The Richmond palladium., 1862-02-08

It NAV be that that improves hre-arm added
to the slaughter at Bull Rna: !. may bt
that that improved fre-arm ri Thomas b
Lincoln added to the terrible butchery al
Balls Bluff butchery which fills the ma
tons ewes with tears. bat which brings nc
blush of shame to the nations cheek; ioi
there heroes as grand as human history ha:
ever embalmed earned . martys glory and
a ma-txr's grave. The blood runs back
cold upon nv heart when l think that per
haps those i'll fated sons of Pennsy lvania
ami Massachusetts may have reaped the fir>s
rioe, rich fruits of Thomas Lincoln s
improved fire arms at Balls Bluff.
But. sir, shall not fatigue the Senate
by a further reference to this letter OF the
Is, of March. You know to whom 1t was
written. and the circumsta 1ces under which
it was written. You are prepared to make
up your Judgment in reference 10 i's char
acter. approach now another letter; the
! one on the 7th OF September. 1861, address
! ed to Mr. Fitch, of Madison. La that letter
there is. to my mind. sentiment tar more
obnoxious to the charge OF dlsloyaity than
anything contained in the FIRST letter
What is loyalty? Faith. good faith to
the Government under which We hve-
Every native born citizen owes loyalty TO
the Government under whose protection he
! is born That Government in return owes
him protection. That loyalty results, 1t
may be. from the accidents OF birth and
residence; bat every foreign born citizen
owes the same loyalty whenever he takes
the oath of allegiance to this Government.
Then. what is disloyalty? Unfaithfulness to
the Government Are the sentiments con-
tanned i'll this second letter consistent with
good faith to the Government pass by
all that is said upon the subject of abolition.
You have already heard one much more
competent to speak upon that subject than
l have ever pretended to be-.'he d'sua-
guished Senator from Massachusetts, =
Whsn he passes from the topic OF abolition
|, at least, should not hope to add any IN
tere-t to it. l have no charge to make in
reference to whist is said in this second let
ter a. inst aboli,ionists; but the sentiment In
it to which | wish to call your attention is
this: Il have always been. and am now. op-
posed to all the co-Tcive measures OF the
Gsn-ral Government"
What are these coercive measures? 1t is
wide and most significant phrase
have ALWAYS been and am now opposed to
all the measures of the General GpverG-
meu." repeating the same argument that
Senate. against the coercion of a Safe,
suppose my distinguished colleague meant
tha. be was opposed to the coercion OF a
State. Well s'r what is coercion as used by
the General G. vernmenr? Ii is the use OF
ppwer, the physical force of the G-nerai
10 enforce the laws in the So
ceded States, to preserve she Uaiea,s sands to-.
protec ct tn public property. Gantie emen say
sometimes that they are opposed to the
coercion OF a State. The thing Is utterly
impossible under the theory of Cnnsti-
tuition. You may not coerce a State In any
event. The Constitution of he Uni,ed
States within the scope and sphere Of the
powers there conferred by il, Is paramnunt
and supreme. and operates not upon states
bat upon Individuals; and the enforcement
of The laws against rebeliious citizens is rot
obnoxious TO the charge of coerclug State.
The laws of the United States operate di-
rectly upon the rebeilious individuals; and
it matters not whether they are one or FIVE
hundred the principle is precisely the same,
except that wherever an org ,nzed resis' ance
To the laws assumes such vast gantic
as 10 interfere with the ordinary
process of the courts of law, il then becomes
and rebellion. and the Presi-
dent by the terms Of the Constitution has
The power. nay more. it is his sworn duty
10 crush and put down,that rebsllion, or
SO much for the doctrine of
coercion as it exists in the Federal Consti.
ution.
The distinguished Senator from Delaware
says he knows some men believe it is trea-
son and disloya atty to find fault with the Re-
publican party. l. Mr.. President, am not
obnoxious to that charge. II l know N.Y.
alf r ol I II L.
The utmost freedom of thought and Of speech.
But is there no difference between opposing
he coercive policy of the Administration
n reference to a systematic conspiracy to
Destroy the Government, and opposing the
iogmas or the platform OF party? Can
not gentlemen see the world wide distinc-
ion between party platform and the Con.
'titution of the United Statesl l owe al
egiance to the Constitution; l have sworn
allegiance to it as citizen and as a Sena.
or. Cannot gentlemen see the wide dis
inction between opposition TO the Republi
IAN party and opposition to the Government
,nder which We livel But il has also be-
come fashionable in certain quarters 10 make
prejudice against this war by calling il ian
Ibolitlon war" ''Lincoln's war; and ..Lin.
.oln's abolition war Who is Lincoln, /
The servant OF the people-a faithful ser
rant. Is this his Government? No. sir: !.
5 your Government. my. Government. the
iosern -hent of the people; and the mar /
sho. in crisis like this. can talk of Lin.
oln's war" is a ready IN ade slave To the
land Of any tyrant who chooses 10 use him.
Applause 10 The galleries.
Tne Vice President. Oeder, rs f
Mr.. Lane. OF Indiana .I.incola,s
indeed! Can gentlemen. in their love q
'arty, forget ali that they owe To country
suppose you have been defeated by III
party in your race Tor posi,io.
nd power: have ron not vet the er.ptas
eopie. the noolest C,stitu,iaa. the frees
governments upon earth? I ask YOU
Irect your attention TO the Govern mens
he country. aud if possible forget the be {
ests Of party.
But. Mr. President. TO return. wha.ar
ne ccercive measures Of the present Al
Prior To the 4,h Of Mare'
,Sf the Secretary ~ W. ,,Jo. Il. =. E- s