Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-04-17


the Constitution you blast the Government
And by destroying the Constitution you do
not put an end to this war nor suppress the
rebellion.
Mr.. JULIAN. Let me ask the gentle
man a question.
Mr.. COX. Certainly.
Mr.. JULIAN. / ask the gentleman
whether, II the salvation of the nation's1ife
required the violation of the letter OF the
Constitution, the gentleman would be will
ing to save the life of the nation at that
cost?
Mr.. cox. regard it as utterly impossi-
BILE, under God, ever to save the life of the
nation by tearing out its vitals-its heart
and brain. The Constitution is the frame
in which the Government Is enshrined.
know no other Government except that en-
bodied In the Constitution. This Is the Gov
ernment which you are sworn to support;
not sworn to support, sir, In certain emer-
gency; not sworn to destroy, If necessary,
to save the life of the country, but uncon-
ditiOnally to support at all times and In all
places, as IL that life were bound up with 1t
forever. You have taken upon your soul the
oath to sustain that Constitution. Now you
say on certain conditions you would break
your 0atbl What is moral treason? What
Is moral perjury? do not charge these up
OH UUe ReULltuldI, DuJ ucS util W TcCOll-
slider and call back his words.
Mr.. JULIAN. viii the gentleman yield
TO me right here? 1r7fa1f
Mr.. cox. will, If the gentleman thinks
have done him injustice.
M. JULIAN. Ihave taken that oath, and
have asserted publicly that there is no ne
cessity in the world for violating 1t. But
the gentleman has not answered the inter-
rogatory which propOunded to him. 1
wish him to state explicitly whether, If the
life of the nation could only be saved by q
violation of the Constitution, ne would be
willing to save it in that way. Laughter
on the Republican side of the House..
Mr.. cox. / will answer the question
/ am used to laughter from that side of the
House. 1t does not distract me, for laugh
ter is not logic. I'LL
| What is the life of the nation, sir, of
which we hear so much !? i know no other
life of the nation except that incarnate in
the written Constitution, which protects
property, person, home, conscience, liberty,
and life. Take away these, and there is no
nation. Society is stagnant and dead. The
gentleman regards liberty as the life of the
nation-a sort of ill-defned liberty for
black and white, suppose. regard the
| Constitution as the embodiment of consti-
tutional freedom in this country, the very
body, life, and soul Of the Union. That Is
the Constitution of the United States.-
When you strike that down you strike
down the life of the nation. Therefore we,
on this side, have determined, in order to
save the life of the Government to save the
Constitution from destruction.
Mr.. JULIAN. Will the gentleman allow
me to ask him another question:?
Mr. COX. If the gentleman is not fully
q II mil Ttr No
CIRCUMSTANCES CONCEIVABLE BY THE HU-
MAN MIND WOULD I EVER VIOLATE THAT
CONSTITUTION FOR ANY PURPOSE. [Cries OF
"That's It'll" That's i'll" from the Demo
cratic side Of the House, AS Judge Thom-
as has said, 'Iwould cling to it as the bond
of unity in the past, as the only practical
bond of union in the future; the only land
lifted above the waters, on which the ark OF
the Union can be moored. From that ark
alone will 90 out the dove, blessed of the
Spirit, which shall return bringing in iti
mouth the olive-branch of peace" To
compass its destruction as probable OF
possible necessity, is the very 'gospel Of
anarchy, the philosophy of dissolution"
Mr.. JULIAN. want to ask the gentle
man question.
Several MEMBERS on the Democratic side
objected. ......
Mr.. cox. If there be any man ip this
Chamber who holds or utters any other sen-
timent in reference to the Constitution and
his oath than this which have expressed
/ say to him that language has no term OF
reproach, and the mind no idea of detesta-
tiOn, adequate to express the moral leprosy
and treason couched in his language and
clinging to his soul. will not designate
such utterances by any harsher language
in parliamentary body. .t
When interrupted by the member from
Indiana was about to go little further IN
answer to what the Speaker said in refer
ence to the Democracy of Ohio. Mr.. Speak
er, / took part in the campaign of last
year, as said, not because approved. o.
the peculiar peace notions Of my former
colleague. 1t was well known in Ohio thai
my votes here did not always coincide with
his and that my sentiments did not agree
with his altogether; but when by an arbi'
trary arrest, without warrant, without fail
trial, in defiance of the Constitution, in de-
tiance of law passed by ourselves, In de-
fiance of English and American traditions
petitions and bills of right, he was arrested
and exiled, the Democracy Of Ohio raised
an issue in favor of fair trial, free speech
the immunities of personal freedom, and an
honest and lawful administration of public
affairs. That was our only issue. tool
ground everywhere in favor Of the liberty
OF, the citizen and the integrity of the Con
stitution. Disagreeing always with the
peculiar tenets held by him In relation tt
coercion, held that he had the same righ
to speak tor peace as the soldier to fight fol
it. But viii say this for him, that no
where, here or at home, did he ever utter q
sentiment or do an act looking to the recog-
milton Of the Southern Confederacy. Ht
said In, his place in this House, again and
again, and quoted Mr.. Calhoun's opinions
Oh the Mexican war In his justification
that he would not oppose the voting of mer
and money to carry on this war, the re-
sponsibility for which he did not covet no'
bear. But, sir, he never would consent te
q peace based, upon recognition. He sc
said In the North, and he said the same In
| his exile in the South. III. IN. Il, g'l..
we were defeated In Ohio on account o.
the issue made on the peace sentiment.
bowed to that decision. But, sir, while there
are some in our party opposed 70 coercion
and in favor of peace indiscriminately
without regard to consequences the great
body Of the Democratic people In our State
and In the North have never gene beyond
one conclusion; and that is. they are forever
opposed 10 cprtailing the limits Of our en-
nire by the recognition Of new. nation
Carved out Of our Territory and made up o.
our States and people. Come war, come
peace, come anything, we would bring
About 4 restoration Of the old Government
with the old order. Our discrimination II
to follow the line Of duty laid down by tht
distinguished Governor Of New York, Hora-
! AZ cawr,,,,n,,r IN s,neradd tn force the n0licy