The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1863-01-21
VOLUME go, MOSS
Tile Abolition Secession Decis isse
and War Of COnquest uua lzx-
fermimafiOu.s ic1rE9f q - .st't

n -
and War Of CoBquest und Ex'
Thaddeus Stevens, of Pennsylvania
is Chairman Of the House eommitte'
of Ways and Means, and the most pro
minent leader, of the Republican o
Abolition majority in the House. Ii
the Washington Globe Of the 9th inst.
is the report ola debate in the Hous,
on the previous day in which Mr.. Ste
vens bore conspicuous part. q 1t wat
in committee of the Whole on the Stat,
of the Union, Mr.. Dunlap, of Kentuc
ky, having referred'to what Mr.. Ste
yens said in the discussion upon tht
bill admitting West Virgins
into the Union, Mr.. Stevens said
81 did say, sir,s that Iafnd nc
warrant under the Constitution
for the admission of West Virginia
But / went further,"e continued Mr.
Stevens, "and voted for it because / did
not believe that the Constitution EN-.
hraced a State now in arms against
the Government Of this Union, and ]
hold that doctrine now. 1t was not
said upon the spur ofthe occasion. 1t
isa deliberate opinion formed upon a
careful examination of the law of the
United States and the law Of nations. "
Mr.. Stevens proceeded to give reasons
for this matured opinion of his. lie
said:- - -. ,e,. a,s I'D,
The establishment ofour blockade ad-
mitted the Southern States, the Con
federates, to be belligercnt power.
Foreign nations have all admitted them
as a belligerent power. Whenever
that came to be admitted by us and
foreign nations, il. placed the rebellious
States precisely in the condition of an
alien enemy, with regard to duties and
NShS9"tiobc' Lf..t b
Mr.. Stevens closed his argument
with this, broad and distinct declara-
ton: 81 hold and maintain that with
ocgird to all those Southern States in
rebellion--I do not speak of Kentucky,
but Of those States which have gone
out under an act of Legislation or con-
vcntion, the Constitution has no bind
ing influence, and no application" "
The following colloquy then cnsuod:
Mr.. Dunlap-Are not those sece ded
States still members Of this Union,
and under the laws of the Government?
Mr.. Stcvens-In my opinion they
are not.
Mr., Dunlap-Then I would ask the
further question, did the ordinance of
secession take them out of the Union?
Mr.. ,Stevens-The. ordinance of Sc
ccssion, backed by the armed power
which made them belligercnt. nation,
did take them, so far as present opera
tions are concerned, from under the
laws of the nation. 'Gf ''a
Mr.. Dunlap Are they then mems
bers of the Union? ..!r', ..@ ,..-.
Mr.. Stevens-They are not, in my
judgment. taa4 Hes7''a >aw ra
Mr.. Dunlap then inquired how Mr.,
Stevens, as Chairman of the committee
of Ways and Means, proposed to pass
an appropriation tospay officers to col
lcct revenue in States which do not
belong to the Union. Mr.. Stevens
replied: #a'. a'-a. a.
propose to levy that tax and col
lect it as war measure. / would levy
ajax wherever ! can upon these con-
quered provinces, just as all nations
levy them upon provinces and nations
they conquer. If any views and prin-
ciples are right, / would not only col>
lect that tax, but | would, ass a ircces-
sary war measure, take every particle
of property, real and personal, life-es-
tate and reversion, of every disloyal
man; and sell itfor the benefit of the
nation carrying onathis war. We have
such power, and we are to treat them
simply as provinces to be conquered,
and as nation fighting in hostility
against us. until we do conquer them.
Mr. Dunlap and other Border State
members continued to ply Mr.. Stevens
with questions, bringing out fully his
secession views, that the seeded States
are nolonger in the Union mdundcr
the Constitution, but are to be treated
and subjugated as separate and hos
tile nation. In the course Of his re-
marks, Mr.. Stevens said he did not see
how the President could view these
questions in any other way than as he
(Mr. Stevens) did, and added: att}
| say that you cannot justify nine
out of ten of the acts of the Govern
tuent, or of our own acts here, if you
consider the Constitution valid and
binding instrument with reference to
those in arms in the rebellious States.
"aThese bold avowals Of hisopinions
by Mr.. Stevens created some futter-
ing on the Republican side of the
House. A mild avowal of them as
the views of the party was made by