Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-04-14

I TehsUn,
able and although it may be unpopular and even At the
risk Of personal liberty in times Ike the present 10 aVo
cate them, they nevertheless eternal ana immuaee
The distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania, INF
STEVENS who Glands upon this floor and before the coun
try as an acknow leader of the Administration party
has had the honesty and independence IN speech DENY
cred early part Of the session. TO announce what no
holds to BIO the true position OF the Confederate STATES
He says:
Some think that these still in the Union and
entitled the protection of the Constitution and the laws OF
the United States"
This idea he at once repudates and then boldly ahrms
that which he holds to be the true doctrines
" Others hold that having committed treason renowned
their allegiance the Union discarded the CONSTITUTION ana
laws, organized distinct and hostile Government ana ey
force of have risen from the condion OF insurgents 70
the position of an Power &c acto and having
been acknow beigerent both by foreign nations
and Government the Constitution ana the Union
abogat ed they concerned and that IS De-
tween the beger they ave under the laws Of war
and the laws of nations alone aud that whenever rover
NAV treat the quered provinces
and may impose upon them such conditions ana awS NO
deem best"
In answer to any objections that may be raised to this
position, he says:
But il is said that this must be considered contest WIN
rebel individuals only as States in the onon eno MAKE
war That long they remain In tue Union out
have admitted them be in state OF war; 10 De beise
rents shows thst they longer in the Union ana na
they are wasng war in their sata ad that such
major corporation is composed Of m nor corpooha oa
States acting in their associ tied ehara ter s;a, .
When c'ion becomes sufficiently formidaDe 10
emit tie the parry begerent gh places the eontehdhg
Powers precisely the same footing AS foreign h'o ~
"No one acquan with the magnitude of is contest can
deny it the character of civil war For nearly three
the Confederate States have their
ton of independence by force of arms
What them is the effect OF this pnoio war between
these begerens these foreign natons' Before TINS war
the parties bound together by compact by Treaty
called Constitution They acknowledged the vaia'y 81
municipal laws mutually bind ny on each THIS war mas cut
Now sir for once at least agree with the distinguish
ed gentleman from Pennsylvania, that the Confederate
States out Of the Union occupying the position an
independent Power scto have been as
beiperent both by foreign nations and own Govern
ment maintained their declaration OF Independence ior
three years by force Of and that the war mas CUT
asunder all the gamens and abrogaed all the opngaons
that bound them under the Constitution 80 lar agree
with him, and, however unwilling we may Dc 10 accept
such position the actual condition oil the Conederate
States the history OF the past three years Inc law o sa
tons the genius of Government and regard LOT
truth compel at least to accept it, and my Judgment
approve it and, if the charge OF dsoyalty brought
against for this opinion have only TO shied myself
under the broad mantle of the distinguished leader OF the
Republican party.
At the enhancement Of the war England and France
both declared Confederate States to be begerents the
United State treated with them such IN the exchange
of prisoners and the Administration to day. without the
honesty Independence of the gentleman from Pennsyf
it, doing precely what no proposes do
under his of conquest waged against the Cohieuerae
States a foreign nation
1t is not now even pretended that the carried on
having for it's object the restoration of the Union he
construction" consolidation" Capitalization, WIN
entire change in the Constitution" are the terms EN-
poyed in speaking of the Government that to exist here
after To speak Of the Constitution as 1t is and the Union
was an offence subectng officer in the army to
punishment by dismissal from the service and conclusive
evidence of dsloyay 10 the citizen III the time ever was
when the Union could have been restored by which
do not believe, it has long since been dsPeled by
cipation, con6sca6n amnesty, and the like proclama
tons military orders anpulng State constitutions, setting
aside State laws celebrating State lines and attempting
to organize and set form OF State their
stead in which out Of ton who shall turn abol
ZIONIST take aud subscribe oath to execute and obey the
will Of Abraham Lincoln whatever it may be, shall gov
and rule the remaining who refuse to
become abotionists.
These foes of the Administration, and others of the
like character have instead of crushing tee rebellion
crushed wbaeyer Union sentiment may haVe remained
among the Southern people Its possible that IN districts
of country occupied by the army occasonaly man may
be found who, seeing nothing before him but gnomoy
and death his vie and innocent children appealing to him
for protection with all the tics OF fls Affection his pro-
pery to be and his family to become outcass
and beggars in the world that SUCH in order for the
time being to himself his family and save his
property may take the OATH bat the effect OF 1t will be-
az il ought to be- like that of Galeo who invented the
telescope and who first taught the rotary motion OF the
earth.
study of science and when he had advanced to the ex
treme age of seventy summoned before nquston,
tried condemned and imprisoned in dungeon for tesoh.
heresy subsequently he was brought OUT ana oered
liberty on condition of renouncing his heretica doctrine
TIE eject of beholdng the glorious light of the sun aud
breathing again the pure air Of heaven contased with
the loahsome dungeon in which he bad been cast and TO
which he must return en0unce his belief IN the earhs
notion so far his humanity that he consented 70
compy and upon his Bonded knees with his hands upon
the gospels he abiured his belief in the Coperncan doc
trine Part of his objuratlon in these terms: With
sincere heart and unegned faith, objure cnrse and
defeat the said and heresies vz that the earth
moves Gel swear that will never in future say or
assert any thing verbally or 10 writing which may give rise
TO similar suspicion against me-" Rising from his knees
with hi. ewes still fixed the EARTH he whispered to
friend E pur 81 nuope," Ii moves for all that"
so will be with the man who is forced to take the oath
70 save himself his fsmy, and bis property He may
take It, but in his heart he will deest and desplse the au
tboritv that requires IT, viii such man he devoted to
or make a good tzen Of the Government in which he
ves1 The history of Poland Of Hungary, OF ireland,
and NJ Italy furnishes to the question III im
perla Governments not able to hold IN submissive
obedeuce small portions Of vast empire, once In revolt
how much Government having tor It's basis the con-
sent Of the governed .
Bnt subiugaon" is the watchword, Liberty and free
dom for the slave and subjugaton and determination for
the master is the popular cry Meet them, hight them
orush them, says the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr.
GREEN CLAY SMITH Sir, that IL easily said upon this
floor and s popular with those who from day to day fill
the gallery of this House, but the gentleman from
Kentucky, as well number of other military gentle
men, were quite willing TO orego the pleasure of the per-
nrmance and exchange their commissions As Generals
the field Cor certificate emitting them to seat upon this
floor And were to Judge by the willingness win which
it was done and the tenacty with which they bold to
t. and the efforts OF them making ~ return here
again nsteaa Of the spirit they breathe within these
walls should strongly suspect them OF being sympathy