The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1864-05-24
SPEECH OF
Hon. VIM. B. Allison. .

Union Armies, delivered in the Hous
of Representatives. May 4th, 1864.
Mr.. Speaker, we are still in the rnids
of war. More than three years ago th
people Of eleven States of this Union. il
their organized capacity as States, b,
their representatives. selected for tha
purpose, confederated together. adopte,
form OF government independent of tn
Government to which they owed allegi
ance, and levied war upon the Unior
which bad SO long protected them in th,
full enjoyment of every right under III.
Constitution. This war. begun confess
edly without cause. has been prosecuted
on their part with despotic cruelty and
implacable vindictiveness without prece
dent in the annals of civilized warfare.
The despotic chieftain who rules al
Richmond shrinks from no act that in
his judgement tends to perpetuate bis
power, either in the treatment of his sub.
jects, or in his conduct toward the Gov
ernment ag ainst which the war is prose
cuted.
Although the conflict has waged will,
varied fortune from the beginning, vet a
survey Of the situation to-day clearly in
dicates that we have made substantial
progress toward tho reestablishment of
the power Of the Government over the
revolted States. We all indulge the
hope that the invincible hero with his
brave men now about TO move on the
enemy's works will achieve success.
We must not deceive ourselves, howev.
er, by resting in the belief that the ene-
my is substantially overthrown his
armed legions will still confront us
many battles are yet to be lost and won
before his military power is destroyed.
That power destroyed, the enemy is not
conquered.
Who overcomes
BY force hath overcome but half his foe
Our better part remains to work in close
Design what force effected not
"The unconquerable will and study
of revenge, immortal hate, and courage
never to submit or YIELD" must be sub
dued by wise legislative action, by firm
administration, and by unwaverng fidel-
i,y 10 The great principles of republican
liberty. The cause OF all our woe must
be eradicated. We must not be led
astray by the siren song recently echoed
on this floor, that abolition ia Ga thing
accomplished" that slavery is dead.
But we must annihilale il forever. and
see that il has no resurrection. This
duty primarily belongs to the Congress
OF the United States. We fail in the dis
charge of our whole duty if we do not
adopt every measure that will bring
about this consumation. Every measure
OF Co gress. and every act Of the Execu-
tive. looking to the suppression ofthe re
bellion and the destruction Of the diabol-
ism that produced il. although vehem.
emily assailed on the stump, through the
press. and in these Halls, has been tri.
umphanty sustained after full and free
discussion by the people of this country.
The loyal people who have sacrificed so
much, and who are ready for still great
er sacrifices, demand Of us and OF the
Executive that these necessary measures
shall be carried to their legitimate and
proper result. They demand that we
shall SO triumph over the rebellion that
the cause which led to il and which has
been its chief support shall with il be
destroyed forever. They demand that
free republican institutions. with all their
attendant blessings, shall be established
in all the territory reclaimed by our
armies from the usurpa.ion that now
holds it.
l have listened with interest to the
discussion in this House al TO the rsla.
tions Of the Sc. called icon federate
States to the Government of the Unit
cd States. 1t seems to me, however,
that this question is to us res edjudieata.
Il has been settled by executive procla.
nation, BY congressional action, and BY
judicial determination. Our authority
over the revolted States. and the rights
10 which they are entitled. have been
clearly defined and fixed by the Supreme
Court Of the United States, in the prize
cases reported in 2 Black. page 635, ct
seq. The court, in stating the nature Of
the revolt, says:
:" That in organizing this rebellion they have
ACTED A. STArEs, claiming TO be sovereign over
all persons and property within their respect
i've limits, and asserting a right to absolye
their citizens from their allegiance to the Fed
eral Government. Several Of these States
have combined to form a new confederacy
TO be acknowledged by the world as a
sovereign State. Their right to do 80 is now
being decided by wager Of battle. The ports
and territory Of each Of these States are held
In hostility TO the General Government. 1t is
no loose. unorganized insurrection, having no
de6nsd boundary or possession. II has a
boundary marked BY lines Of bayonets, and
which can be crossed only by force. South of
this fae 10 eaemy's territory, because it is
claimed and held ia possession by an organic
ed, hostile. and belligerent Power. - Black
pages s73, s7f.
Judge Nelson, page 6e3. says:
The laws of var, whether the war be aisi
or inferSenfss. as We have seen, eonyert ever,
citizen OF the hostile State into public enemy
end treat him accordingly, whsteyer may har,
been his previous conduct
Again. page 665. he says:
The act Of Congress Of July IL, 1861, see
tions FIVE and six. recognized state Of cyi
war bstween the Government and the eonfed
crate States, and made it territorial.''