Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-04-14

leave the Union TO seesde to reyolutonze and can msu
tain that reyolu by force they have the revolutionary
right 10 do Grant IT, stand on that platform with
the gentleman.
Aud the quesli N comes is il constitutional
duty let them do I'll That the question and in order
TO reach it beg to call your attention. not to arRu'
ment, but to the condition Of affairs which would result
from such act0nthe statement of which becomes
the strongest possible argument What does this gentle
man propcs.l Where will he draw the line OF division
fthe rebels carry into successful secession what they de-
sire carry il their revolution envelopes many States
they intend it shall envelope; if they draw the line
where lsham g. Harris, the rebel Governor Of Tonnes
see IN the rebel camp near our Ines told Mr. Valand9
ham they would draw t-along the line OF the OHIO aud
Of the Potomac If they make good their abatement to him
that they will consent to any other line, then ask
what this thing that the gentleman proposes to dot
He proposes to leave to the United States territory
reaching from the Atlantic TO the Pacific and hun
dred miles wide in the ceutre From Welsville, the
Ohio river, to Cleveland the lakes, is hundred
miles ask you, Mr. Chairman, il there be man here
Insane as to suppose that the American people will allow
their magnificent national proportions b sh0rn
dsformed shape this Z
ell you and confess it here that while hope have
something OF human courage have not enough
plate such result am not brave enough to 60 the
brink OF The precpce OF successful secession and look
down into s damned abyss If my vision keen enough
to pierce to it's bottom would not dare to lock- theis
be here who dare contemplate such look
upon him either the brayest of the Of or a.
downright mailman Secession to gain peace Secession
the tocn o eternal There be- end to such
= will be inaugural. I'd if this thing b, done.
Suppose the policy of the gentleman adopted TO-
day Let the order go forth sound the recal your
buges and let it ring from Texas to the far Atlantic and
tell the armies back. Call the victorious legions
back the battle fields of blood forever dsgraced
Cali them back the territory which they have
quered Call them back and let the minons Of secession
chase them with derision and eers they And
then tell them that that the ae from the free
state of Obio gave birth to the monstrous proposition
Mr. Chairman such word should be sent forth through
the armies of the Union the of terrible vengeance
that would sweep back this land could find
parallel in the records Of history Almost in the moment
Of final victory the recall" sounded by craven people
not deserving reedom We ought every man to be made
a slave should sanction such sentiment
The gentleman has told there is such thing as CO.
ercion usiible under the Constitution ask him for
moment to reflect that statute enforced
without 1t the basis of every law in the un
verse--G I'd law we'll as mans law is law with
out coercion behind it When a man has murdered his
hun. When you levy your taxes, coercion their
collection; it follows the shadow of the thief and brings
COURTS and backs the declaration If the naons rights by
pledge of the nations power But when the life of that
nation mperled told that il has coercve power
against the psrricdes in its own bosom!
Again he tells that oaths taken under the amnesty
proclamat good for nothing The oath of Calico
he says not binding upon him. am reminded Of
another oath that was taken but perhaps it too was
oath on the lips alone to which the heart made re-
sponse i remember to have stood in line of nineteen
from Ohio that carpet yonder the first day of the
session. and remember that with upfted hands before
Almighty God those nineteen took oath support and
maintain the Constitution OF the United States And
remember that another oath passed around and each
member sgaed provided by law, utterly repudating
the rebellion aud it's preences Does the gentleman not
blnsh speak of Galieos oath Was not his its
counterpart
He says the Union can never be restored because of the
terrible hatred engendsred by the To prove it he
quotes what Southern man said q few years ago.
that he knew no hatred between peoples in the world like
that between the North and the South And yet that North
and South have been one nation for lightweight years.
ayua apan N
the of the Scottish border Have we seen any
thing btterer than those terrible feuds in the days Of
Edward when England and Scotland were the deadest
foes on earth And yet for centuries those countries
have been ceened in ndissOube union that has made
the British nation of the proudest Of the earth
said lttle while ago that accept the proposition
OF the gentleman that the rebels had the right OF revou
ton and the decisive issue between and the rebellion
u.s. whether they shall rsvoutonize and destroy,
shall subdue aud preserve We take the latter ground
We take the common weapons of war to them and
these be not sufficient would take any element which
will overwhelm and destroy would sacrifice the dearest
and best beloved; would take all the old sanctions of
law and the Constitution and rg them TO the Winds il
necessary rather than let the nation be broken n pieces
and it's people destroyed with endless ruin What the
Constitution that these gentlemen are perpeuay fngng
in whenever desire TO strike hard blows against
the rebellion 1t is the production OF the American peo
pe They made it, and the creator Is mghiier than the
creature. The power which made the Constitution
also make other instruments to do it's great work in the
day of its dire necessity.
Mr. ELDRIDGE. desire to ask the gentleman a
question want to know if he did pot just say that with
nineteen others be stepped forward TO the Speakers desk
and swore to support the Constitution
Mr.. GARFIELD did; and am very happy the gent
tleman has reminded me Of it at this time and
Der in the very preamble Of that Constitution it is declared
be ordained for the very purpose Of promoting the gen.
era welfare and providing for the defence; and
that very ground based that very statement Of its
declared object not only lifted up my hand swear to
support that Constitution before God, but it makes me
sorry there had not been sword in it when lifted
il up To strike down aay and all who would oppose the
of all the God has pacsd in power for over
throwing the rebellion forever
am reminded here OF q fact which had we'll nigh for
gotten. Last summer remember Union spy came to
our camp bringing two letters addressed to Maor Gen.
eral John c. Breckenridge, G. 8. A" They letters
commission in the rebel army, and commenting him
gallant and reliable whom Brecklnrdge could trust
One Of these letters signed by who lately held
a seat in this House
[Cres Of q name him" from the Democratic side
Mr. GARFIELD. will produce the letter in due time.
1t is here with The other letter from an as
socate of his prominent in the local Democratic politics
of the tate of Indiana responsible for producing
those letters Cries of "nam,!"1
Mr.. HOLMAN. | hope the gentleman will give the
names now.
Mr. GARFIELD When produce the letters any
further testimony that may be called for be had my
hands.
Mr. Chairman, let me mention another class Of facts 10
this same connection We we're compelled last year to
send secret service to ferret out the nsidous
work Of that organization known the knights Of the
Golden Circle" which attempting TO currupt the
army and destroy it's efficiency; and it found that
by most subtle and secret the signs and pass
words Of that order were being made TO such men