The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-03-14

directed forcible possession 70 be taken
II portion Of the State Of Maine, aud
3ir John Harley had moved troops Of .
1reat Britain into thRgtertitGry 10 bold 1
Il. The Governor OF The State of Maine /
net this aciidn by moving Maine troops
on 10 the same territory. The President
of the United States ealledrthe attention
Of Congress 10 il, and left il TO their own
wisdom what ought 10 be done. Now l
hold infmy HANG Soopy of the bill that
they passed on that occasion, In 1899 ]
will state 10 You the substance Of the va
Eiousr sections without OBTAINING you at
this late Hour BY reading the bill The
Grst section puts the wholc naval and mill
itary force Of the United States, and the
militia, at the disposal Of the President.
Applause. The second declares, that
the militia, when called out shall be
compelled 10 serve six months. The
third gives the President power 70 call
out $4,000 volunteers. In those days,
when our army had never reached 5000
men, it was a weighty matter TO cali out
10000 men, and was regarded as an
enormous authority. Laughter. The
fourth section gives the President power
TO complete and employ all the armed
vessels of the United States, thus putting
the whole army aud navy Of the United
States at his disposal. Applause The
fifth section appropriates $l0,000000 to
carry into effect the provisions of this
act. In those days ten millions Of dol
lars was great deal Of moAey. Laugh
ter. The sixth section approptiates
$4,000 to send special Minister 10
Great Britain. The seventh section au-
thorizes him TO expend a million Of dol
lars ia finishing the Qualifications upon our
seaboard, and building them. The
eighth section directs that the militia
and volunteers, when called out, shall
be portions Of the army of the United
States. Now, how do you suppose that
bill passed? Ii puts he whole purse and
sword into the absolute power Of the
President of the United States. Clay,
Webster and Calhoun--men perhaps in-
ferior TO the solons Of our day [laughterl,
were members of the Senate. The bill
passed the Senate, and these three stat g.
men-although all Violently opposed,
personally and politically, TO the then
President Of the United States--voted
for the bill, aud it passed the Senate
unanimously. Applause L. passed
the House Of Represent stives, after tull
discussion, by vote Of 20l to 6, and the
leader of that Elk was Henry A. Wise,
[hisses the bold Brigadirr who disrin
guIshed himself 80 greatly at Nag's Head,
flaughlsrl while his brigade was lighting
and his SON dying. Appl use.
Now, gentlemen, there is nothing
10 my humble judgment, therefore, in the
law passed, putting this euOrm rus power
10 the possession OF the President Of the
United States, 10 deter me Tor asserting
in vigorous prosecution, OF the war
[Cheera 1 can very weil understand
now, ii sympathize with ths REBELLION,
if l deemed that this " ar should fail-I
could spend hours and columns in pick
ins flaws in this act. But If / believed
that substantial justice required that the
krest ends of prosecuting the war de-
maud that the whole power Of the Gov
ernment shall be lodged by the Congress
Of the United States ia the President of
the United States, will bow in silence
to the act, whether approve of it or not.
Prolonged cheers. If the President of
the United States had usurped these
powers, there might be degree Of pro.
priety in denounoing it; but when the
representatives of the people, legally
elected, after due deliberaiion, assume
the responsibility Of lodging these trusts
in him, in my humble Judgment, and
certainly in view Of the precedent to
which 1 have referred, no wise man will
ever complain of the act. [ Applause.l .
THE PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION.
In reference to the proclamation of the
President OF the United States, declaring
slaves free in certain parts of the Union,
prolonged cheers have taken occasion,
on several times, to state (and that was
perfectly known when / was invited TO
speak this evening" what my objections
were to that proclamation. There are no
objections to its cOnstitutionality. The
President has right to make any pre-
camation he chooses, and so have /.
Applause and laughter. The only
question | make is as TO the wisdom al d
legal effect of this proclamation. Now
say that the proclamation does not set
any body free. If a man is free by law,
he is free with or without the proclama-
ton, but say that it excitss the Southern
people to this view Of the subject.
Kisses and applause mingled.J They
say: You declare that if we come back
and submit to the law and TO the Gov
eminent, then our slaves are enamel.
pated." That was not the Presidents
intention. You may rely upon it, that he
did not emancipate the slaves in any
territory of the United States that is I'M
der the dominion Of the United Siates
They are not emancipated in Kentucky
in Missouri, in Tennessee, or in Mary
land; A voice" They ought to be-"
followed by Kisses, applause, ana cries of
Order:' and that was, in my humble
Judgment no part Of his purpose. In my
Judgment his sole object was to declare,
as general policy, that as our armies
advanced against the rebels, whea the
rebels were conquered, their slaves should
be legally free. There is no doubt about
that with or without the proclamation,
slavery exists by force, recognized By
law slaves nov are held 10 the so-ealed
Confederate States by virtue Of the Con-
iederaie States Government AHd the Con-
tederate United States Authority. When
our armies advance, aud those Govern
ments are oyerthr0Nn, the shareholders
who refuse 20 recogGize the ConsinOiiun
Ot-tne United States loss sheic 81 ayes by
law, beyond all peradvenlure. Loud
applause That b,ing so, its not wise,
IA my humble opinion, 10 continue such
a declarations but iha', OF course, is
matter Tor The past. | Say, AZ have
frequently saId, tha', in my ia l. ment,
all the good that could have nVen d0ao