The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1863-02-04
The great cIsn WARM Amerioa
8 p Il II Q Ell
HON G. L. vALLANDIGHAM,
OF ohio,
In the House Of Representatives, January IA,
raai lE 1lf1 1858 Oh lt,i |.s. ll

Mr.. VALLANDIGHAM. Mr.. Speaker
indorsed at the recent election within th,
same district for which still hold seat OF
this floor, by majority four times greater
than ever before. speak 10 day in the psInt
and bY the authority OF the people who. fol
six years. have intrustsd me with the Office
Of Representative. Loyal, in the true and
highest sense of the word. to the Constitu
tion and the Union, they have proved them
selves devotedly attached to and worthy oI
the liberties to secure which the Cohstiiu-
tion and the Union were established. With
candor and freedom, therefore, as their Rep
resentative, and much plainness Of speech,
but with the dignity and dereney due to this
presence, propose to consider the STATE OF
THE UNION to-day, and to inquire what the
duty is OF every public man and every citizen
in this the very crisis Of the Great Revolu-
tion. .sTa .. ..E s..- ..
It is now two years. sir, since Congress
assembled soon after the Presidential elec.
tion. A sectional anti-slavory party had
then just succeeded through the forms oil
the Constitution. For the first time Press
ident had been chosen upon q platform oi
nearly one-half the States Of the Union,
and who had himself proclaimed that there
was an rrepressible conflict because Of that
institution between the States; and that the
Union could not endure part slave and part
Free" Congress met, therefore, in the midst
Of the profoundest agitation, not here only
but throughout the entire South. Revolu-
tion glared upon us. Repeated efforts for
concilation and compromise were attempted
in Congress and out Of it. A II we're jec ted
by the party just coming into power, except
only the promise in the last hours OF the
session, and that, toe, against the consent OF
majority Of that party both in the Senate
and House; that Congress- not the Execu
tive should never be authorized to abol sh
or interfere with slavery in the States where
it existed. South Carolina seeded Georgia,
Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, LouiSiana,
a:d Texas speedily followed. The coufed-
crate government was established. The 9th
er slave States held back. Virginia demand
ed peace congress. The commissioners
met. and, after some time, agreed upon terms
OF final adjustment. But rei,her in The
Senate nor the House were they allowed
even respectful consideration. The Presi
den, elect left his home in February, and
i'urneying towards this capital, jesting as he
came; proclaiming that the crisis was arti
fetal and that ''nohody was hurt" lie en-
teted this city under cover Of night and in
disguise. On the 4th Of March he was in.
augurated surrounded by soldiery; and,
swearing TO support the Constitution Of the
United States, announced in the same breath
that the platform OF his party should be the
law unto him. From that moment all hope
oi pcaceable adjustment fled. But for lit
aie while, either with unste adiast sincerity
'or in ptemeditated deceit, the policy of peace
was proclaimed, even 10 the evacuation OF
Sumpter and the other federal forts and arr
Renals in the seeded States. Why that pol
icy was suddenly abandoned, time will fully
disclose. But just after the spring elections
and the secret meeting in this city OF the
Governors OF several northern and western
States, a fleet carrying large number OF
men was sent down ostensibly to provision
Fort Sumpter. The authorities OF South
Carolina eagerly accepted the challenge, and
Aombarded the fort into surrender, while the
feet fired not gun, but, just as soon as the
flag was struck, bore away and returned to
the North. 1t was Sunday, the 14th OF
April, 1861; and that day the President, in
> fatal haste and without the advice or consent
vi Congress, issued his proclamation, dated
the next day, calling out seventy five thou
sand militia for :hree months. to repOssess
the fors, places, and property seized from
che United States, and commanding the in
surgents 10 dispsrse in twenty days. Again
the gage was taken up by the South, and
thus the flames Of civil war, the grandest,
bloodie.t. and saddest in history, lighted up
the whole heavens Virginia forthwith Sc
ceded North Carolina, Tennessee, and Ar
sNsas followed; Delaware, Maryland, Ken
lucky and Missouri were in blaze OF agta
tion, and within week from the proclama
ton, the line OF the Con tederate States vas
transferred from the cotton States to the
Potomac, and almost 70 the Ohio and the
Missouri. and their population and fighting
men doub ed.
In the North, and West too, the storm
ragged with the fury OF hurricane. Never
in history was anything equal 10 it. Men,
women, and children, native and foreign
born, Church and S'a1e, clergy and layman,
were all swept along with the current. Dis
tinction OF age, sex, s alton, party perished in
an instant. Thousands bent before the
tempest; and here and there Only was
one ound bold enough, ioolhardy enough it
may have been, 10 bend not, ana him 1t smote
fell as consuming fire. The spirit OF per
secution Tor opinions sake, almost ex inct in
the Old World, now, by some mysterious
transmigration, appeared incarnate in the
New. Social relations were dissolved;
friendships broken up; the ties OF family
and kindred snapped a,sunder. Stripes and
hanging were every where threatened, some
times executed. Assassination was invoked; !;
SANDER sharpened his tooth; iasehood crush
ed truth to the earth; reason fled; madness
reigned. Not justice only escaped to the
skies but peace returned TO the Losom o.
God, whence she came. The gospel Of love
nerished; hate sat en,hroned and the sacri
fees OF blood smoked upon every altar.
But the reign Of the mob was inaugura
ted only TO be surplanted by the iron DOM
ination OF arbitrary power. Constitution llni-
itatlon was broken down; habeas corpus lell;
liberty Of the press, OF speech, Of the person,
OF mails, OF travel, of ones own house, and
OF religion; the right to bear arms, due pro.
cess OF law, judicial trial, trial By jury, trial
at all; every badge and munlmsnt Of freedom
in republican government or kiRgly govern
ment--all went down ct blow; and the
chief law officer OF the crown--l beg par
don, sir, bus it is easy now to iall into this
courtly language Attorney General,
frsl OF all men, proclaimed in the United
States the maxim Of Roman servlity: What
eesr pleases Me President. that is loio! Pris
oners OF State were then first heard OF here.
Midnight and arbitrary arrests commenced;
travel was interdicted; trade embargoed;
passports demanded; basiiles were in,roduc,
ed; strange oaths inyented; secret police
Organized; "piping" began; inforlners multi
Piled; spies now FIRST appeared in Amsrioa- -
The right 70 declare war, to raise and sup