The Morgantown monitor. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1863-1864, 1863-03-07
GREAT SPEECH
HON. Daniel Y. T00RHM
or INDIANA. ssss1
DELIVERED IN
The House Of Represltativ@i
TO Indemnify the President

Mr.. VooRuEEs. Mr.. SpeakersAehe
American penps. will learn 55snatil 4! :
amnzempnt that the bill uu'lerdsfr.r,
si,!rratiun has once passed "a ais
Hnusv. withnnt debate. 1t refA4ilE
here now with amendments lnsta E sEs
tine S.natr, and the chairman 81 THE
! Committee Of Waysanl Mransaflrs
S:rveus.) with an ohediens m,l"fitS
at his command, Sought on Thurs
day last to again secure the action nt
tins h"iy upon the moment"n> and
vital principles which it involves
wifh"nt prrnittih! IA single word "f
d<cns<inn. And | hold my position
on this hn"r to-day, not because the
prnScriprve ma jnriry on the opposite
side Of this Chamber cnncede the
freedom of debate, hnt because a
manly. determined minority entorc-
Ell it hv II resort to those rnleS of par
liamenfary law which were made for
their protection. Let this fact he
understood. Let it 20 into history
AS Il part Of the condemnation which
their awaits the party now IN power,
that he voice of the people, speak
in. throu.h their Representatives,
has been Stii1rd in this Hall dnrin-
the present session, on questions
which overlnrn and revnlntinnizr the
principle of republican government.
The unhnly Spirtof deSpntlsm breads
the doctrines OF tree speech, and cow
ers in silence and in lar kneSs. The
spirit Of liberty lives in an atmoS-
phtre vocal with the contests be-
tween truth and error, and invites
the humhleSt citizen If the Govern
rnent tn exercise his Judgment freely
anil without restraint upon all Qnes-
ti"ns of public interest.
Mr.. STEVENS. When this bill was
called up trIt N" disposition t" dis
c,lS< it: and | said thai unless some
grnrlr,man wanted to discuss it |
wnnl(l move to postpone 1t.
. Mr.. VOORHEES,. | give the gentle
,nan the benefit nf his statement. |
had inflammation, however, from
those who visited him at his seat nt
very different character; ami the
proceedings on thiS floor by which
debate WAS nhfained gave convincing
proof that my inIorlnatlon was COR
rect.
sir, the bill now before the House
has no parallel in the history of this
nr any other free people. 1t is en-
titled AN act t. indemnify the
+ President and other persons for s'S-
lpn,liny the privilege Of the writ "i
hhcns corpns, and acts done in pnr-
sllanre thereof Bnt it embraces
even more than its startling title
wnnEl Indicate. 1t gives tn the EN.
ecntiv. AMI all his Snhor'liunies not
/ merely srru,ity for crimes Commit
! ted against the citizen in times past.
! hnt cuuirrS II license to cnntlnnr IN
the future the same unlimited rxrr-
else of arbitrary power which has
hrnnyht disgrace and danger t" the
country. | propose, to the best OF
my ability This day, 10 shnw that
,-irhrr indemnity for the past nor
. imrnnity tnr the intnr" can he be-
slowed ON those who have violated,
/ and who pru,,nsp further to violate,
/ tie great and fundamental princ-
ul.S nf constitutional liberty.
Sir the proper division and lawful
ev.rci So IF fine mowers nf rovern-
tnr,u cnnstitutc a question of SUI
nr.,up and naramount imnnrtance,
|, stand. rr.omiupnt nv.r y il ,thpra
, M uenple in the history of the
world ever long maintained secnrity
from the foot of the opprrssor who
Inst s;Jht or this fundamental truth.
/ Th. sentinel who stands uuard over
! tL. c;,.d.l of rnnulsr liberty can
onIv ur,t,.ct and defend his sacred
trrst nv k..uiuy his virilant eve
steadily fixed on the movements Of
mower Every attcmrt to divert his
attention hy prnc!aiminy other and
more i,upnrtant objects, or hy milling
him +, 81 ,.pn At his uoSt. comes from
a, sn.,uv T., free government Every
attempt to convince the public mind
that there NAV be higher duties for
+ ,I.o ,.;,,z.r :, u.rf,,rm than to pre-