Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-02

SPEE CH OF
HON. DANIEL ". VOORHEES,
DELIVERED IN THE House. OF REPRESENTA-
TIvEs, FEBRUARY Is, 1868.
OF INDIANA,

The House having under consideration AN
Act to indemnify the President and other per-
sons for suspending the privilege of the writ of
habcas corpus, and acts done in pursuance
thereof"
Mr.. VOORHEES, said:
Mr.. Speaker, the American people will
learn with amazement that the bill now un-
der consideration has passed this House
without debate. Itreturns here now with amend
mcnts made by the Senate, and the Chairman of
rhe Committee of Ways and Means Mr.. Ste
vcns, with an obedient majority al his command,
sous int on Thursday las to again secure the a.
ton Of this body upon thc mOmentous and vital
principles which il involves without permitting a
single word of discussion Aa.i 1 hold my posi-
ton on this floor to-day, not because the pro-
scriptivc majority on the opposite side of thi.
Chamber conccdc the freedom of debate but be-
cause a manly, determined minority enforced it
BY resort to those rules of parliamentary law
which were made for their protection. Let this
fact be understood. Let it 90 into history a.
part of the condemnation which there awaits the
party in power, that the voice of the people
speaking through their Representatives, has been
stihed in this Hall during the present session, on
questions which overturn and revolutionze the
principles of republican government The un-
free speech, and covers in silence and in dark
ness. The spirit of liberty lives in an atmos.
phere vo al with the contests between truth and
error and invites the humolest citizen of the Gov
eminent to exercise his judgment freely and with
out restraint upon all questions of public in
tercst
Mr. Stevens: When this bill was called up
felt no disposition discuss it; and / said that
unless some gentleman wanted to discuss it
,tlI al for ft,a II hon, o.
some gentlemen wanted to discuss it, 1 would
move to postpone it,
Mr. Voorhees,: give the gentleman the ben
eft of his statement. / had information how
ever from those who visited him at his seat, of a
very different character: and the proceedings on
this floor by which debate was obtained gave
convincing proof thar my information was cor
rect.
Sir the bill now before the House has no par
alle in the history Of this or any other free peo
pie. 1t il entitled An act TO indemnify the
President and other persons for suspending the
privilege of the writ of habcas corpus and acts
done in pursuance thereof" BUT it embraces
even more than lis startling title would indicate
IL ves TO the Executive and all his subor,iinates
no. merely security for crimes committed against
the citizen in times past, but confers a license to
continue in the future the same unlimited exer-
else OF arbitrary power which has brought dis
Il
the best of INV ability this day, To show that
neither indemnity for the past nor impunitv for
the future can be bestowed those who have
violated, and who propose further TO violate. the
great and fundamental principles of consiitu-
tional liberty
Sir the proper division and lawful exercise of
the powers of a Government constitute a question
of supreme and paramount importance. L, stands
prominent over all Others. No people in the
Of
rty from the foot of the oppressor who lost sight
of this fundamental truth. The sentinel who
stands guard over the citadel of popular liberty
can only protect and defend his sacred trust by
keeping his vigilant eve steadily fixed on the
movements of power. Every attempt 10 divert
his attention by proclaiming other and more i'm
portant objects, or BY lulling him TO sleep ar his
post. comes from an enemy to free government
Every attempt 10 convince the public mind that
there may be higher duties for the citizen 10 per
form than 10 preserve involate the inalicnable
rights OF person, property. and the pursuit of
happiness, Is an assault upon the existence of
this Republic and a sacrilege against God
To measure out the metes and bounds Of
power. and establish them Unconstitutional land
marks sufficiently plain and strong to resist the
encroachmcnts of executive authority. has been
the lofty purpose of every friend of freedom who
has left his name TO illuminate the annals of
tp"0USt- OUCH names OclOng To the
pie, and are household dcities around the humble
heasthstoaes of those who eat their bread in the
sweat of their faces, and find safety alone in the
well DEFINED limits of the laws under which they
live The Surveyor with his chain can RIM the
lines and plant the corner stones alonr the hor-
ders OF kingdoms, empires. States and Terr;,o-
mes; but statesmen and philosophers have taxes
all the hours since the dawn of civilization With
the efforts of ncessan industry in circumscrihine
and restraining the lawlcss and impatient spiri,
Of power. Vast armies have been marshaled
and great battles fought the earth has been turned
from is primeval peace and purity into one
mighty sepulcher, and the skv has been rent with
fhc voice Of mourning in order TO appease the
lust of conquest and to extend the ply sical boun
darics OF country 10 a mountain. a river or an
invisible. air-drawn line. which i disputed by
armed force; but one drop of blood from the
VEINS Of John Hampden or Joseph Warren: one
handful of dust from the graves of Saratoga on
Camden; one expiring sigh from the lips OF Bo-
zaris or Winkelreid one relic from the plains o,
old Platea Marathon. j. more valuable and
more glorious in the cause OF human progress
and more acceptable in the presence Of infinite
justice and eternal right than all fhe wars Of in