Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-05-12
EECH OF
Hon. Samuel S. Cox,
OF OHIO.
The Bill of Hon. Henry Winter Davis,
"To Guarantee TO Certain States,
Whose Governments are Usurp-
ed or OverthrOWn, "a Repub.
lican Form of Cow
ernment.o
Delirered in the Horssof Representatives, Ay, 1864

Mr.. SPEAKER: My hearts desire and
prayer to God is for peace and Union to
this distracted land. While urging un-
diminished and increased exertions by our
army and navy, to secure union, | have
been ever ready to heal the wounds and
check the raVages of war by all rational
methods used among civilized nations. To
those who can entertain but one idea at a
time, this position has seemed inconsistent:
but to those who have read history. it will
appear that war is made for peace. and that
toconsummate peace in the midst ofwar. and
to restore harmony in civil or international
conflict negotiation and friendllness are in
! dispensable.
During the long and anxious years have
served here-trom almost youth to almost
| middle age-l have never fai'e to warn
against the great crisis of force which came
III 1861. These augurcs have been unhappi-
| ~ too fully fulfilled. What could be done
by an humble representative to avert this
strife, that | did. My constituents know
this; and | might be content to leave this
arena, conscious OF their appreciation for
duty done. Since this war began | have
| sought, but found no place for compromise
in the dominant party. Hence ! have
mournfully though constantly by vote and
voice, upheld the sword, lest even n worse
alternative--etcrnal separation and pro-
lOnged strife-should be our fate. The mis-
cries which this war has entailed, have not
been the work of the Northern Democracy:
| and if DisunioI comes through the open
doors of Janus. If recognition OF Southern
independence comes through war or its dis
asters, the Democracy are not responsible
for the odium, and with my word and aid
shall never be held responsible. Those who
are swift to recognize Southern independ-
ence may do so; but by all the memories of
our conflicts with secession and abolition. 7
will never, never, be counted among those
who have aided in the dismemberment of
the Republic. Would that | coulds see in
our present policy CLEAN of hope for our
future. How gladly would I.hail it! But
until that policy is reversed, all our future
Is shrouded. Like my distinguished friend
from Indiana Mr.. Voorhees, whose drge-
like speech still haunts my memory, see in
the continuance Of the present misrule, only
the throes of this giant nation-writhing in
the despair of dissolution. The bloody
sweat, the teverish pulse the delirious raw
ing and the muscular agony, go before that
proStratiOn, which death the Skeleton and
Time the Shadow have consummated for
all Republics, which have in evil hours,
yielded the sceptre of the people to the
grasp of Passion and the greed of Power.
The eloquent requiem which my friend
pronounced, sounding like the wall of the
bereaved among the tombs of the dead
should, if needed, teach us, before too late.
how beyond all price, is the boon which is !
passing from lis forever He finds hope in |
autumn, for the spring will bring its bloom; |
hope in the storm, for the cloud will pass |
and the sun shine again; but no hope in the |
grave of our Republic-none, none for our !
dying Republic. Mr.. Speaker, sadly as his I
thoughts have impressed me, | can vet see |
some hope for our Nation; for l believe in ,
the immortality of civilization and the grace |
of the Christian religion. While to him
the future is black with pail, | look be- }
yond his prospect of the hearse and the !
tOmb-the mourners and the darkened win
dow-to the resurrection! The grave shall
lose its sting. and death its victory. The
shall be comforted. The light of
a better dawn shall enter into the darkened
| too 90 to holy writ as he |
did, but 1 go for the purpose of cheer and
not of dependency; for | read there that
Good tidingS shall bind up the broken hearted,
and to them that moatrR IN Zion, giUe unto then,
beauty Tor ashes and tie oil of joy for naouv7ai1q
and the garment Of praise for hedriness y =
and they shall build the old paSteS, then shall
raise up the former deSOldtiOnS, as the earth
briRgeth forth her bud and the garden causeth
things that are SO,cR n IL TO spring. FORTH"
go through, 90 hrOMgh the gates, prepare ye
he ,gdy Of the People; cast up, cast up the
lift up a standard for the PEO-
PLE!"
Sir, that standard for the people shall be
high advanced! My friend himself will
bear it to the West. In the honest yeoman-
ry of the Mississippi Valley, and in the
eternal principles of constitutional Democ-
racy and regulated freedom, do l read a
more cheering horoscope! | will not, do
not and cannot despair. l would rather die
in my simple faith in popular intelligence
md republican institutions, than Weld NV
heart to the sadness which freights each
passing hour with its gloom.
There is one hope left. If the bayonet
shall be unfixed at our polls, If no persua-
tive appliances of money shall attaint an
honest election, do not despair of YER
lict in favor of that party whose princi-
)les have loved for their national history
ind unsectional spirit. Fond as / am of
historic research, cannot follow my friend
n mourning over the dust of departed em-
,ire. read in the decline and fall of re-
publican Governments lessons of wisdom
md hope for our own guidance. In the
emarks which shall submit. i propose to
how from history how statesmanship has
aved the falling columns of constitutional
liberty, how the victories of war have been
rowned by the more renowned, important
nd difficult victories of peace, and how
H.. \