The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-02-13

Mr.. SPEAKER: We have been favored
to-day with another apology from that
side OF the House for this rebellion, and
Think myself that an apology for the
unmatched crime OF the rebels in arms
against the nations life ought not to be
allowed 10 go to the country unchal-
lenged. So long as God may give me
strength, and the opportunity shall be
afforded me to challenge these apolo>
gies for rebellion, l shall challenge and
denounce them. ..H-.
My colleague comes here to>day with
his prepared denuhciation Of the war
of the war for the Union. He assumes
that the war in support of the suprema-
cy of the Constitution was wantonly
made by the present Executive of the
United States, and asserts that in the
beginning, he, with the authority of an
oracle, declared that coercion would
make civil war. With self -complacen-
cy, the gentleman informs us that he
bided his time, and that time, the aven-
ger, has right nobIy responded that CO.
ercion would make civil war! Mr..
Speaker, when my colleague talks about
history and the truth of history, | ask
that he shall make up the record fairly
and according to the fact.
A stranger TO the events That have oc-
CURED in our country during the last
two years, listening to the remarks ol
the gentleman would suppose no blood
would have been shed, that war would
not have darkened the Republic like
the shadow of an eclipse, but for the
commission of "a great crime by the pre-
sent Executive of the United States, in
this, that he wlongfully attempted TO
coerce law-abidng citizens. Is that,
sir, according to the factl Is that ac-
cording to the truth of history, upon
which the gentleman seems with SO
much confidence to rely, and TO which
he so frequently referred, to-day, as Of
commanding authority?
Sir, before that Executive ever took
his Seat, before he had power either for
good or for evil in the Republic, while
the care of the State was in the keeps
ing of his predecessor, the chosen ofthe
gentleman and his party, war was all
ready levied against the Republic by
these avowed rebels, tor whom my col-
league appears this day as an apologist,
and by them your flag had already been
dishonorsd by their attack upon il with
in your own waters. Yet upon that
subject the gentleman chooses to be
silent-a silence most commendable
in one vino would apologize for the res
bellion, and declare 1t sacred resis-
tance to an unlawful coercion.
. Mr.. Speaker, long before the inaugu>
ration of the present Executive, rebel
batteries were being built by rebel hands
around your Fort Sumter, within the
limits of the Republic, for no other pur-
pose than to reduce it by force. This
fact is passed in silence by the apollo
gist of the rebellion, in approval, |
suppose, of his own Democratic Admin
istration which permitted it TO be done.
think, sir, that as the gentleman has
chosen to raise the issue, | may be
allowed to show to-day how this war
did originate, unfortunate as it is for
us, and who, above all others in the
North, are responsible for the rebellion.
In all that may say, sir, l am willing
to be judged and condemned or approv>
ed by history, the faithful record Of
what men do or suffer in this life.
1t is my opinion that this rebellion
would have been powerless, compara-
lively, for mischief against tsis country,
but for the gentleman himself and those
politically associated with him, who,
from its inception to this hour, have
been crying in the ears of the conspira'
tors and traitors, and for their encour.
agement, "no coercion" by Government
OF rebels in arms against it. My col
league exhibited wise discretion, In
selecting his facts from history, to omi
the fact that when these men in the
South were arming to coerce the Gov
ernment and the people Of the United
States to submit to disunion-which il
national dissolution and national deatf
"a Democratic Cabinet Minister, (Mr
Floyd,) in the War Department, wa'
;co-operating with them by dismsntlins
your forts; and Democratic Cabine
minister, (Mr. Toucey,) whether wit
tingly or unwittingly, was aiding then
bylsending your vessels of war into dis
tant seas, that your navy4might not b'
here in the day Of trial. And to maxi
assurance doubly sure, Democratic
Presiden, (Mr. Buchanan) sent to thi
House that remarkable message of tn,
4th of December. 1860, in which h
said it was unconstitutional to coerc,
seeded States; that is, to make wa
upon the armed rebels who seize upol
and control State organization; ant
in most plaintive words declared tha
the swOrd waS not placed in the hand
of Congress to preserve the Union b.
force. Congress, il was admitted, nigh
declare war, but not against rebels
The substance Of this was that you
powerto call forth the militia to execute
the laws and suppress insurrectiOI
could not be rightfully exercised agalns
these rebels.
What was this declaration by you
Democratic President but declaration
thatcOercion was to be all on one side
that rebels alone in this land nigh
coerce the people TO submission b.
arms! Ifthat weak and wicked decla
ration Of your Democratic Presiden
had been met in this House as il ough
AnthnunI hnnn m nI. If inalanh of hahn