, 1863-09-29

! right to mako theie own laws. and tn coyern
KS. Thy vi. sot Only Esnssvs
re ens!ave the whole vace '9' su"' "''A
Nor has the ho1rld menace Of ro-ea-
s1ayement proceeded from tho Banatnr
from Delaware alone. It has been u,ter-
cd even By Mr. Wiley. the mild 8aaa.,r
from Virginia, speaking In the uana OF
State Rights. Nev.papefs have taken up and
repeated the yeyoitiDg strain. That Is to say.
no matter lat may BID done for Etnanc,pl-
tloD, whether By proclamation Of the Prcsi-
dent, OF By Congress even. the State, On 1e-
sumipg its placd In the Union. will. In tho e1-
cry colered person within Tia Jurisdiction:
and ibis ia the menace from Delaware, and
even from regenesated Western VirgiuiAt I
am obliged TO Senators for their ffanknesa.
It needed any additional motive Tor the
urgency wish which assert. the povcr Ut
Congress, should t1Ed /. In the pretcn.ious
Heaven, let us epare no effort to save the
country from this shame, and an oppressed
people from this additional outrage!
"Once free, s1ways free" This is rula Of
law, ard an instinct Of humanity. It il a
elfevident axiom, which only tJrants aud
slave.traders have denied. The brutal pre-
ten,ion thus hamingly advanced, to re- Gu
all on our guard. There must be no chance
or loop hole for such an intole1able, Heav-
en-aefyipg iniquity. Alas! there have
been crimes In human history; but
know Of none blscker than this. There
have been acts Of baseness; hut know Of
none more utterly yile. Against the possi-
bility Of such sacrifice We must take bond
which cannot be set aside-Aud this can be
found or1y In the powers Of Congress-.
Congress has already dona much Besides
its noble As. 1t Emancipation. 1t has provi-
ded that every person guilty Of treason, oriu-
citing Or assisting the rebellion, "shaal be
disqualified to hold any Office under the Uni
ted States" And by another act, It has pro-
vided that every person elected or appointed
to any office Of honor or profit under the
Government Of the q. s., shall, before enter
ing npon It's duties, take an oath "that
be has not voluntarily borne arms against
the United States, or given aid, counte-
rance, counsel, or encouragement to per
sors engaged In armed hostility thereto,
or sought OF accepted Or attempted to exer-
else the functions Of any office Hhatever un-
der any authority, or pretended authority, In
hostility to the United Stated. This oath will
be bar against the return to National office
Of any Who have taken part with the rebels.
It ehute out in advance the whole criminal
the National Government, are left free tohold
Office In the States. And here Is another mo-
tiye to further action by Congress. The oath
Is well us far as it goes: more must be done
In the same spirit.
But enough The case Is clear. B Bsho1d
the rebel States in arms against that paternal
Government to which, rs the supreme coudi
tion Of their constitutional existence, they owe
duty and love; and behold all Legitimate pow
ers, executive, legislative and judicial in these
States, abandoned and vacated. It only re-
mains that Congress should enter and assume
the proper jurisdiction. If We are not ready
to e1clalm with Burke. speaking of Rsvolu-
tionary France, at is hut an empty space On
the political map." We may at least adopt the
response hurled back by 3Iirabeau, that thia
empty space is volcano red with flames and
oyerfowtng with lava.Aoods. But whether
we deal with 1t as .'empty space" or a. ''yol.
centres in Congress, to be employed for tie
happiness, welfare, and renown Of the Amer1.
can people,--chauging slavery into freedom,
and present chaos into ajCoamos Of perpetual
beauty and power.