Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-21

Sir. take nv stand on this doctrine | sill
defend il in behalf not only of any man on this
side If the House. but just readily N behalf
of a political opponent In my opinion ! have
heard from the opposite side of this Chamber
during my service IN Congress much of treason.
No not treason: / Withdraw the word: treason
consists not in language. but in acts: but have
heard much that was calculated 10 destroy and
disrupt the Government: much that was caleu-
lated TO weaken the ties that bind VI together
one people: much that tended 10 the extinction
of liberty. and the oppression OF the citizen;
much that hrmly believe Is aimed at the 0e-
struction Of the Constitution and the establish
ment of an absolute desDOtism / do not. how
ever, propose 70 expe members for uttering
those outrageous sentiments. They exercise an
UNREASONABLE right in giving them expression
And on the other hand will allow no man to
call in question my exercise o. "A similar right
I alone responsible to my constituents. Who
is TO be nv Judge. who lie 70 be the arbter hersf
wbo - 20 say when / shall speak. and when
shall be silent; what shall say and what shall
not sayl
The gentleman from Ohio. Mr.. Schenck. !
when / suppOsing be had concluded his remarks
rose 70 address the House a few moments ago,
shouted back. BE silent" BE silent Sir, he
little dreams Of the consequences il he expects 10
crack his whip As the satrap OF this House, here
or elsewhere. There are million and half Of
Democratic voters in thi. land who will be con-
vulsed with agony of irrepressible rage when
il is proposed that their Representatives shall DE
silent at the bidding Of insolent party. bloated
with unlawful power and stepped in the blood
and tears Of the nation.
Sir. | again ask who j. to Judge the principles
held bY Representatives. Who y 10 be the ar
bitter upon this great question? There can be
but one-his constituents lie stands upon the
Constitution. By it his freedom OF opinion and
of speech j. made secure Ii cannot be Abridged
or disturbed. He defy the world. as we
here defy YOU to Law the weight OF your finger
on this inherent and immortal privilege We
yield 10 yOl your rights. aud YOU shall weld te
US ours. or it at once becomes question OF ply
steal conflict. | tell YOU not for moment TO
suppose that a gag can be placed upon the
mouths of the free American people without
blood running. from the hills of New England
to the mouth OF the Coumbia-all over tho
northern land Ii is the last bulwark of liberty;
it is the hope Of freedom. Give US tree speech;
give us a free press; give Us a free ballOt-box,
and we will stand all else and respond to every
call made upon us Seek TO strike these down.
and the last hope of the country will 60 down in
blood and darkness
Mr. Morris, of New York Will the gentle
man-
Mr.. VOORHEES,: No, sir No. sir
Mr. Morris OF New York: | only wish to say
that the gentleman misunderstood the gentleman
from Ohio Mr. Sehenck
Mr. Voorhees, ! decline to yield.
Mr. Garfield: The gentleman from Ohio did
not say ''be silent"
Mr Voorhees,: This NAV be as good time as
any TO attempt 20 silence the representatives OF
the Democratic party
Mr. Garfield: Nv colleague never said it,
Mr. Voorhees,: The gentleman from Ohio is
not in command of this department. laughter !
Sir. | desire and intend to discuss this great
question in proper temper. have laid
down the reasons why | do not feel myself
called upon to expel any man from this House
for the dccorous expression of political opinion
Neither will vote 10 censurc him for such an
act Let me state this issue clearly and properly
| hold that the rules of the House protect its de-
corum, It's personal relations. and whether men
gentlemen or not, enforce "A strict regard for
gentlemen in whose presence they are aud with
whom they associate ! hold that man observ-
ing those rules has right under the Constitution
to express his political sentiments with the ut
most freedom.
This is all | understand the gentleman from
Ohio has done. You ask me TO expel him l.
he my Representative? Am | responsible for
him? Are your Another people sent him here.
With that people, leave him: he is their mouth
piece. What Is this Government? A represent
alive government means the voice or the people
speaking here by every member upon this floor.
The voice of your people. of New York. speaks
through YOU TO Mr. Fernando Wood. and the
voice OF the constituents OF my friend from Gin
cinnati speaks through him The people are
here in their majesty, speaking through their
Representatives. Ask your people to make war
upon the people OF my district. and we will meet
YOU at the Threshold Let any Representative
seek To silence the Representative whom my
constituents send here, and it is their insult as
well ~ nine The principle of representation il
Immediately destroyed by such course A
large portion OF the American people. perhaps a
majority. are at once DISTINGUISHED. Their voice
is hushed in the halls OF legislation. and they are
SIMPLY allowed the poor privilege of paying taxes
and fighting at the bidding of master.
Sir. do not expect TO agree with every man :
sentiments but j. that "A cause for me To seek TO
purge this House of all contrary opinion? Is
that a cause Tor me to arragn men tor the
political scafold! Is that "A cause for me 10
follow in the wake of modern Robespierre on
a small scale in intellect and on large scale in
venoun-the gentleman from Ohio Mr Schenck J
who SAWS men should be shot on account of their
opinionsg know nothing in the characteF-no
thing in the civil or military career. including his
movement on Nienna-whch gives him the right
20 assume superiority over the members on this
side OF the House | listened To his low talk
about copperheads creeping ont of their holes.
liz was not language becoming the place where
he stands: it was becoming the precincts rather
OF bar room political gathering Indeed, to
Judge from his alluson to Guiliver's travels he
would be more home there than he is in the
society OF gentlemen Sir. he volunteers this
assault on this side of the House We have not
sought IT, Every man who has serv Ell with me
il Congress knows that dislike and avoid per
sonal controversy with my peers on this floor
But the tenor and tone OF the remarks BY the
gentleman from Ohio seem to invite 10 chsl-
leuge. TO provoke unpleasant controversy. So
me. We respond with de hauce.
Mr. Speaker. the general principles which
have thrown out on the subject of freedom of de
bate apply TO every person. am discussing now
not merely the right OF Democrat on this floor;
am discussing ,he right of every Republican
on this floor go further | attn discussing
the right of the humblest citizen OF America. the
right TO escape the calling yoke of tyranny ynd
oppression: the last right what Mr. Webster
properly called home-bFed right a 6reside
privilege on the extreme boundary OF which he
declared he stood. aud which should not be called
in question anywhere. We are asked 10 strike
thai down. Run your minds eve back over the
history OF the world. The dark spirit OF bisotry
aud intolerance once chained down Calico for
saving that the world moved. laid him OF the
damp door 90 dungeon. as the gentleman from
Ohio Mr ScAenck) would do with bis political
opponents Opinion Was divided Some said