Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-04-21

Mr.. Cox--SThe gentleman Is distinguish
ed tor prudence as we'll as sagacity.
Some one here asked Mr.. Cox whether
he thought Mr.. Conway of Kansas shosld
have been expelled for offering the resolu-
tions that he did.
Mr.. Cox responded that be did not think
that Mr. Conway should be expelled auy
more than Mr.. Stevens of Pennsylvania
should Tor his speech in favor of regarding
the Southern CoDfederacy as de fdcto Gov.
ernment--as an independent nation. His
colleague, Mr. Garfield, bad taken the same
ground as the gentleman from Pennsylva-
MIA, Mr.. Stevens, and now he was in favor
OF expeing a member of the House enter-
tanning the same views as himself. ~ !
Mr.. GARFIELD (Un., Ohio) said that he
took the most decided ground against the
gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr.. Stevens,
that the South are now foreign people. -
In his speech he remarked that thew were
the Union; that in putting down this Re
bellion we must be governed by the laws of
war as If they were a foreign nation, but
not thereby admitting them to be foreign
nation.
Mr.. Cox-Do you hold the doctrine that
the Southern Confedoracy is Independent
now, and if not, are you in favor of expell.
ing the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr..
Stevens, for holding such doctrine? do
not believe either in the doctrine Of Mr.
Stevens or of Mr.. Long. s.
Mr.. GARFIELD--I draw the most marked
and broad distinction between the opinions
OF the distinguished gentleman from Penn
sylvania, MIR. Stevens, and those of the gen
. tleman from Ohio, Mr.. Long. The former
favored the prosecution Of the war to the
uttermost to bring back the revolted States;
the latter isopposed to all further prosecu-
tion OF tho war, and regards all compromise
as impossible. He, Mr. Long, declared
/ openly for throwing up the white flag, &C.
knowledging the independence Of the Con-
federacy, and that he would make no at
tempt. either by conference or war, TO re.
store the Union.
Mr., ,THAYER (Un., Pa. suggested that
his colleague, Nr. Stevens, was not in his
seat, being detained thereirom by sickness.
Mr.. Cox replied that the remarks Of the
! gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Stevens,
we're printed, aud were as we'll known as If
he were present. Mr. Cox then referred to
the remarks OF the Hon. Benjamin Stanton,
formerly q member of the House, who said,
at the commencement of the Rebellion,
thatlf the Rebels sustained themselves for
year or two, aud nothing but a, war of
subiugation could bring them back, no
would be disposed to recognize their inde.
pendencc. Did his colleague, Mr.. Garfield,
vote for Mr.. Stanton as Lieutenant-Gov
nor of Ohio? ,. ~
Ar. GARFIELD replied that he did not vote
Tor that gentleman or for any ticket. If he
had been in Ohio Mt the time, he should
have voted for MIR. Stanton. His, Mr..
Garflelds only excuse for not doing so was
not being in the State when the election
took place. Ihere were many men on both
sides OF the political question in the begin
ming OF the war who felt it to be their duty
to let the Southern people alone for time,
hoping that reason might return to them
by delay. Others said we cannot: let them
alone, and to this class belonged the patri
OTIS on both sides. But now, when the uues-
ton had been adjudicated, and now, when
the people are determined, after three years
had gone by, and when we are emerging
from the night into the daylight of victory,
to throw up the contest would be treason.
Mr. Cox replied that he had only asked
an answer to his question, and not an ex-
planation AS to what constituted treason
While the gentleman, Mr.. Garfield, would
overleap the Constitution Of his country,
he, Mr.. Cox, would take it for his guide,
for there could be no Union without it,
When you talk of treason, and in tho same
breath are willing to overleap and break
down the Constitution, you are the traitor,
if there is traitor in this House.
Mr.. GARFIELD said his colleague, Mr.. Cox,
was misrepresenting him as to ''overlcaping
the Constitution. l." He, Mr.. Garfield, would
say, once tor all, that he never uttered such
n sentiment. What he remarked was this.
~ hpn slraI vhntkar :.
ces, no would override the Constitution, he
said this, and this only--that he trusted the
Constitution was ample to put down the
Rebellion ana its powers were sufficiently
capacious for that purpose, and therefore
there was no need to override the Constitu.
ton, and il the. time ever came when the
Constitution was not found suficient-and
healookcd upon it as impossible that the
snpposition could be true-he would say, as
the American people are greater than the
Constitutlon, and the nation mightier than
that instrument, we have sacred right to
save the creators ofthe Constitution
Mr.. Cox said that he had been informed
by gentlemen around him that his colleague
did not state the question yesterday as he
stated 1t to-day. The gentleman, Mr.. Gar.
field, was reported in the Chronicle as say
ing he would resort to 'any element Of de-
struction, and fling the Constitution to the
Winds" rather than lose his country. There
was nothing here said about any impossibil
ity in the future. Mr.. Cox next quoted
from Senator Wade to show that the gen.
tleman favored y separation Of the States.
MIR. GARFIELD read the opinion of Thos
Jefferson that the ''aw of necessity might
be resorted to for the purpose OF saving the
country when all other means had failed.
Mr.. Cox said that placed the gentleman,
Mr. Garfield, in the campaign with Mr..
Long Mr. Cox then said that Horace
Greeiey, in March, 1861, declared 4hat if
the Cotton States chose to form an indie.
pendent nation they had the right to do so.
lie, ME-. Cox, would ask the eentleman.
Mr. Garfield, whether he agreed with Hor,
Mr' GARFIELD said that he had not the
pleasure Of hearing the extract read.
Mr. Cox-My colleague is obtuse when
anythint is said on this side Of the House.
but Is willing to listen 10 anything that NAV
he said when Il is not on our side The
declaration OF Horace Greeley is to the fol.
I'VE have repeatedly said, aud once NOR. annoan,.
thai me great pflneipes embodied by JeRerson In m.