Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-03-03

adlOurn, Just after the news OF DurgONne
defeat, Lord Chatham thus speaks of the
war and the ministry. Nothing stronger
has been said of our civil war:
''Ten thousand brave men have fallen
victims to ignorance and rashness. The
only army you have in America may by this
time be no more This very nation remains
no longer safe than its enemies think proper
to permit. do not augur well. Events
of u most critical nature may take place be-
fore our next meeting. VIII your Lord
ships, thcn in such state Of things, trust
the guidance of men who, III every step Of
this cruel this wicked war, from the very
beginning, have proven themselves weak,
ignorant, and mistaken"
The Marquis of CRANKY, on American
affairs in 1876, asked
'In God s name, what language are you
now holding out to America? Resign your
property, divest yourselves of your privil
eges and freedom, renounce every thing
that can make life comfortable, or we will
destroy your commerce, we will involve
your country in all the miscries Of famine
and you express the sensations of men at
such hash treatment, we will then declare
you in state Of rebellion and put your
! selves and your families to fire and sword. 5"
Mr.. Speaker, could 90 on and consume
the little time allotted to me in this discus
sion with quotations of the same character.
1t is not necessary. ! have said all | intend
to say upon that branch of the subject.
i The distinguished gentleman from Penn
sylvania Mr.. Stevens made, on Friday,
what | conceive to be the most frank, the
most able, and the most consistent argu-
mcnt that has been made upon this question
upon that side of the House He manful-
ly,-and, it should be said to his credit,
consistently with his conduct in this House
} declared that
; "The rebels had risen into a separate
government, having been recognized as a
heligerent by foreign nations and our own.
The Constitution does net extend to them
3 in its rights and guarantees Whichever
nation conquers has right to treat the 9th
or as conquered province. They are in
= the attitude of foreign nations.
These points he illustrated, contending
3 that if a State as State, makes <kr and
becomes a belligeront power, we can, when
we conquer it, treat it as any other foreign
nation.
"And this is not question under bu
outside the Constitution. BY the laws o
war, the conqueror may seize and conyer
to his own use everything which belongs t.
the enemy, and sell it to pay the expenses
of the war and the damages occasioned b.,
it."
: quote from the Washington Chroaicl
: of Saturday last.
| Well, sir, what is the difference between
o that genteman's : position and the conduc
of this administration? While the Admin
e istlation and the friends of the Administra
| ton in both Houses of Congress and theiI
Z representatives out of doors are pretending
| to be for the Union, they openly declare
t here, through the ablest Of their leaders
the chancellor of the cxchequcr, Mr.. Ste
!, vens, that they are not Union party; that
) it has ceased to be II question Of Union
that the Southern States are AN independent
, power, the only question is whether We
shall vanquish, subduc, or recognize them
f and the policy of the administration is con
sistent with such declarations.
= Well, sir, | have always thought tn
+ Southern States were either within or with
IS out the Union. If they are in the Union
: they are under the protection OF the Consti
i tuition, amenable to the Constitution an
c the laws made in pursuance, not IN contri
ir vention of the Constitution; entitled to il
ir protection, which includes an entire eXeml
:. ton from Congressional interference wit
b. their domestic institutions, If they al
nt without the Union, they are entitled 20 Ii
We But the gentleman says they are N
~ amenable to the Constitution. He say
II shall we have the Constitution as it
and the Union as it was, applicable to tho
rcbellious StateS?' No, says he, they CT
or not have the benefit Of the Constitution.
is lie approaches the difficulty like II Dol
m frank man lie knows the Constitute
,vs stands between the Southern States and t
ii designs of the Abolitionists, and he tea
It'll it away as an unnatural, improper obstrr
zee ton, and under the laws Of nations seeks
nd power which the Constitution does II
lpt give.
Sir, will that gentleman contend, adm
,e ting his position correct, that we have
,ry right to conhscate the property Of II iorei
de- enemy by paper proclamation Adm
ion ting the Coniederates an independent sc
nat ereiGn power ut war with us, can the Pre-
ish dent as we propose here to do, by PR
VS. lamation, coniiscate the estate Of our cl
Lhe my? How would it be under the laws
ct- nations? How would it be under pract
cy- and precedent? admit where we obti
bic the territory of foreign enemy, while
ted possession OF that territory and IN occul
er ton of it, we may confscato it, proyid
we can hold it by military force atterwa
md but not private property, this is exempt
,sts Mr.. Stcvens-Mr. Speaker
nee Mr. Wood can not yield to the g
in tlcman.
is Mr. Stevcns--I thought the gcntlon
appealed to me for an answer.
our Mr. Wood will yield if it is not tai
to out of my time.
of Objection was made.
one Mr.. Wood-What is the difference
nee tween the gentleman from Pennsylva
rly, Mr.. Stevens and Jefferson Davis? j
cut ierson Davis asserts that he is President
iur- the Confederate States. He has Cove
red mcnt; he has Congress; he has an arr
nan he is n bclligerent; he is at war with
hui United States of America. So there is
all; distinction between the position of til
hey two distinguished men. iiut can wo con
pon cate and hold the lands ofthc South? Dol
iose full.
S. No purely agricultural people, fighting
pon the protection Of their own domestic in
cut, tions upon their own soil, have ever
nav been conquered | say further, that no
rds, voltod people have ever been subduod a
car they have been able 10 maintain an indie
ever dent Government for three years,
,ted But, sir, let that pass. We are at '
Neither side of the House will deny i
,ced Whether those States are in rebellion
this whether we are fighting an mdcpeno
our power we are still at war. Whether it
like civil war, rebellion, or foreign war
anne matters but little. 1t must cease, an
.hed want this Administration to tell the Al
obe, lean people when it will cease,