The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-02-04

amount of money and supplies generally
as may be necessary for the war, until an
appeal can be had to the people Before
that tribunal alone, in the first instance,
must the question of the continuance ofthe
war be tried. This was Mr. Calhoun's
opinion, and he laid it down very broadly
and strongly in speech op the Loan Bill,
in 1871. Speaking of supplies, he said:
s'I hold that there is distinction in
this respect between state of peace and
war. In the latter, the right of withhold
ling supplies ought ever to be held subordi-
nate to the energetic and successful prose-
cution of the war. go further, and re-
gard the Withholding supplies, with view
of forcing the country inte dishouorable
peace, as not only to be what it has been
called, moral treason, but very little short
Of actual treason itself.
] Upon this principle, sir, he. actedsats
ward in the Mexican war. Speaking of
that war in 1847, he said:
sEvery Senator knows that I was opposed
to the war: but none knows but, myself the
depth of that opposition. With my con-
ception of its character and consequences,
| it was impossible for me to vote for it. -
And again, in 1913:
"But, after the war was declared by
authority ofthe Government, acquiesced
in what could not prevent, and which it
was impossible for me to arrest; and then
felt it to be my duty to limit my efforts to
give such direction to the war as would,
as far as possible, prevent the evils and
dangers with which it threatened the
country and its institutions" )"
i Sir, adopt all this as my own position
and my defense: though, perhaps, in civ
il war, might fairly go further in opposi-
tion I could not, with my convictions,
vote men and money for this war, and
would not, as Represe ntative, vote
against them I mean that, without OPP
position, the President might take all the
men and all the money he should demand,
RI and then to hold him to a strict account
ability before the people for the results.
Not believing the soldiers responsible for
the war, or its purposes, or its consequen-
ces, I have never withheld my vote where
, their separate interests were concerned
!, But / have denounced from the beginning
L
and all, of law and Constitution, by the
, President and those under him; their re-
. peated and persistent arbitrary arrests, thu
suspension of haIeas eorpns, the violation
. of freedom of the mails, of the privat'
house, of the press and of speech, and al
q the other multiplied wrongs and outrage
:. .upon public liberty and private right
= which have made this country. one of tn
: : worst despotismsl on earth for the pas
= twenty months; and I will continue to re
: buke and denounce them to the end; an
II the people, thank God, have at last hear
= and and needed, and rebuked them, tot
q TO the record and to time appeal agai
j for my justification. :.
ml And now, sir, recur to the state <
5, the Union to-day. What is it9 ST
IS twenty months have elapsed, but the II
al bellion is not crushed out; its miitaI
at power has not been broken; the insurgept
ia have not dispersed. The Union is NJ
lie restored; nor the Constitution maintaine'
70 nor the laws enforced Twenty, sixt
IN ninety, three hundred,y six hundred da,
er have passed; a thousand millions beer e.
at pended; and three hundred thousand lv,
Id lost or bodies mangled; and to-day Il
40 Confederate flag is near the Potomac al
at the Ohio, and the Confederate Governmc
al stronger many times, than at the begil
,d ming. Not State has been restored, n
Ie. any portion of any State has voluntari
fe returned to the Union. And has al
nd thing been wanting that Congress, or Il
ir. States, or the people in their most gene
ho Gus enthusiasm, thir most impassion,
IS. patriotism, could bestow? Was it powe
on And did not the party of the Executi
| | control the entire Federal Governmel
ed everv State Government, every count
m every city, town and village in the Nor
and West3 Was it patronage? All
ay longed to it. Was it influence? WI
cI more? Did not the school, the colles
mr. the church, the press, the secret orde
ho the municipality. the corporation, railroa
Ter telegraphs, express companies, the yolu
Sc tary associations, all, all yield it to t
rt. utmost? Was it unanimity? Never "
oo. an Administration so supported in Engla
id or America. Five men and half sec
,ut of newspapers made up the opposite
bv Was it enthusiasm? The enthusiasm "
he fanatical. There has been nothing like
the since the Crusades. Was it confdenc
var Sir, the faith of the people exceeded Il
ent of the patriarch. They gave up Cons
rem tuition, law, right, liberty, all at your I
md mand for arbitrary power, that the rsb
let. lion might, as yeu promised, be crush
re. out in three months and the Union
# a stored. Was credit needed I? You te
mt: lcontrol of country, young, vigoro
site and inexhaustible in wealth and resours
lest and of a Government almost free fir
on. public debt, and whose good faith had n
yer er been tarnishea. Your great natio
ord loan bubble failed miserably, as it desc
of ed to fail, but the bankers and mercha
and of Philadelphia, New York and Bos
attic lent YOU more than their entire bank
les- capital. And when that failed too,
,er- forced credit by declaring your pa
zen promises to pay q legal tender for
and debts. Was money wanted? You
and all the reyeaues of the United Sta
ting diminished indeed, but still in gold, :
af- whole wealth of the country, to tho
ord. dollar, lay at your feet. Private indi
rous ual., municipal corporations, tho S