Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-02-17
1aag GmpMe.
nemnrka Id mon. s. 5. Coz.

W " NNnNlENAhH hNhA ANNW AVAhf iNAF -
nando Wood 1 do 50 for the purpose Of
calling the attention Of the committee TO the
proposition in the rebel Congress referred TO
by the gentleman, which seems to have been
received by the committee with some mistrust
and a little levi,y.
l, too, am opposed to this bill Of conscrip-
ton, because | believe IL will fail Of execu.
ton, because il is unconstitutional, unWise,
anti-demoeratic, and n scheme Of involuntary
servitude for white men, not authorized by
anything in our system Of government | do
not believe Il will raise the army which you
need 70 cut down this rebellion. have indi-
Gated heretofore my plan for raising troops for
this purpose.
Add while | have always been ready in this
House 10 vote all the money aud all the means
ca lied for 10 meet aud overcome the armed
resistance against this Government-while,
after force was srrnyed against the Govern.
ment, l felt it TO be my duty 70 re list it by all
the force needed for its suppression-still,
sir, as my resolutions and votes demonstrate,
| have also been as ready at all times, at
every hush and pause Of this dread conflict,
at every period Of decided success 10 our
arms, to meet with favor any tender Of concil
iation and peace calculated 10 restore the in
tegrity Of the Union aud the supremacy Of.
the Government.
Now, sir, this proposition made in the Con-
federRte Congress, and debated by them in Sc
cret session, is made by Judge Wright, Of
Georgia, a former member Of this House and
u firm friend Of Judge Douglas. If rightly
understood and interpreted il is q proposition
of peace and kindness, on the basis of the
old UaioH Disguised as it is by much yer
biage, and hidden under the phraseology
which has become common in the South, still
it means Substantially the return OF the South
to the old Government when it says, "a new
Governments founded upon the equality and
sovereignty of the States" In the same prop
o%sition il is declared that "if this cannot be
done"-that is, If recognition of their indie
pendenee and the formation Of such a NEW
Government as above cannot be accomplish
ed, they are then to consider-what7 Mark
how, by seeming to disguise their real mean.
ing, they really express themselves in favor
of the old basis. In case they cannot be rec
ognized as independent, they would "agree
upon treaties offensive, defensive, and com
mercial meaning clearly that If they do not
obtain recognition they are ready to accept I'M
der the old Government such an accommoda-
ton Of our difficulties as will draw us togeth-
err, politically and commercially, as against
all the world. Could we expect more as the
initiative of a negotiation for peace, based on
Union2 TO what would not negotiations be-
gun in this spirit leadP Is it not worth the
while to make the experiment.
Now-I propose TO the gentlemen on the
other side to meet that proposition. Pass
your resolution, either to receive from or
send a commission to Richmond. Send the
distinguished gentleman from New York,
[Mr. Fernando Wood who you assert is with
the South in sympathy, laughter, and il he
doaa moi anna hack within aivfv davp NTH a
proposition of peace based upon the old Union
and the Equality and sovereignty Of the
States" be will aRree to join you in fighting
the rebellion to its overthrow. cannot
speak for the peace Democracy, not being
srec0gnized as one Of them, (lor | am simply
q DemOcrat) but | can speak for the gentle,
man from New York, who is a representa-
tive man Of that element, and who sits behind
me, that be will in case OF failure join you in
every proper war measure until the rebellion
is ended Dare you do it2 Dare you try thii
experiment for peace and Union2 Will yor
not hear, will you not receive commissioner
with n view to end the horrors Of this war anC
this species Of legislation?
Mr. SPALDING. II he viii 90 there anC
stay | will vote for il
MIR cox. | want 10 know whether tn,
gentlemen on the other side are willing L
restore the old Union, and whether they NJ,
ready TO receive such a commission here anC
listen to proposition to restore it upon tina
basis, of State equality and sovereignty o
are they in favor Of still continuing the strif
without any effort AT. Cancellation and accu
mulating pains and penalties until our sta
tulebook groans with them Are they still
determined to make this a war Of extermina
@tion and of everlasting separation Will yol
continue this war for subjugation when ther,
is at least a %scintilla of hope held out by th
South that they are ready to retrace thei
steps and return to their allegiance2 Hay,
you magnanimity enough, in the midst OF on
successes and their depression, to stop thi
piling up Of debt and taxation, and TO sta.
the further effusion Of blood2
am for restoring this Union of equal an
sovereign'States as IL was in the peaceful day
of tbs, Republic; and if we cannot succeed il
that, if we cannot treat with those men Of
the basis Of the old Union aud the equalit,
and sovereignty Of the States, then after
fair trial Of this peaceful remedy, never We
tried, | believe every true man, of whateve
name in politics, in the North will be as wheI
Sumteriell thoroughly united to fight dow
the rebellion.
Bot, sir, you bsve not tried peaceful settle
meht. Ny proposition falls upon solder
hearts. You viii not try IL You dare no
try. IT, Your object ia not, as at least | infe
from the remarks of the gentleman iron
Pennsylvania, me Kelley so frankl
spoken just now, TO restore the Union. Il i
to bot out q domestic institution with whie
you never had any business, and which wa