Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-08-10
isters and consuls abroad.

She crossed the sea to meet her enemy
on foreign soil: we on our own soil, in I
country that has been ours since the
foundation Of the Republic.
She fought to maintain her rank among
the nations of Europe; we fight TO main
tain our existence among the nations o
the earth, and to preserve liberty and un
ion for ourselves and our childFen's chill
dren.
II the example of England fails TO in
spire Us, let US not, beseech you, forge
our fathers of the Revolution. We have
seen no day so dark as were whole year
in their struggle. We have no captures
of Philadelphis. no winter quarters a
Morristown, no blood stained SHOWS a
Valley Forge. Out of population o
three millions, one quarter of whom ad
hered to the enemy, they sent to the
field three hundred and ninety Thousand
eight hundred and ninety-two men; ont
for every seven women and children il
the colonies Were we to double ou
armies to-day we should still fall far be
hind that proportion.
Who can compare their resources will
ours and not blush at the mention o
failure, the suggestion of defeat? Dove
withlpower almost unlimited, with resour
ces as yet untouched, the balance of trad,
in our favor, every branch of industry
fiourishing, and everything in its proper
place except the Congress of the United
States, do we talk gloomily OF the issue
of this contest:
1 believe, sir, that the worth and man
hood of individual men. We can never
know what stuff man is made of till We
see him brought face 10 face with some
desperate issue, some crisis of his life in
which he must peril all in one noble eff
fort or shrink ignobly away into the COW
ards oblivion. If, summoning all his un
tried manhood, and finging into the
scale his honor, his fortune. and his life
he goes down to the trial, we know that
to him, there's no such word as fall ,,
So, sir, nation is not worthy to be say.
ed if in the hour OF its fate it will not
gather up all its jewels of manhood and
Of life, and go down into the conflict
however bloody and doubtful, resolved
on measuraless ruin or complete success,
Rut no ruin awaits such a nation. The
American people have not yet risen to
'the height OF the great argument" nor
will they until those who represent them
here are ready with unselfish devotion
to walk in the rugged path that leads to
victory.
If We will not learn lesson either
rom England or our revolutionary faith
ers, let us at least learn from our enc.
mics. I have seen their gallantry in bat
tie, their hoping against hope amid in
disaster and, traitors though
hey are. am pcoud of their splendid
when remember that they are
Americans. Our Army is equally brave,
out our Government and Congress are far
behind them in earnestness and energy
Until we go into the war with the same
and abandonment which
mark their.course we do not deserve to
ucceed and we shall not succeed. What
lave they done? What has their govern
ment done-s government based in
he first place on extreme State rights
md State sovereignty, but which has be-
,ome more centralized and despotic than
he monarchies of Europe? They have
lot only called for volunteers, but they
lave drafted. They have not only draft
d, but cut off both Communication and
ubstitution. They have gone further.
They have adopted conscription proper
he old French conscription of 1877
nd have declared that every man be-.
ween sixteen and sixty years of age is a
older. But we stand here bartering
Hood for money, debating whether we
will fight the enemies of the nation or
,ay $500 into its Treasury.
Mr. Speaker, with this brief review of
he grounds of our hope l now ask your
.ttention to the main proposition in the
ill before the House, the repeal of the
clause. Going back to the
primary question of the power to raise
rmies, lay it down as fundamental
as an inherent and necessary
lement of sovereignty, that nation has
right to the personal service of its cit
zens The stability and power of every
overeignty rests upon that basis. Why
an the citizen claim the protection of
he Government? Because rights and
Iuties are reciprocal. and the Govern
nent owes him protection only as he
ives sanction and power to the law by
lis personal service and the contribution
rom his purse. There are two great
muscles that move the arm of sovereign
y, the Treasury and the Army.
If a nation has the right to protect it
elf it must have the right to use these
wo powers. II may therefore take mon
y from the citizen in accordance with
he forms of law. Ii may take every dol
ar of every citizen if so much should be
ecessary in order to support and main
ain the Government.
If the nation has the right 10 the citi-
ems money has il not equally the right
D his personal service! Coercion accom-
anies the tax-gatherer at every step.
The law of revenue rests upon coercion.
Without that same coercive power no
Government could put soldier into the
eld. AS well might we claim that the
,gsl basis of the Treasury is a contribu-
ion box, as that the legal basis of the
Military power is the volunteering syn
EN-.
I 20 a step further. Every nation un-