The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1862-02-12
VOLUME %, NO Al
Concord, Fatenity and he Constellation
= SIP H EC FL as' ~ =
WIN, n. wADswoETH,
g1s, OF KENTUCKY, 1900
IN THE HoUsE.oF REPRESENTATIVES, JAN. Is,

ars OF ALNIO(A4 ~, A---r-
IN THE HousE,oF REPRESENTATIVES,, JAN. Is
@rsisg sdIlo ss.j 1862 4 ssI,g .fs7-y
The House being in The Committee of the
Whole on the STATE Of the Unon- uatsoE "a
MIR. WADSWOR TIL said: avail myself
Mr.. Chairman OF this opportunity to give 10
the House the reasons which proposed ic
offer while ago .or the vote | desired 90
give upon the resolution introduced thiS morn
ing BY the gentleman rom New York, Mr.
Corning, and passed short time since My
colleagues from Kentucky voted ior. that
resolution, and Was myself anxious to do
se.. am still satisfied that, upon the naked
proposition contained in il, the resolution
truly reflects the will OF their loyal constiti
usnts But di a not feel at liberty, with
out say. explanation. though it was The de
sire Of my heart, to vote for, the resolution.
could not, although was satisfied that it
was the duty Of the Representatives OF the
people at once TO pr ceeds 10 consider the
great question Of the ways and means for
carrying on the war; say could not, -un-
der the circumstances which would surround
that vote, give it at that time. A resolution,
the most important, undertake to say, yet
introduced into this House, was brought in
and o speech in Interpretation Of the purpo-
ses for which il was introdu ed, and as a
cotnmentar, npon its text, from the distini'
guished gentleman from OHIO, Mr.. Bing.
ham, is delivered, and then the previous
question Is sprung and maintained by the
majority, and gentlemen are asked to vote at
once upon that commentary and under that
previous question, and without any answer
to thu most remarkable speech. considering
the source from which it came, that was ever
heard upon tiis floor. am never startled
when tie gentleman from Illinois, Mr.
Lovejay. who sits yonder, rises, upon that
s subj ect SO near his heart, to teach us his con-
siruction Of the Constitution, the will Of the
LORD, land the duty ofibe nation in this re
beilion, Nor am astonished when the dis !.
tinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania,
Mr.Stevens,] and who gives me, the honor
Of his attention, rises and unlolds his views
upon this question.
But was astonished in more respects than
one when my neighbor from the State Of
Ohio delivered his views of the policy Of The
Government, and laid down the boundaries
the no boundaries, rather---of the power
Of Congress to provide for the common de-
tense and the public welfare -astonished in
more than one respect A gentleman for
whom had the highest esteem, and whose
course, as had observed it here, gave me
the impression OF patriotic man and learn
ed lawyer, rises here AMI tells the Represen.
tatives Of the people that there are no boun,
daries to that power, and that Congress is
omnipotent to provide for the cuininon de-
tense, and that under that general I.hrase Of
the Constitution, all other limitations are
swept away as cllaf, and that we may do
- fho c,rt; 4 5nx L., a.
ural right" Sir, is not the limitation itself
absurd? How comes it that natural right
limits any sovereign power. hold that nat.
urai right does not limit sovereign power
1t is . matter addressed merely to the discre,
tion of the sovereign, but does not affect the
power The sovereign may do what he
rleases, unfettered bv any natural right, so
far a. the question OF power is Concerned.
The augmentation by which SO startling
a proposition as that was supported was
equally surprising 1t was asserted that trial
by jury Indictment presentment, all the
guards thrown around the rights Of the cili-
Gems of the country, We're swept away be-
cause alien enemies had no such fighs. Il
was argued that the power to take Ii 70 with
out due process OF law, and without trial by
jury, was implied because we could take life
by court martial bring man 10 the drum
head, condemn him to death and execute
him. 1t was argud that the power "to
make rules concerning captures on land and
water" implies The power to ,aks the proper
ty oi citizens without making compensation
therefor. and without due process OF law
With fervid defamation and with an utter
snce thickenedby intense feeling, the gentie-
man rushed into these'extremes. and peint.
ed out what he wuud do under these suppo.
sed powers to my constituents as well a. the
constituents Of other gentlemen upon this
door. Now, sir, do not give in to any such
Interpretation OF the Cons tuition as that -
Not one dollar will vote, not one man will
Igiant 'or any such purpose, or to sustain
any such Interpretation. Nay, more, sir, /
will give all that my people have, their cattle
on thousand hills, their lands and tene
inents, their slaves and their lives. even to
the last one Of them, to resist any attempt to
enforce such construction OF he ConSttu-
ton as that 10 the ruin OF the people OF this
country. s rea rlUs
And, sir. am not one Of those who pre-
fer slavery to the integrity and glory and
perpetuity Of my country I preftr its re
nown and it's integrity above all property and
to my own poor life, and have proven it,
al that my people have they are willing to
give for the defense Of the Constitution and
the Union, The glory and renown and pres
ervation OF their country is higher than any
other earthly consideration. Kentucky has
gone into this war to extinguiAh rebellion by
the sword, and she never will lay down that
sword while the war ia waged in the spirit OF
the Constitution till that great purpose has
been accomplished, and the audacious men
who have pfecipitated this ruin upon the
countryside leaders and controllers In the
council and in the feld-have been brought
to the halter. Sympathizing as do all
through me wial this great purpose loving
my country not less than any man upon this
hoor or outside this Hail. and willing to
make any sacrifice for IL that freemen can
be asked 10 make, | deplorc the agitation OF
this question, or the attempt TO give this war
aturn which must at once enlarge the pro
portions OF che rebellion, and put an end to
the possibility Of success in our efforts to
suppress IL sg ~ = Msas tg4r ss,R
s,- Is it necessary that Ishould attempt 10 an.
swer constitutional argument, such as tha,
70 which ] have referred--that Congress has
power for the common defense to DO arythipe
that is not forbidden by natural right? No.
cir. maintain that the federal government
Is not sovereign. declare that Sovereignty
does not reside In the States, and that ihers
is TO such thipgas sovereignty in this country
except the SOVEREIGNTY Of the mass. The
Federal Government itself is uot sovereign,
but limited in many important particulars -
The State Governments ara not soyeregn.--
The Federal Government can do nothing
that is not permitted 10 1t in that instrument
which brougbtiits into being, and upon tho
preservation Of which its existence depends.
Yet " u argued that all which is not iorbid
den BY natural right may bs done for the
common defense. That to preserve the ma
ticn We may break ope temple Of tns Con-
ssitntion, and steal thence .lhe .Le o the
building" Sir y 10 not contrary TO natural