Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-04-14
TIE STATE DE- TIE UNION
- Il Il 4, CII
HON. J. L, DAWSON,

~~Ns ~ A@s $3.50 w s~
Ddtrcred in tie House Of Representatives
QfMc Unit,d States, feJ. q, 1864
| Mr.. Speaker, it is now about eight years
since left these Halls The country was
then in the enjoyment of its uninterrupted
career Of prosperity. 1t seemed as though
at length the problem of government had
been solved and that human wisdom had
basis of Just and equal laws for individuals,
consulted with the happiest success for the
rights and interests Of the political commu-
mites which composed the federation. -
From small beginnings thrce-quarters of
century before, we had grown to greatness.
From thirteen colonies, feeble and poor at
best, we had become a populous and veal
thy nation; rich and powerful empire. The
great nations of the world had come to look
upon us with respect, with admiration and
envy. Sectional causes of difference had
indeed rutiled too rudely the calm surface of
our prosperity; but prone to trust in that
signal care Of Providence which had hither-
to befriended us, we dismissed lightly the
apprchcnsons of evil which they were fit
ted to occasion us We took council too
readily of our wishes and always rested in
the conclusion that the Republic must be
perpetual.
Such was the state Of things at the close
Of my representative term in 1855. | re-
turn here in the midst of revolution -
Countrymcn of the same lineage are array
ed in bloody conflict. Strange and unheard
of doctrines OF government arc promulgated
by those in possession of authority and
mowers and measures unknown to the Con-
stitution are ercsortdl to with desperate eager
ness at the call Of the novel exigcncies that
have arisen.
The division of the country by violence
has been all along foreseen by the wise
among us as the consequence Of causes
which might have been avoided. As it is,
the future inquirer into the history of the
events transpiring around us will be struck
with amazement at the folly and madness
which could thus permit to perish, ifperish
!, it shall, Government so admirable after
an existence but little extended beyond that
prescribed by the Psalmist as the maximum
of individual life. The fact of our cXtraor-
l dinary greatness as compared with the
brief duration of our institutions, furnishes
the most conclusive attestations of theil
unparalleled excellence. Yet this has not
' suficed, when once the demon of sectional
ism has been evoked, to save this noble fab
, ric of civilization from ruin, it may be-
. which has been the common fate of nations
The wisdom and foresight of the fathers
have been shamed; and together with the
t memory Of their noble struggles, sacrifices
: and sufierngs in the cause Of independence
and freedom, their counsels and warning,
have been cast into oblivion In vain the
to- common ties of language, manners, litcra
ture and religion, of blood, and country
and glory, have raised their supplcatin:
voice for the continuance of the Union.
Nearly three years Of civil war have nov
discharged their relentless fury upon ou
unhappy country; and we are yet apparent
ly as remote from any satisfactory adjust
ment of our differences as when We frs
3, few to arms. These unlucky years hay
seen many of the peaceful pursuits Of tn
country broken up, its vast resources was
ted in unfruitful conflicts, and the mem
. bers of almost every household arrayed i
the sable habilimcnt of grief And still tn
contest RACES. This ill.judged rebellion sti
interposes its huge and fearful proportion
between the present and the return u
e. prosperity to our country. The all impol
: tant and practical question which we hay
to determine is, qchot Is the policy whic
Me cctgency demands? In order to II wis
consultation upon this subject it is neceSsar
to look to the past as well as the future, =
n What is this Government, whose eXistenc
is now in such fearful peril, and for tn
maintenance of which the country is yield
ing so lavishly of its blood and its treasure
, | am convinced that it is from loose and in
. correct ideas of the nature of our Govern
ment, from allowing the heats of part
J, strife to withdraw our attention from it
true character, and to confuse our sense O
the duties which we owe it, that have flow
ed the evils from which the country is suf1
ering. Upon subject Of such transcend
ont nc tbiS Si1ancn in a rnprr
y sentative of the people, hesitation or cor
cealment, would, in my Judgment be alik
criminal. | shall speak, therefore, unde
those deep convictions of duty which tn
y times inspire, and with that unreserve
freedom and boldness which are the birth
right of an American citizen.
c. The true character of our Government
then, will be best perceived from a ganc
l. at its formation. 1t is well known that tn
idea of union, more or less extensive, {
the British Colonies, was from a very earl
period not an unfamiliar one with ollr fore
- fathers. Such union was formed by cel
tain of the New England Colonies as earl
- as 1913, the object being the common dc
tense against the Indians and Dutch OF Ne
Amsterdam. The Congress met at Alban
, the New England, contemplated sinill
union, as did the still more important oil
which was called at the same place in l75
= to consult for the protection Of the Coloni,
against the hostilities by the French an
Indians. The projected union, howeve
, failed through jcalousies on the part OF Il
,, Home Government, as well as among Il
Colonies themselves. The idea of Coloni
union was at length fully matured in III
in the first Continental Congress which m
at Philadelphia, consisting Of the represen
, atives of twelve Colonies. Its object,
,, will be remembered, was to consult for Il
common welfare against the oppressi
measures and unwarrantable pretenSions
the mother country While resistance w
> determined upon against the claim to t
the Colonies without their consent, the id
- of independence had not yet found acce
'f' tance in the Colonial councils. In the sp
it of attachment to Great Britain the col
MES would freely have united in concedil
to her the benefit of her navigation acl
could she have consented to renounce Z
, fatal claim to the right of taxation. IL
measures adopted by that Congress had /
their object to compel her to abandon tn
ne right, and British commerce was to be
nounced till she did 50. Twoye later,
. the mad persistence Of the Home Govel
ment in her unjust measures, the colon
were forced into independence.
Simultaneously with that act, the Con
mental Congress proceeded to prepare Al
/, cles Of Confederation, which should expr
the nature of the compact between
.. States and define the mowers CONFER