The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-01-21
Who are the Secessionists Now
The Declar1i ion of the Chairman of
the Cammittee of Ways and Means
inthe House of Representatives, Wash
ington.

- NE So
We extract thesfollowing highly impor-
tant proceedings from the Congressional
Record Of Thursday last:
.'The disorder having abated, Mr.. Yea
man (Ky.,) was understood to inquire
what the gentleman would say to the vast
multitude of people who had recently de-
clared themselves in the elections
"Mr. Stevens would say they were abou,
as loyal as the present 1Gevernor of New
York, and they would do no more with
the Administration for the suppression Of
the rebellion than the Governor would
He did not regard the gentlemen on the
other side as engaged in its suppression,
judging by their votes. In reply to Mr.
Dunlap, he repeated that he did say, when
| the bill for the admission of West Virgins
was under consideration, he found no war
rant for it ander the Constitution
''Mr. Dunlap-I voted against the bill
| because | believed it an uacostitutiona
act.
ssMr. Stevens-And I voted for it be
cause it did not come under the Constitu
ton, which did not embrace State il
arms. This was his deliberate conviction
We have resorted to blockade. We anc
the foreign powers have admitted the so
called seceded States to be belligeren
power. This being so they were placed
precisely in the condition of an alien enc
my. Nothing was more plainly within tn.
law of nations Whenever national was
springs up every obligation previously ex-
listing, whether treaty, compact or.contraet
is abrogated. They are then, until peace
governed by the laws of war: the Consti
tuition has no binding effect or influence
s'Mr. Dunlap-Are not the secedet
States still members Of the Union?
'sMr. Stevens-My opinion is that the.
are not.
s'Mr. Stevens-The ordinance of Seces
sion, backed by armed power. did tax,
them out, and as far as that operated, die
/ take them out, and as far as that operated
did take them out of the Union
''Mr. Dunlap-My opinion is that the,
are still members of the Union.
"Mr. Stevens-They are not.
'.NIr. Dunlap-If those States are no
in the Union, how do you propose to pa.
officers for collecting revenue in States no
in the Union.
"Mr. Stevens-T propose to levy an,
collect taxes as a war measure, just as al
nations levy and collect them on all tn,
territory they conquer. would not only
do this as war measure, but, if necessary
take every inch OF territory Of every dis
loyal man, and his real and personal es
tate. and sell them for the benefit of tn,
nation and carrying on the war. We ar,
to treat them as provinces until We con
qaer them. tits absurd to say man il
arms is entitled to the same constitutions
provisions as a loyal man. when he doe
not obey the laws, and repudiates thei
binding obligations" 81
1t will be seen that Mr.. Stevens declares
that the seeded States are not members
of the Union, and that they were take,
out by the ordinance of Secession!, Wht
is Mr.. Stevens! He is the Chairman o
the Committee of Ways and Means. ane
! by virtue OF his position, the leading MAI
of the Administration party in the House
No man is thought more highly of, or en-
/ joys the confidence of his party to as grea
an extent as Mr.. Stevens. He believes
the Southern States are out of the Union
and is in favor Of treating them as such
| That is frank at any rate