Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1864-03-24
II the United States House of Representa-
tives on Tuesday, Mr.. Il. Winter Davis called

tiVeS on u3siAy, MI L. y l1&01 ''"S'' o
up the bill, reported by him some weeks ago,
from the Select Committee OH the Rebellion
nroy;oing republican government n states
oyerthrown or usurped by the rebellion tie
argued chat the constituents OF gentlemen
would Judge by their votes on IBIS oil whether
,;ev believe 5he cause Of che rebtion slavery,
shall be rooted cut, and whether they think
the nenGiI,. measure adequate and proper to
accomplish that ohject. 1t proposed the exer-
else, not Of an arbitrary power, put power
within fair construction or Cnlt part Or the
Constitution which imposes the duty OF seour"
irz republican government to every State: =
Secession was not domestic violence within
the meaning g the CONSTITUTION, nor was It
<!inyason There could be no government
within the Uuite1 States which repudlates the
authority and Constitution Of the country. -
When military government Is suppressed, 1t
i time to thiuk of another; therefore the
Constitution declares the right OF republican
government shall exist, and what is opposed to
renublcan government shall be put down:
What. he asked, is the condition Of the
roheIIious States? Not one Of them has been
brought under the undisputed supremacy OF
the United States. There is not State 10
rebellion whose soil ia not pressed DO rebels IN
arms There is no portion Of the rebel States
where peace is SO far restored that our military
mower can be Withdrawn Tor moment Without
Instant Instruction There is no rebel State
from which our troops can be Withdrawn, ana
the neoDIe tieirin trusted. Oue-tenth ought
not 60 control. Five tenths nowhere exist;
and if they did they are not to De trusted
West Virginia is the only State wrested from
the REBELLION You have nowhere II the rehel,
hons States free, independent, and loyal
rGhciS
arms. and to fight in maintenance OF the Con
stit,,tion. We have heard much about the
)oval masses Of the South What was their
tenper formerly and now? Although they
voted against Secession, they acqnlesced IN the
decision Of doubtful majority. They wanted
= Union with peace but when war ensued,
they preferred disunon,
IL was an extraordinary fact, shat in the
Southern States, where great revolution was
inaugurated against their wishes and votes;
not sword was drawn by them it was rev.
ol,1tion without martyr and without CON
fessor, excepting the Immortal PettlgreW OF
South Carolina.
We hear Of the people being exhausted and
anxious for peace. True-they arc anxious
Tor peace, but they want peace with lndepen-
dence; they are not for peace with Union. -
There was no respectable authority tor the as
sertion that any portion OF the reoellous
States are willing to accept the Terms OF peace
which our political opponents offer them
Governor Seymour had said that peace could
he nrocurea On reasonable terms. 1t was only
with that gentleman wish-a good ,natured
hope. " bat, then, are We to do? We must
not erect a Government on shifting sands, TO
be supported by our arms, and for the people
to turn against US when we are driven away Or
withdraw It was Co erect the throne OF Chaos,
and to LEI him sit there and reign supreme
A dispatch from Cumberland Gap to the
Northern papers states that Lieutenant Col
onal Davis Of the Eleventh Tennessee who