. In pro
cccding to form national Government, they
took care that tie remedy should bo eiIcciual.
In the preamble alluded to, they stated rs
well the reasons for their actions as the oh
jccts 70 be attained. They declared that tEey
ordained tie Constitution ain order to form a
moro perfect union, establish Justice. insure
domestic tranquility, provide for the common
defense, promote the general welfare" This
language is deliberate and well chosen, and
considered in connection with cotcmporancous
history, shows that they were mindful of their
danger and sought an avenue for escape.
But what was the great, leaGing paramount
idea that weighed most heavily upon the
minds Of that day? 1t was union, perfect un.
ion, ~ more perfect III ion." They would
have n national Government with rover to
extend the agis Of its protection over the en-.
tire American possessions. They would have
flag emblematic Of authority, though float
ing aloit over distant seas. They would have
the citizen of Massachusetts, "enlitlcd to all
the privileges and immuuities Of citizens in
the several States" They would "establish
justice" not in New York only, but in every
part Of the country. They would "insure do
Inestic tranquility" as well in South Carolina
as in the District OF Columbia. They would
"promote tho general welfare by protecting
guarding, and encouraging the country in all
its parts.
Their laboB resulted in the adoption Of the
Federal Constitution, and on tho 3Oth day Of
April, 1889, George Washington was inaug-
urated and took the oath Of Office as pres
dent Of the Unit d States. lie was citizen
Of Virginia, but not the Chief Magistrate OF
that Commonwealth. lie was placed at the
head Of Government that embraced all the
States, and whose sccptre extended rs well
over Georgia as Massachusetts. Connecticut
~. a Al. Al