Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-02-13
1854

them, qciM not less than, one tenth Of the nun6sr
. persons scho D0ted In tie eIecf5on of l8
may ye0rgdnise thenselresGs the State, and hfus n
/ LnH Federal represeattSns in Congressto sehicA u
State 9Rder TIE census Of 1860 soGs entitled! Why tn
President could easily BY the distribution Of Federl
m
atteast onsin ten, assured Of federal protection
to saodio.c. s0itsout scrale e prescri6ed oath. o
any number of 0atls he might prescribe, and tec
State and Federal officers. sOAom he neay choose
Prescrbe. With the Federal representation of eeye
States, who would be his nominees and creatures, AM
the number from the other States To- he could Away
government. the Executive c0nd easily Grdsp Joi
hfmsef po,cer Of tie Union reign az an a.
e Ats rs,gm y ds
sfnpy registe,ing his edicts or, if it should now
and then show disposition to demur, he could after
the manner of Louis holda M dejuSfice.
Sir, if it is proposed to maintain our free
system of Government, State and national,
II 1t Is intended to settle this difficulty in
conformity with the Constitution of the
United States and the laws of nations then
undertake here and now, Mr.. Speaker, to
say that this policy Of the Administration
cannot be sustained.
\, But if it be the purpose to disregard the
requirements of the Constitution, and to
exercise any and all such powers as the Ex-
ecutive may deem necessary, without re-
gard to our system of constitutional gov
ernment, with o view not only to break
down the rebellion, but finally to change il
not destroy the rights of the States, then !
think can understand this policy.
Sir, we have fallen upon sad times. In
Che midst of the universal gloom and sor-
row which pervades the whole country, the
heart of the true patriot sickens at the daily
announcements of the frauds and corrup-
tions which seem to prey upon the vitals of
the Republic. ..s1-.,
While our armies in the field have during
the past year in the main been successful,
we have utterly failed in policy calculated
to arouse and encourage the true Union
sentiment in the Southern States.
What we want in this crisis of affairs is q
policy by which the patriotic efforts of the
brave men in the field shall be seconded by
wise, prudent and cOnciliatory statesman
ihip. This is the need of the country to-
Nay. Let us be guided by the experience of
The past. Let this policy of subjugation
and conquest and these unwise prOclama-
tions of the Executive be abandoned.
Mr.. Speaker, let us rise above mere Sec
tional prejudices or party feeling, and hum
Hy and devoutly imploring the guidance of
that same Divine Providence who sustained
bur fathers i'm the dark hours of the revolu-
tion, and enabled them to achieve our inde-
pendence and establish this Government;
Jet us act with that regard for the Constitu
ton and interests of the whole country
which is demanded in this hour from every
son of the Republic; and while we sustain
every legitimate and constitutional means
which shall be employed to subdue the pow
er of this rebellion, and while our gallant
armies in the field shall nobly and bravely
perform their duty, let us at the same time,
/ beseech you, by all fair and honorable
means endeavor to restore peace, not a dis
honorable or a disgraceful peace, but a
peace founded upon just terms to all por-
lions of the cOuntry-that true and welcome
peace which shall gladden. millions of hearts
in every section of the land; now saddened
by gloom, and which shall bring in loving
embrace once more around the nations altar
bll the States as equal sisters. -ie q 10