North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-04-20
SPEECH
SPEECH
a ~ t.--.. "T OF
HON. D. W. VOORHEES,,
Delivered in the House of Represen tatives
q ofthe United states, March 8, sci.
iCONCLUDED.l
OF INDIANA,


sole remedy, for our troubles, that although
the South might send commissioners to treat
for peace. yei they would accede to no terms
save recognition and separation. In sup
port Of This view, w,.celtaln PROPOSITIONS recent
" offered in the Congress at Richmond are
cited. To my mind they indicate a far DIFF
ferent conclusion. 1t is true they do not SIG
urty to me that The power Of the snutherr
people Is exhausted; that the rebellion is
crushed; that panic Of fear prevails in the
SaufliPrn mind. tina a government, whether
Ie t0cto or de jnTe, winch can maintain an
army If half a mllinn of well armed men in
the field is C 'nquared do not see the evil
dence Of all this a. some have proiessed to
do every sixty days since the war began
hut do see IN these prep ,Sitions an earnest
desire upon the part of the South To conform
to the uSages of the civilized world, and To
bring this unhappy ani disastrous crntict 10
a close by the power OF reason. II Is trle
that Ger ain Objects are declared for which
they dc sire to negat late but does that fact
include final results which may grow out of
! negotiation when once commenced ! What
naivn at war with another ever opened coin
munication tor treaty of peace by or claim
| ing in advance the precise terms on whcA il
was 10 be concIu''ed Sucn a course Der
up lDiiRIty tAC'uItS tllt very luS1 Oh ntrUll-
/ alton. COmmls ,lnner> would have no discre-
! uon, and reason and argument would have
no room To act Such Is not, in my iula.
mrnt, the meaning Of this movement IN ln
! Cnnlei1ratC Congress. Sir, what is this CON
! test What interests does it involve -
/ TREY are very distinct and simple when d.
vurced from fanaticiSm On the part of those
| who have kept their allegiance it is srrug
! gle To maintain the boundaries of The Repnb
! nc. and thus defeat the ruinuus dnctrlne thai
4 State has a right To srcede. On the parl
of those in rebellion, 1t is as effort, III their
/ estimation, In preserve the integrity of their
! local laws. Their sJclAl institutions, the right
! to control their domestic affairs free fIum
/ Federal interference. With some. this at
! jempt is made under claim of the right of
! cessInn Others proclaim a rpYnlution
/ which Is the right "i all erpIe if grievances
sufficient exist as Justification. But the
/ people oi the Snu'h are united in the objects
/ at winch they ann. AMI # they could be at
/ tanned in Ihe Up.ion, and without war, would
| they gladly embrace and accept them rather
han coniinJe IN a state Of enleSs hostility.
which is Jesl rowing the very interests thsr
seek to pro'ect ? WHY the gentleman from
I Ohm Nj. G .Efield) te ared few DAYS ago
on this floor, that II the prIvates Of the op-
Z
come together IN peace t,cv would spcpd-
!, rem0ve all our Troubles; and vet he spoke
and voted IN favor ct taking from even the
( wives and children OF the Southern masses,
! who he aSscrt-. are thus willing t. Return
/ ht. Nuiou the last foot "f ill aud the Ia i
! crust - bread by which HE Is sustained -
With such evidence then as This can we lbs
/ ll?v ourselves buture God or man ls we fail
I TO respond 10 the action of the ! Iuth in IA
vur of negotiation. which promises in ad-
vance such happy results ? Let all grlevanc
es whulher iaHcIe1 or real, be considered bv
candid state~uan-hip. Let there be safe and
/ unrepealabe guarantees adopted against
tho,e that are found 10 be real (; and those
that are fauc;ei will be easily explained
away. FIVE emil. tened commissioners from
each section. Iulbued with the spirit of Chris
tinn bpnevnlence animated by an unsrifish
love Of country and If their felow-men,
meeting hy the consent and encouragement
Of their respective authorities could and in
my solemn and deliberate Judgment wnuli
in ninety days agree upon terms which
would be acceptable 20. a large majority Of
the American people, and by which the Un
ion of these States would he more firmly es-
| tab i>hed han ever bctpre-rbe ives of mill
ions spared, the harI earnings # the labprcr
tll Ntl ii'ih ~ tiJ'N. pF'ttC anu tI)UPS''C
rrauqnhiy restored. would rnpr We the
arms;ice which winter declares to achieve
many bloodle>s and permanent victories in
E,v If the Union and the Constitution |
would not stop here. | would extend the
armisIICe aS long as there was hope of Undue
IUu the reluTt. of single State. But sup
/ pose negotioton should tail. Then, indeed.
! would hiS A administration be armed with an
! argument in favor of war which /: has never
vet possessed THIS fact is well understood
| by the Executive and hls advisers, but they
refuse to negotiate because they have reason
! to believe that the Union would thus be re
/ stored and the war ended. But slavery
! you'd nn' thereby be abolished and the
scheme, nf bniIdng up desUpt,c, centrallZ-
ed Federal Government would he defea ed
/ The war, therefore, goes "n the v"ung meD
! OF tbs nation are swept into their graves no.
! on the plain of battle, and the old men be-
! come slaves TO the tax gtthtrer not to re-
/ store the UrIon, but to give worthless LID
! crty to the black man. AMI 90 strike down
! the legatri and privileges # the white
man. t"
Sir upon this question of negotiation, chi
cession, compremI>e and Union, appeal for
/; approval tn my own CONSCIENCE Ii sustaInS
ne with all the force of a burning c5nviclIon
! OF duty. BY it am fitted beyond the reach
OF partisan malice: | appeal TO the people !
4 he voice and humane instincts of honest ma
! 'ure will plead my cuuse in their hearts,
/ Al their hands fear no evil for the countrv.
/ hey are just, and will appreciate a pIain
I and inherent element of right. appeaI n
tu'ure years. When candor, reason and
Christianity sit in Judgment on this struggle.
every line which records the history of war
] or l'eace in ali former ages, tells me that
p their verdict will be in favor of the princi-
| Piles which | advocate seize this hour of
/ future triumph by anticipation. That it will
! come entertain no more doubt than Id,
| that | breathe he air f life this moment
| appeal, finally, to G ID, before whom I
stand, and into whose presence We all hasten
T TO answer for our conduct and our motives