The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-02-11
Speech of Kentps1.y 'rn,Orn Democrat

Hon. Green Clay Smith, of Ken
tpeky, in a speech in the u, S. House
Of Representatives, ON one day last
week, defined his position thus: ,,..
Mr.. Smith, of Kentucky, said:
Mr., Chairman, I,did not intend 10
say anything upon this subject, but,
having witnessed for the last two
years or more che operations of the
armies of the country, and, to some
extent, the effect of ordnance and small
arms upon the 'dncmy, | feel it to be
my duty upon this occasion to say,
that while there is power in these, and
while the Government. must through
these execute its laws and vindicate its
Integrity, there, ,r1nains behind this
rebellion that which gives it strength
andpower, which must be overthrown
and destroyed ON the other side, while
our armies and ordnance move in
front. 5lIf yu. gal .u.a, .4'.
1t is true that Gen. Ice is within a
short distance of this city; it is true
that Longstreet is iortifying himsol1
in Eastern Tennessee; it is true that
Beaurcgard is at Charleston; it is true
that other rebel forces are ia various
quarters Of this couiitry, bidding def
ance, to the Government of the United
States and its soldiery; but THEN
forces in arms against the Government
are maintained and fed by, and theil
very life blood is drawn from African
slavery in the South, and whenever
you-and ! say it here as Kentuck-
ian and a Southern man, always hav-
ing been identified with the institution
of slavery, and believing that, as q
citizen of Kentucky,' l had right to
it, and so believing still; that when
you sap the foundation of this accur-
scd rebellion, and tear from under the
rebels that which has given them pow
er and strength, you destroy the re.
bollion, and your artillery is eflectual
[Applaasc in the galleries and on the
floor, and some Kisses, .. 5...
Now, sir, / would not touch, here
or elsewhere, the rights, the interests
the privileges or anything else belong
ing to q Union man, or. to any mar
who has stood for his country in re.
Ibellious State or in a loyal State but
when man has eyinced his hatred tc
this Government; when he has volun
tarily taken up arms against this Gov
ernment, and when he has brought
his artillery to play upon its Corstitu
ton, and its principles, and its liber
ties, he can demand of me, as legis
lator for the people of this country, nc
privileges in horses, cattle, lands ol
negroes, We will take them when We
come to them, BY any means we can
and by all means. .rl.sl.e
The bulwark which prevented the
American people, by its army, from
moving down the South and exerci
sing jurisdiction there-that bulwark
supported by four millions Of slaves
must be removed +; and the evidence
that,we have, q right to, remove it il
that we, have a right to. crush the re.
bellion. It was the duty of the Coy
ernment to do it. The Government
would have failed in its duty to itsel
and to all future generations, if it did
not, in its power and majesty, SWEEP
away that bulwark Of slavery. ]
thought it my duty, under the circum
stances in which I am placed, coming
from the country I come from, repre-
senting the loyal people who feel as
do, and whose feelings have been ex
pressed time and again TO me as min'
to them, to make this statement.