Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-25

SPEECH OF
HON. D. w. V00RHEES.
I'm the House OF Representatives,
4 April I4s 1854, on the Resolution
submitted by MIR. CoIfax pro-
posing 10 exPet mr. Long.

posing TO expei Mr.. Long.
Mr. Speaker, my health is not such as to per-
NIT any extensive participation in this debate. l
| do not however, feel at liberty to allow so i'm
portant chapter in the history of the country to
be written without recording my earnest convic-
items upon the great question which is under dis.
cussion. During the brief space of time i shall
occupy The floor shall not allow myself to be
1 drawn to any great extent. at least, away from
| the principle which is involved in the motion to
expel the gentleman from Ohio. had not the
pleasure OF hearing the gentleman from Ohio.
nor have yet read his speech. The position
| therefore. which assume to-day has no refer
ence to the merits or dement's Of his sentiments.
i l stand upon the naked right of an American
/ Representative in Congress to utter his own
views. He is not here TO utter my views. He is
not here TO utter your views. he is here to ut
ter his own, responsible in political sense alone
to the peoplewho sent him here. and in moral
sense TO- the God before when we all hasten.
And when | find man seeking to become the
| Judge Of his brother in matter of private con-
science, find one who would have burned John
Rogers at the stake and would have piled the
| fagots around the shrieking victims at Smith
field. The gentleman from Ohio, Mr.. Schenk. J
who has just taken his seat, would have led the
mob that peted the Saviour for the freedom OF
his opinion. He would have stood among the
Scribes and Pharisees before the tribunal OF Pr
late, shouting. Release Barabas," but as TO the
Nazarene. Cruelty him. Cruelty himl" Free
speech was as odous nj that time on the hills OF
Judea ms !: is now in these Halls, and had the
gentleman from Ohio Mr.. Scheuck,) lived
then he would have been its enemy he is to-
day.
Mr. Speaker this is old question There is
nothing new about il The whole history of the
world is written over in letters of blazing light
with the cherished deeds of the champions of free
spee ch. The same great record contains the
eternal whitening. blasting infrmy which forever
clings to those who, as the champions of despot-
ism. are to DAY seeking to strike it down | stop
not to determine whether indorse mans opin-
ions. | indorse his right to utter them here aud
everywhere The man who will not do il is him
self coward, and deserves to be "A slave. Sir
such men are tit instruments to crush out liberty
and in the hands of tyrant TO make slaves oil
the people.
Let me read from an authority before which
the pnny light of the gentleman from Ohio Mr.
Schenck. } pales like that of rush candle held
NJ TO the sun at its fierce meridian. read from
Daniel Webster, whose great intellect is almost
full atonement To the country for all the faults Of
New England.
"when this and the other House shall lose the freedom
Of speech and debate when they shall surrender thu
right OF publicly ani freely canvas>ing all mporan
the Executive when they shall be la
lowed to maintain their authority and their owl
privileges by vote declaration resolution, they vii
then be longer tree representatives Of fec people
but slaves themselves. and tit instruments to make slaves
OF Others"
Sir, | take my stand on this doctrine. l vii
defend il ia behalf not only of any th
side of the House, but just readily in behal
of a political opponent. In my opinion | hav,
heard from the opposite side of this Chamber
during my service in Congress much of treason
No. not treason; withdraw the word; treason
consists not in language, but in acts; but hav,
heard much that was calculated to destroy anC
disrupt the Government; much that was calcu-
lated to weaken the ties that bind us together al
one people; much that tende 10 the extinction
of liberty, and the oppression of the citizen
much that firmly believe is aime1 at the de-
siructiOn of the Constitution and the establish
ment of an absolute despotism. do not. how
ever, propose to expel members for utterins
those outrageous sentiments. They exercise al
unquestonable right in giving them expression
And on the other hand 1 will allow no man e
call in question my exercise OF similar right
l am alone responsible to my constituents. Who
is to be NV Judge who is 70 be the arbiter here
Who is To say when shall speak. and when
shall be silent; what shall say, and what shall
not sayf
The gentleman from Ohio Mr.. Schenck.
when | supposing he had concluded his remarks
rose to address the House few moments ago
shouted back BE silentl'' BE silentl Sir, h,
little dreams Of the consequences if he expects Il
crack his whip as the satrap OF this House, herr
or elsewhere. There a million aud II half o
Democratic voters in this land who will be con-
vulsed with all agony of irepressible rage whel
il il proposed that their Representatives shall b,
silent at the bidding of nsolent party. boa tel
with unlawful power and stepped in the blOOt
and of the nation.
Sir, again ask who is to Judge the principles
held by n Representative? Who is to be the AT
bitter upon this great question: There can b.
but one-his constituents. He stands upon th'
Constitution. BY il his freedom of opinion ant
of speech is made secure lt cannot be Abridged
or dist He can defy the world. W.
here defy you To lay the weight of your 6nge
on this inherent and immortal privilege. w,
yield To you your rights. aud you shall yield t,
us ours, or it at once becomes a question of ply
steal conflict. | tell you not for moment Il
suppose that gag can he placed upon thu
mouths Of the free American people without
blood running, from the hills of New England
TO the mouth OF the Columbia-all over thu
northern land IL il the last bulwark of liberty
il is the hope OF freedom. Give Us tree speech
give us free press; give Us free ballot-box
ard we will stand all else and respond to ever,
cnll made upon us. Seek TO strike these down
and the last hope OF the country will go DOWN.
blood AMI darkness.
Mr.. Morris. of New York: Will the gentle
Mill
Mr.. VOORHEES,: No. sir. No. sir.
Nj. Morris. of New York: | only wish 81,
that the gentleman misunderstood the gentleman
from Ohm Mr. Schenrk
Mr. Voorhees,: | decline to Yield
Nc Garfeld The gentleman from Ohio die
not say "be silent"
Mr. Voorhees: This NAV be as good time al
any attempt To silence the representatives o
the Democratic party.
Mr. Garfield: Nv colleague never said It.
Mr. Voorhee-: The gentleman from Ohio il
not in mm4nd of this department. laughter
Sir, | desire aud intend 10 discuss this grea
question in proper temper l have lai,
down the reasons why do not feel myse
called upon 10 expe any man from this Hous,
for the dccorous expression of political opinion
Neither will vote To- censure HIM for such al
act Let me state this issue Clearly and properly
hold that the rules OF the House protect il. de-
corum, its personal relations, and. whether incl
are gentlemen or not, enforce strict regard fO
gentlemen IN whose presence they aud will
whom they associate. hold that man observ
ing those rules has right under the Constitution
to express his political sentiments with the ut
most freedom.
This is all understand the gentleman from
Ohio has done. You ask me TO oxpel him l.
he my REPRESENTATIVE Am | responsible fo
him2 Are your Another people sent him here
With that people, leave him; he is their moutt
piece What is this Government represent
alive government means the voice or the peopl,
speaking here by every member uron this floor
The voice Of your people, Of New York. speaks
through YOU ITO Mr. Fernando Woodl aud ths
voice of the constituents of my friend from Cin-
cinnati speaks through him The people ar'
here in their majesty. speaking through the
Representatives. Ask your people to make wal
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