Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-15
HON. f. M. MORRILL,.

sc.~.~--<--"
This able Senator, who represents the loyal
people Of Maine in the Senate of the United
States, made telling speech In that body, the
other day, on the resolution introduced into thu
Senate, making inquiry of the Secretary Of War
why certain persons have been restrained OF
their liberty.
His reburke of Senator Powell Is thorough,
pointed, manly, and, what Is more, that senstor
merits II BY his conduct. A man sympathizing
with the Government ofthe United States as this
man sympathizes with that of jefferson Davis,
could not live an hour In Richmond. Yet this
Senator is permitted to hold his seat, draw his
pay, while his heart and sympsthies are all with
the South and with the rebellion. Such men
should be denounced, and Mr.. Morrill, does II In
the following terse and pointed manner:
Now, Mr.. President, let me advert to some
of the current history Of this country In Illus
| tration of what I am saying. The honorable
Senator from Kentucky seems to take the lead
in denouncing the President and the Govern
ment. It is not new with him. Let me illus
trate the subject somewhat by reference to his
own State. What Is the condition of Kentuckyl
He stands here to tell you that at least 5000 Of
the citizens of Kentucky have been, first and
I last, uETtSltu Nv anu ft-
strained Of their liberty, most of whom have
since been set at liberty. Now, sir, from what
| we know of the current history Of Kentucky,
| what IL the inferencei What Is the inference
the honorable Senator would have the country
! drawi That the President has arrested so m any
loyal Union loving citizens, all patriots! That Is
what the honorable Senator would give us to un-
derstand. Now, what is the probability Ihave
reason to believe that three out of every four Of
| the able-boded men Of Kentucky, the men of
war, are In the rebel ranks fighting the battles Of
the rebels against this Constitution, against this
| Government, and against the authority OF the
| President. What istheinference from that3 Do
we not know that Kentucky, from the begin
ming, has been nest of traitors Do we not
know that nobody has been left In Kentucky
| except the old men and the women and the
children Do we not know that all such who
could fight, and could get out Of the State,
have Joined the rebels Under such circum-
stances, the Senator from Kentucky comes here
to ask the commiseration of the Senate; and
he himself. from the beginning Of this rebel
| lion down to the present time, has stood here to
| denounce tho Government, stood by the side
| of his late colleague, who denounced 1t from
! the beginning TO the end of his career here,
until he marched over to join the ranks Of re-
bellion, and now heads a brigade against the
Government of his country. honor the man
illness of the man who follows the logic OF
his opinions and the logic Of his teachings,
and goes where he belongs rather than linger
to advocate the cause of those who are fighting
against the Government OF their country, and
who has no word Of denunciaton whatever to
wards men who are In arms against the Govern
ment. From the beginning OF this contest
down to now, no word has escaped that honor
able Senator denuncatory Of the enemies of his
country; but from the beginning this Govern.
ment has done 10 act whatever to maintain the
Federal authority that has not been denounced
by him. From his standpoint, Mr.. President,
do not know that anything else could have
been expected. He does not believe In the au
thorty of this Government; he does not believe
that this Government is anything more than q
sort of peace establishment. He thinks that
your Constitution provides for nothing mort
than a peace establishment; that In times o
war 1t has no power and no authority; and SO
/, from the beginning of this rebellion, he ha,
stood here to denounee the authority OF tht
Government, to denounce coercion, subjuga
tion, and all that sort Of thing, as unconstitu
tional, illegal, without authority of law, usur
patton. Following the logic Of such opinions
he must, of course, denounce the President, ant
denounce all measures calculated to restore tn,
: supremacy Of the Government and to mairlaiI
: the Federal supremacy everywhere.
II does one good TO read such sharp rebuke
=. of traitors at such a time as this, when thes
men in and out of Congress are doing all the.
7 can to overthrow the Government. Mr.. Nor
rill's blows are well laid on, and the subject o
+. them ought TO slink away with Breckinridg
and join the rebels. 1t is his proper place.
Maine may well be proud Of her two nobl
5 Senators, and may well rejoice that Will
she has sent thirty thousand of her sons to tn
o battle field TO meet the rebels in fierce strife
5 she has also men in Congress able to meet th
e conspirators against the Government in th
councils of the nation.
e Look at the loyalty of Maine, and then 1
what we see in Kentucky.