Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-03-02

SPEECH OF HON. J. R. D00LITTLE,
OF WISCONSIN,
N THE SENATE OF sHE UNITED STATES,
Es6rna'Y 9, 1864.

mote enlstments in the army of the United States,
and for other purposes, the pending question being
OF the bill
Mr.. Doolittle said
Mr.. PRESIDENT: War and not peace is our
real situation. Whatever may have produced
this state of things, war is upon US with all its
stern duties, and we must fight it through.
At this hour, whatever will give strength TO
our armies in the field and bring revenue to
support them, demands the first consideration
OF Congress- and of every Department of this
Government. If left to me | would speak
but one word, Fill up the ranks, press on the
columns. To spare the unnecessary she'd
ding of blood to save the resources of the
country; to solve all financial questions, and
to put our credit upon a basis so strong as to
command the money of the world, would
speak no other words but q fill up the ranks,
press on the columns" To secure liberty and
Union; TO secure peace with all other
tons by inspiring them with respect; and to
put final end to that conspiracy, founded on
slavery, which makes war against US | would
still say, as the most radical and at the
time the most certain of all measures, g fill
up the ranks, press on the columns" But,
sir nv voice IS but one.
Other considerations are continually press
ed, and will be pressed upon Us; other sub
iects will be involved in times like these and
we are called upon to meet them and to dis
cuss them. | regret that ali the legislation
of the present session the subject of en-
rolling troops had not passed Congress be-
fore the adjournment for the holidays. They
ought to have been matured and passed be-
fore that long adjournment. / fear we have
nearly lost forty days, forty days OF the most
precious, valuable time to the Governments in
filing up our armies. Again, sir, in nv opin-
ion, it is much wiser in all bills which concern
the enrolment OF troops not to embarruss
them BY other provisions not necessary to
raise the troops and to fill the ranks of our
armies. ] rejoice that the honorable Senator
from Massachusetts,, the chairman Of the
Committee on Military Affairs, has determined
To contine the question of the enrolment and
pay of troops to that single issue, and not in
Nolve with IL the consideration OF the aboli-
ton of slavery within the States by act of
Congress.
Some remarks have been made however
upon this bill and upon the subject of the
Crittenden compromise, as il IS called this
morning which lead me, with the indulgence
of the Senate, to make some general obser-
vations not very pertinent to the bill under
consideration, but bearing upon the present
state of the slavery question.
Mr.. President, if we look AT this question
as now presented under the present aspect of
affairs, we see at once chat three years OF war
have changed the slavery issue altogether
What are the facts2 In 1860 the sole issue
concerning slavery was. shall it enter the ter
rtories? It had nothing 10 do with slavery
in the States. The question of slavery in the
States was entirely disclaimed. Neither the
purpose nor the power to interfere with sla-
very in the States under the Constitution was
claimed in 1860, and never has been claimed
by any party in this country, not even bv the
abolition party from its first organization.
Neither the Democratic party, the Wing par
ty, the Republican party nor the Abolition
party ever claimed, under thu Constitution
of the United States, the power to legislate
the subject of slavery within the iurisdic-
ton Of the States. The sole issue therefore
so far as slavery was concerned in 1860 was,
shall slavery enter the Territories. The pco-
pie in the election of Mr.. Lincoln decided
that slavery should not enter the Territories
and that all they decided
After that election, in December 1860 we
met here in the Halls of Congress. The
champions of slavery extension and slavery
propagandism raised the same issue in a new
form They said to the representatives of
the incoming Administration, Z" If YOU Will
change the Constitution 50 as to guaranty sla-
very in ali the territory south OF So deg So
min. which we now have or may hereafter
acquire, We viii submit to the election of Mr.
Lincoln; we VIII remain in the Union but
if YOU will not consent TO such an amendment
break up the Union Those representatives
refused 50 to amend the Constitution The
champions of slavery appealed TO arms and
to the God of battles. BY that appeal TO
that dread tribunal thcy have changed the
issue 1t is no longer whether slavery shall
go into the Territories. That is already de
eided against them. Slavery Is abolished in
ali the Territories of the United States and
from this time heuceforth and forever the
pf a - in. a
the soil of the American Territories
But, | repeat, sir, in making this appeal to
the God of battles aud TO high Heaven, they
have raised other issues Sowing to the
wind they have reapcd the whirIwind In
declaring war against the Union they have
raised the question whether this Government
shall live die. In declaring that thew
would not submit To the decisions of a major
Ity of the people at the blllot-box in ac-
eordance with the express provisions of the
Constitution, they have raised the question
whether republican constitutional liberty it
self, based upon the uiviuc right of the ma
lorlty 70 rule, SHALL not perish forever. They
lid more, sir. When they made this appeal
tpsthe God of battles and impiouslv asked the
blessing of Heaven upon their cause, they
openly and boldly proclaimed 10 the whole
civilized world that they made war against
the United States in the name of slavery and
under the flag of slavery. SlaTerv was to
be she cornerstone of their southern conled-
erIcy. In the name of slavery they drew the
sword; IN the name OF slavery they plunged
i toward the heart Of this Republic. But
sir, under the providence of that God to
whose decision they appealed, that sword
has been plunged back inso its own vitals and
it, Likelihood j. gushing all around Us
They not only avowed slavery To Re the
cornerstone OF their edfce hut they boldly
proclaimed slavery To be divine institution
founded upon the Bible itself They un-
blushJpgly declared war with the whole civil
lzation # the present age. All are familiar
With tie declarations of Mr.. stephens and the
leading men of this rebellion, which | viii
net repeat But there is one avowal made
not long ago in the Richmond Etglsir,g. speak
ing for the rebel cause. published at the seat
OF its power, in presence of jefferson Davis
and his Congress Of ConspiratorS SO remark
able in its character that | viii read from il
sentence or two
:. The establishment of this confederacy, based as
It - uPou slayery, and upon the principles Of
urai sat ordination, Is verify 81 distinct reaction
against the whole course of the ages civilization -
- For 'lihcrty. equality. fra
teruity. We have ImPsTafiveIy substituted slave
~, Subordluatiou. Government go