The dollar weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1862-1864, 1863-01-03
fr-.-rv't. SPEECH OF -
HON. LAZARUS W. POWELL
OF KENTUCKY.

s. -r1 a-c-' OF KENTUCKY
On the Right of the President to Sus-
pend the writ of Habeas Corpus and
make Arbitrary arrests, delivered in
~ 1he Senate of the United States, De-
cember 11th, 1862. -.ag-- ...-.
The following resolution offered by Mr..
Saulsbury of D delaware being under consider
alton: .'t -r.
"ResoEved, That the Secretary of War be
and he is hereby, directed to inform the
Senate whether Dr. j ohm Laus and Whiteley
Meredith, or either of them, citizens Of the
State of Delaware, have been arrested and
imprisoned in Fort Delaware; when they
were arrested and so imprisoned; the charges
against them; by whom made; by whose or
ders they were arrested and mprisoned; a nd
that he com unicate to the Senate all pa
pors relating to their arrest and imprison-
ment."
Err. POWELL. Secresy, Mr.. President,
might well become the cabinet of tyrant,
but it i'll becomes the cabinet Of free. con
stitutional Government. 1 fear, from the
tenor of the speech of the Senator from
Maine, Mr.. Morrill,, that my criticism a
few days ago upon the acts of the Admins
tration may injure the the cause of two citi-
zens of Delaware. Ny object was to aid
those citizens; but the Senator from Maine
seems to base his opposition to the resolu-
ton. asking for information concerning the
confinement of those two gentlemen, upon a
speech that m aGe advocating the resolution,
and not upon the merits OF the resolution it
self. 1 stand here, Mr.. President, prepared
to make good by proof which cannot be con
troverted, every charge that / made in that
speecL; and defy the Senator from Main g
TO enter the list, and let US discuss it before
the Senate and the American people. Prior
TO taking Iup that branch of the subject,
however. I will notice few remarks Of the
Senator that were somewhat personal to m g,
and to the people have the honor to repre-
sent.
He demands to know the condition oi
kentucky. He asks the question for the
purpose Of ans wering Il. and then says that
three fourths of the able-bodied men oI
Kentucky have taken arms and gone into
the confederate service. Mr.. President,
did not suppose there was man In the
United States Of America of ordinary intel
lieepce, who did not know more about the
condition of the people of Kentucky than
the Senator from Maine seems to know
What. sir, three four,hs of her able bodied
men in arms in the rebellion! The Senator
has drawn upon his fancy for his facts.
have no doubt that the Senator states what
he believes is true; by no means intend tc
impeach his verac.ty; but | hope be viii
allow me to enlighten his understanding
upon that matter. Let me tell the Senator
- that three fourths Of the people Of Kentucky
who are able to bear arms. are not in arms
on both sides. Allow me to tell hin
further. that more are IL arms on the Unior
than on the rebel side. -.r ...
Mr.. MORRILL,. The honorable Senator
will not misrepresent me as wing tina
three fourths ofthe people of Kentucky
were in arms on the side of the rebellion.
Mr.. POWELL. l did not say that, under
stood the Senator to say that three fourth:
oftbe men able to bear arms were in the con
federate ranks. That was the way in which
l stated his remark.
Mr.. MORRILL,. l believe cid say. insti
tuting comparison, that | thought three
fourths of the war meI Of Kentucky wer
in the confederate camps. That may b
stating 1t largely; do not suppose that any
body understood me as intending to stat
: with accuracy and precision that censu
had been taken, and that the proportion ha
been found to be so. / Isuppossd that tn
Senator himselfwould understand it to be
comparative estimate. What meant 10 sa
was that large disproportion of the effec
tive war force of Kentucky, from the gin
ming. has been against the Government
That l believe.
Mr.. POWELL. The Senator still adhere
TO the assertion that three fourths of the me
Of Kentucky able to bear arms are in th
rebel service Allow me to tell the Senate
that be never was more mistakenin his lit
lam astouished that he is not more CONVEX
SAINT with Kentucky affairs. / tell the Ser
d.. atoT again, that three fourths OF our me
5E'who are able to bear arm are not 10 bot
services; and tell him again that, from u
best Inform alton ! have, lore OF them q
in the Uujon Army than 10 the other arm
I admit that our people are divided: L az
NIT that they are in both armies. That
an unfortunate state of things. regret 81
division. The State is now being torn al
injured in every material interest, IN cons
quepce of the armies of both sides havi
been, as some of them are, upon our soil.
Mi. MORRILL,. The Senator will ailo
MI POWELL. I desire to yield eve