Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1864-02-05

Wnlch DelOfe was penceiul always lrrepfehsbe,
10 now to be terminated by arms. One system OF
the other must be dominant they will break us
or We mus. reduce them. Left in the enjoyment
Of their slaves and their lands--the instruments
OF their power-they remain masters of the posi-
tion, and We but entail upon posterity the renew
al Of strife which il becomes us now thoroughly
to quell.
am aware, Mr.. Speaker, that these vie VS. are
not in unison with the sentiments OF the gentle
man from New York who addressed the House
yesterday. When he becomes their advocate,
shall dstrust their soundness. To opinions such
as he has expressed is justly attributable not only
the inception but the prolongation of this mourn
full contest The rebel lenders would never have
undertaken the revolt had they not been per-
suaded that they would have been permitted 10
go in peace. The rebellion would have been
overcome had 1t not been for the malign counses
Of those who have distracted the nation and pre-
vented the concentration of its undivided ener-
gies in its suppression.
The gentlemen from New York, under the
guse of peace, is the most efficient promoter of
war and, standing here as the practical advo-
cate Of recognition, charges the majority of this
House with preventing the maintanence of the
Union.
"Quis tulerit Gra0chOs de sedtione querentes p
Mr.. Speaker, the denial Of the right to exer
else the sovereign powers Of government has
characterized this struggle from its inception
Constitutional questions have been raised against
it at every step of its progress In the begin
ming il was announced, even by the President of
the United States charged with the solemn duty
of the preservation of the Union and the enforce.
ment of its laws, that though there was no right
to aecede, the Government had no power to COS
cree. This miserable sophism, officially promul-
gated at the other end of the avenue, not only
betrayed the weakness Of the Executive, but
paralyzed the whole energies of Government
Rebellion thus invited tO advance, hastened its
preparation, armed its partisans, consodat its
strength, until, before the nation woke to the
magnitude of the danger, its serried legions were
almost laundering al the doors of the Capitol
On every subsequent occasion OF invoking active
and efficient powers, whether in the recruiting Of
negroes, the enlistment OF slaves, the suspension
Of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus as
against active sympathzers aiding the rebels or
obstruct.ng the GOvernment,Or in the enrolment
and draft of citizens for military service, the
Administration has had to contend against some
adverse theory derived from constitutional con-
struction Now, when, in the exercise of that
just measure Of authority with which Congress
is invested, it is designed to proceed further to-
ward the suppression Of rebellion by the forfeit
ure Of the estates OF those who persisenty con-
tinue in defiance of the moniions OF n prescribed
statute, we are again attempted to be frightened
from the performance of our duty by lie ghost
of murdered Constitution.
MIR. Speaker,the Constitution has been neither
murdered nor emasculnted. Engaged in strug-
gle for existence, | have yet to learn that there
lie any limitation upon the power of the Govern
ment to weaken the enemy, and to render him
less capable OF continuing his assault on consti
tutional liberty aud the national life l have yet
to discover upon what principle an instrument,
orr inad for tho nrp Mi nft tho I1ninn
by the implication of q denial of power be con-
verified into its permssive executioner. By that
Constitution we are specially clothed with power
to raise armies TO provide for calling forth the
militia TO execute the laws of the Union, sup
press instructions, and repel invasiOns 10 make
rules concerning captures on land and water,
and to guarantee to every State in this Union
republican form Of government and protect them
against Invasion. We are also vested with the |
capacity to make all laws which shall be neces-
sary aud proper for carrying into execution these
powers, and all others vested in the Government
or in any department or officer thereof.
This broad warrant Of constitutional authority
lie ample for the eIigency, even Of the suppress
sion Of o gigantic rebellion The mode in which
we shall act is net specified With wise fore
cast the trainers OF the Constitution left to Con-
gress the choice Of means necessary to be en-
ployed in any exigency. II is enough that they
bnull DUET bOub ftlhiiuu ~ tuo ouu prOpOhbus-
1t has chosen to declare that to insure the speedy
termination Of the rebellion it will deprive the
guilty agents of the means of carrying it on
1t has vested the President with authority to |
seize, and clothed its judicial tribunals with |
power to condemn 1t has done this by vistue
Of its sovereign power over its own guilty citi-
zens. WAY can deny its authority Who can
sit in Judgment upon the exercise of its discre-
tionary powers He who expects to ind in the
Constitution specific rules for the conduct Of a
nation in q crisis like this though he may be a
learned man. can hardly be deemed wise one.
He who would place o limitation on the power Of
o Government to preserve its own existence and
make that limitation the want of power to for
felt the estate of on armed rebel, lest that his
children should be preyentea of the inheritance
Of their father, though he may be never 80 sym
pathetic, can hardly be called just. lie who
oonstrues the Constitution as authorizing against
an insnreent population, banded for the destruc
tion Of the Government, only such measures of
resistance or penalty as would be proper to dis
perse or punish q civic mob, has an inadequate |
conception Of the scope Of its powers
"Hic unde vitam sumeret inscius,
Paoem, duollo miscuit
Mr.. Speaker, the people expect that we shall
faithfully and firmly discharge our duty omit
ting nothing, eyading nothing, withholding moth
ing hut steadily looking TO the utter and abso-
Lutte suppression of rebellion, that we shall most
speedily and effectively reduce the insurgents to
submission, restore the active supremacy OF the
Constitution and laws, insare future tranquility
by the extirpation Of African slavery, the root
Of bitterness that has poisoned the fountains of
our peace, and plant everywhere over the whole
land the ensign of the Republic, the symbol Of
sovereignty and emblem Of freedom, mightier
than the red cross of England, holier than the
labarum of Constantine.