Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-05-15
Remarks OF Mcssrs. Cox and
VaIIandigllam on the Bill to
Abolish slavery Isl the District
of Columbia.


The Senate bill to emancipate the
slaves in the District of Columbia being
under discussion in the House of Repre-
sentatves, on Friday, April 1lth, 1862.
Mr.. Cox, the member from the Columbus
District, giving his reasons for opposing
the measure, 1--WE copy from the GioJc Of
the l2th), said
81 am opposed, sir, to any bill Of this
nature for the simple reason that my con.
SttuentS WiU not allow me TO Uote money
to pdy for making Uack communities in tie
North. Whether the National Capital
may be called a paradise Of free negroes
or not, they do do not want to pay for
the curse. This has become q question
Of se.f-protection to them against those
free blacks oho are pouring in ovcr tie
North ever since MiS crusade bcgan. We
have had intimations from the other
branch of the Legislature, and intima.
tions here that This measure is but The en-
tering ,Oed,ge Of system Which wW bring
about a permanent dissolution Of this Con.
.federacy, never TO be reconstructed. This
will bring about not only a dsarrango
ment of the plans OF the Army, but viii
break down the spirit Of the Army. |
will turn the Army against those gentle
men here in power. l appeal from al
such legislation as this. In the languag,
of the gentleman from Indiana, appea
TO another tribunal to settle this matter
with these gentlemen, when they dare tc
go before the people with these ideas and
with these acts
After the conclusion of Mr.. Cox's ro-
maks. Mr.. Vallandigham said:
81 propose, as pro Jorma amcndmen,
to strike out the last line. ] wish to say
word on this subject. | am opposed tC
any bill aboliShing slavery in the Distric
Of Columbia. ! am opposed to it 70
many reasons. Had ] no other one,
am opposed 10 Il because / rcgoyd all iii
class Of legislation as tending 10 preveh
restoration Of the Union Of these State
as IL waS, and that is tie grand object /
Which /iook. Ikn0w Mat IN a ve,y hkl
whHe the question wW be Jetween tie oil
Union Of these .StateS--Me Union as ou
fathers made a--aRd some new one, o
new unity Of Government, or else eteyn
eparatiOn--diSunioR. To JoM Mese lat
ter / am un0Aeraby and uacondaionaIh
opposed. IL IS 10 Me restoration Of M
Union, as il was mate in 1889, and con
Hnued for oocr SERENITY gears, that Tan
bound TO tie last hour IF my political er
iStence, if it be within the limits of pos
sibility to restore and maintain that I'm
ion.
On this subject further! When 70
years past, in common with other mem
bers Of the Democratic party, ] hav,
charged that it was the purpose of the
Republican party to interfere with slave
ry in the District of Columbia, it was
dcnounced-in the classical phrase Of the
day--as n Locofoco lie SANDER and
the author of the charge was declared a
libelcr. Now, sir, thcro were not ten
men in tho Thirty Sixth Congress Of the
United States who would have recorded
their votes in favor Of the abolition Of
slavery in the District Of Columbia
There are many on that side of tho House
who believe and know that assertion to
be true. And yet behold, to day, what
is before tho Congress of the United
States? ? In the language of tho dstin-
guhhed gentleman from Kentucky, avail
ing themselves of tho troubles of the
times we have brought this bill forward
as tie 6caiRning Of a grdnH Schcme o,
emancipation, and there is no caiculatioA
where that scheme is To eAd.
For this reason, Mr.. Chairman, / have
paid no regard to the amendments pro
posed. l have voted for none of then
and will vote for none Of them, as | an
determined to vote against the bill in an,
shape in which it may DO presented"