Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-02-19
Ohio 9tatesnra11
SPEECH OF
HON. EDISON B. OLDS.

Delivered in the Ohio House of Representation
on Friday and Wednesday, January 23d Gnt
2sh, 1863, on the Cause and Conduct of III,
War. n
Mr.. Dresel's resolutions on arbitrary arrests
being under consideration, Mr.. Olds said:
Mr.. SPEAKER: The debate, upon these res.
olutions, has assumed very wide range; Il
seems to have opened up for discussion the
whole history of this war. For one do not
regret it-neither do think II time unprofita-
bly, spent. 1t is, Of all Others, the question up.
on which, at this time, the whole country is
desirous Of obtaining information. All ques-
tions, relating either to the causes, or the con-
duct of this war, seem TO be go blended, one
with another, that il Ia almost impossible to dis
cuss any one Of them, without necessarily
bringing in all the others. / hope, therefore,
that the House will extend to me the same
latitude In this debate, that 1t has already given
to the gentlemen who have preceded me.
Mr.. Speaker, If there is one thing in the
conduct Of this war, which, more than all 9TH
ers, fills me with astonishment, 1t Is this: That
whilst the Administration, and the Republican
party must know, that they must have the COR
dial co cooperation Of the Democratic party, in
order to be successful in putting down this re-
bellion, their prominent politicians and papers
are heaping abuse and misrepresentation upon
this glorious, time.honored, old, Union cher.
ishing and Constitutlon-loving party.
Sir, when take into consider alton the fact,
that for many years, there has been disunien
party n this country-a party that has labored
and plotted to destroy the Constitution and dis
solve the Union-and that the leaders of that
party are now the prominent supporters of the
Administration-and that the course of policy
being pursued by the Administr alton, must ne.
cessarily drive from it the support of the De-
mocracy; am I not justified in entertaining
fears, that in the manner of prosecuting this
war, there is an ulterior object--in short, that
the Administration has in view an object, far
more important to 1t, than the maintenance of
the Constitution and the restoration of the
Union7
In justification of the Democratic party, and
10 vindicating the truth of history, | must be
permitted, as unpleasant as the duty may be,
upon this occasion to trace the growth of dis =
union sentiment in this country. Er,. .;...
Let me say, however, in advance, that ] ac-
cuse no gentleman upon this floor, with sympa-
thizing in the sentiment, OF the men whose
record am about to open up for the inspection
Of this House and the country.
The frat thing to which | desire to call the
attention of this House, is the record of two, Of
o series of resolutions psesed in State Con-
vention of the Abolitionista Of Massachusetts,,
held at Worcester in 1851. Their l5.h resolve
reads: ...
That Constitution whi ch provides for slave rep.
resentaon and slave olgarchy in Congress, which le
galizes slave catching on every inch Of American soil
which pledges the military and naval power Of the coun
to keep four millions Of ohatte slaves in their chains
to be trodden under foot and pronounced accursed
Iauw sNs
provisions.
Il is not my business upon this occasion to
attempt any defense of that provision of the
Constitution, which provides that when you
take an enumeration of the Inhabitants. Of the
United States, 10 order to apportion representa-
tion in Congress, you shall count five Southern
slaves the same ss three Northern negroes; for
that ia what is meant by ga slave representa-
ton and a slave oligarchy in Congress. "
Neither do stand here to day to justify the
fugitive slave law; for that is what is meant by
"slave catching on every inch of American
soil" these being COMPROMISED of the Consti.
| tuition need no defense; but have read the
| resolution to demonstrate the fact, that in 1851
| there was party that pronounced the Consti-
tuition accursed, and said 1t ought to be tram
pied under foot. The 10th resolve reads:
That the one great issue before the country is th
dissolution Of the Union, in comparison with which al
other issues with the slave power are as dust in the bal
ance therefore we have given ourselves to the work
snnulling this covenant with death" essential
our innocency and the speedy and everlasting over
| throw Of the slave power.
Sir, in the days of the Apostles, there was q
set OF mad fanatics who bound themselves will
an oath, "that they would neither eat nor drnl
until they had killed Paul" In like manner
these mad fanatics of New England dedicated
themselves, body and breeches, to the work o.
destroying the Union, and snnulling this cove.
nant with death.
But let me proceed with the Abolition rec
ord:
In 1856, similar convention, of the samt
State, held at the same place, passed another
series of resolutions, which, for the sake o
the truth Of history, must be permitted tt
read
ResoIUed lst That the necessity Of disunion is writ
ten in the whole existing character and condition Of th
two sections OF the country In their social organization
education, habits and laws; In the dangers OF whit
citizens In Kansas and our colored men In Boston,
the wounds OF Charles Sumner and the laures Of hi
assailant and no government earth was Stroni
enough to hold together such opposing forces.
Sir, before reading the other resolutions pass
ed at this convention, / must be permitted I,
say, that do not believe that the Abolitonist
of Massachusetts, are entitled to the paternit,
of the sentiment expressed In the resolution jus
read. II belongs, cir, to distinguished gen.
tleman in your party hailing from the State o
Ohio-the honorable gentleman whom last weel
you elected over the heads of all the conserva
tive Union men of your party to represent yel
In the Senate of the United States.
One full year before the Massachusetts, Abo
litionists passed these resolutions, Mr.. Wade
In speech at Portland, 10 the State Of Maine
said: "There ia really no Union now between
the North and the South. believe no two ma
tions on earth entertain feelings of more bite
rancor toward each other than these two nation
of the Republic"
i He, too, Mr.. Speaker, believed that there wa
q necessity for disunion In the whole existin
character and circumstances, law and habit
of these two sections of the country. He be
lieyed that such we're their feelings, go bite
! their rarcor and hatred toward each other, tbs
the continuance of the Union was utterly in
possible
/ Sir, this brings disunion home very near
some of you; for, BY the election of this maj
you have virtually Endorsed his sentiments
Z II will be 80 claimed by the enemiesOf th
Union
Resolved, Cd. That this movement does not mere
seek dsunon, but the perfect union Of the fr
States by the expulsion Of the slave States from the
federation. In which they have ever been an element
digcord, danger and disgrace
R6solUe, 3D. That 1t not probable that the ultima
severance Of the Union will be- act Of deberaton
discussion but that long period Of delibeation 81
discussion must precede It, and thus we meet to beg
Rcsolvsd, 4th. That henceiorward instead Of regal
ing II a. an objection to any System Of policy that II
lead to the separation Of the States we will procla