The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-02-06
GREAT EECH OF
HON. G. L. VALLANDIGHAM,

GREAT SPEECH
HON. G. L. VALLANDIGHAM, |
OF OHIO.
[From the Washington Congressional Globe Of
the 10Th Of January.
Mr.. VALLANDIGHAM said:
Mr.. Speaker. indorsed at the recent
election within the same district for
which | still hold seat on this floor, by
majority four times greater than ever
before, speak to-day in the name and
by the authority Of the people who, for
six years, have intrusled me with the
office ofa representative. Loyal, in the
true and highest sense of the word, 10
the Constitution and the Uniop, they
have proved themselves devOtedly at
tached to and worthy Of the liberties to
secure which the Union and the Consti-
tuition were established. With candor
and freedom, therefore, as their repre-
sentative, and with much plainness Of
speech, but with the dignity and decen
cy 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 revolution.
lis now two years, sir, since Con"
gress assembled soon after the Presiden-
tial election. A sectional anti'slavery
party had Just succeeded through the
forms of the Constitution. For the first
time a President had been chosen upon
a platform of avowed hostility, 10 an it,
stitution peculiar to nearly one-half Of
the States of the Union, and who had
himself proclaimed that there was an
irrepressibIe conflict because Of that inN
Stitution between the States; and that the
Union could not endure "psrt slave and
part free." Congress met, therefore, in
the midst of the profoundest agitation,
not here only but throughout the entire
South. Revolution glared upon US
Repeated efforts for Cancellation and
compromise were attempted in Congress
and out of it. All were rejected by the
party just coming into power, except
only the promise in the last hour oflhe
session, and that, TOO, against the cons
sent OF a majority of that party both in
the Senate and House, that Congress
not the Execulive-should never be an
thorized to abolish or interfere with
slavery in the States wbere it existed,
South Carolina secedeG Georgia, Ala
bama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana,
and Texas speedily followed. The Con,
federate government was established
The other slave States held back
Virginia demanded a peace congress-
The commissioners met, and, alter some
time, agreed upon terms OF final adjust
ment. But neither in the Senate nor
the House were they allowed even a
respectful consideration. The Presi-
dent elect left his home in February,
and journeyed towards this capital, jes>
ting as he came; proclalming that the
crisis was only artificial, and that "no'
body was hurt" He entered the city
under cover of night and in Disguise
On the 4lh of March he was iIaugurateC
surrounded by soIdiery; and, swearing
to support the Constitution of the United
States, announced in the same breatl
that the platform of his party should b'
the law unto him. From that momen
all hope of peaceable adjustment fled. -
But for a little whiie, either with un
steadfast sincerity or in premediated de
ceit, the policy ofpeaee was proclaimed
even TO the evacuation OF Sumter AM
the other Federal forts and arsenas il
the seeded States. Why that polio
was suddenly abandoned, time will lul
ly disclose. But just after the sprin
elections, and the secret meeting in thi
city Of the Governors of Several North
ern and Western States, fleet carry
ing large number of men was ser
down ostensibly to provision Fort Sum
ter. The authorities of South Carolin
s4klgerly accepted the challenge, an
bombarded the fort into surrender, Will
the feet fred no, gun, but, just s
soon as the flag was struck, bore ava
and returned to the North. 1t was Sur
day, the l4th of April, 1881; and th
day the President, in fatal haste an
without the advice or consent Of Coz
gress, issued bis proclamation, dated II
next day, calling out seventy-five thou
and militia for three months, to repo
sess the forts, places, and property sel;
ed from the United States, and con
manding the insurgents to disperse
twenty days. Again the gage was Il
ken up by The South, and thus Il
flames Of, q, civil war, the grandest, bloc
lest, and saddest in history, lighted ,
the whole heayens. Virginia forthwi
secedpd. Noah Carolina, Tennessee
and Arkansas followed; Delaware, Mar
land, X 0ntucky, aud Missouri were in
blaze Of agitation, and within a wet
from the proclamation, the line of II
Confederate States was transferred fro
the cotton States tothe Potomac, and a
most to the Ohio and Missouri, and the
population and fighting men doubled.
In the North and West, too, che stnr
ragged with the fury of hurricane
Never in history was anything equal
it. Men, women, and children, natl
and foreign born, Church and Stat
clergy and lsymen, were all swept alol
with the current. Distinction of ag
sex, station, party, pershed in an il
slant. Thousands bent before the Ten
pestI and here and there only was oI
found bold enough, foolhardy enough
may have been, to bead not, and up'
him il fell as consuming FIRE, II
spirit Of persecution for opinions SAX
almost extinct In the Old Wnrlhl mn