Maysville weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1864-1866, 1864-05-06

min istration, and its course was approved by
majority of Congress. and, indee I. bp the
people at large. after their passions had be-
com excited by actual war; 5et
! I told you then that / did not consider
secession q constitutional or reserved right OF
the States, but an act of revolution; but q
revolution by organized communities-not
Iebellion in the modern sense of the word
but only in its old Rom an sense-tne revolt
of people. I told you. also, that in my
judgment, conciiiation, and the removal of
real or even apprehended grievances or
dangers, and not coercion by arms, was, in
such crisis, the true policy of the states
man; and that the trainers of the Constitu-
| ton had wisely left such state of affairs
without any prov;sion-as7 one of those
mortal feuds" which, in the language of
Hamilton. when they happen, commonly
amount to revolutions and dismembermeut
Of empire"
! ladmitted that secession was breach of
the compact by which the Federal Govern
ment was established, and that it rested with
the United States to determine whether
they would and could by war, compel the
seeding States to repair the breach, or
whether the act by which they severed
their political relations with US should be
asserted to, and peaceful separation per-
mitted, In the hope that past m EN- cries and
the ties of blood and marriage, with con-
tinued commercial intercourse. might in
few years restore those seven States to the
Union; similar Influences having at the
origin of the Government induced North
Carolina and Rhode Island, after a years
delay, to become members OF the Union,
though the former had in the first instance
rejected toe Constitution. aud the latter had
refused to be represented in the Conven-
tiou. -E -
/ may be pardoned here for quoti3g
short extract from a speech | made on the
"condition of the country" in March, 1861,
as illustrative OF my opinions before the
sword tad been drawn:
"You may attempt by war to keep the
States unitsd-to restore the Union-but
the attempt will be futile. Cancellation and
concession may reunite us; war never! The
power may be exercised for the purpose of
Jubishm ent and vengeance. 1t may be ex-
ercised il you propose to conquer the secsd-
ing States, aud reduce the patton into a con-
solidated nation; but if your Infection be TO
m aiut in the Government which your an
cestors fouuded-that is. a common Gov
erument over separate, independent COM
muuities-war can never effect such an in
tention." M
l preferred then peaceful separation to
igil war as the lesser evil, butthe Admin
tration and the dom inant party decided to
resort to an enforcement OF the laws by. the
coercion Of arms. as against an iUsurrection.
Civil war has since ragged, and its events
and consequences have strengthened my
convictions that the prosperity of my coun-
try and the happiness and morals of tn peo-
Die can not be promoted by its continuance
To these views an overwhelming majority
of Congress is opposed. and, SO far as the
elections of the past year can be accepted as
evidence of public sentiment. that majority
is sustained by the people. 1t is true that
new questions have arisen in the progress of
war as to its mode of conduct and object. |
and have produced conflict of opinion
among the people.
But on the question of peace-even by
Temporary separation if essential-the Dem
ocratic party with which / have been con-.
nected is divided, aud many Of its leading
and most influential adherents indulge in
the visionary idea that a common Govern
ment, based on the consent of the governed >
over separate political communities, with |
divers fed habits, m anners, customs and in |
can bs restored aud maiutaine ed |
by the sword without the abandonment of a
Federal aud its conversion into an imperial /
and centralized Government. So though |
not the President OF the United States. or
the Secretary of State on the 10Th ofApril, |
1861, before war had begun and to my mind |
such an idea is delusion aud mere chi- /
mera. 7
have also the fixed opinion and belief
th at the life of nstion depends upon the
Of its liberties, and not upon
tke extent of its dominion. Staining,
+, = y Al: =. L. r 49,.
lost the hope that can longer he of service
10 nv countrv or my State. Never an am
bilious m an the passion Of ambition has with +
the advance Of life so dimished that pre-
fer the repose Of private life to the embit-
tered contes,s of the political arena inthese
times.
I nave lived to see the elective franchise
trodden under foot in my native State by
he iron heel of the soldier, and 'Orier No.
So not the people oGDelsware, represented
IN one hall Of Congress. have lived to see
ae, citizens torn from their homes and sep
arated from their fsmilies on the warrant of
self-styled detective, without any charge I,
x pressed on. its face, and without any 4
known accuser; and then. without hesring
" trial. these citizens uauished from their
State, beyond the protection otthe laws. /,
nto State in whichlthe laws of The United
States are now neither enforced nor en-
,srceable. Yet in the Stste OF Delaware Il
The Courts have been always open. and at s
10 psriod has there existed the semhlance
,f a conspiracy or combination to resist7fhe 3
.uthority Of the United States. Such an
.llssa is gross calnmny. and utterly
come from from what source it
nay. asS
And now, Mr.. President, the Senate of
he United States have, by their decision
,nforcing an expurga gatory and retrospective
lest oath. repugnant to both the letter and
the spirit OF the Constitution. made pre-
,edent which. in my judgment. is eminent
III :, - ,,riral<, hva af 4