The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1864-04-28
SPEECH
HON. ALEX. LONG, OF OHIO,
Delivered ian the House of Repre-
sentatiVcS, Apris q. 1864.

sideration of the Presidents Message, Mr.
Long said:
MIR. CHAIRMAN: | speak to-day fol
the preservation Of the Government; and
although for the first time within these
walls, 1 propose to indulge in that free
dom of speech and latitude of debate SC
freely exercised by other gentlemen fol
the past four months, and which is admis-
sible under the rules in the present con-
diton of the House. But for what ma
say, and the position shall occupy upon
this floor and before the country, | alone
will be responsible, and in the indepen-
dence of a representative of the people, |
intend to proclaim the deliberate conyic-
tons of my judgment in this fearful hour
of the country's peril. And now, Mr..
Chairman, rs we are i'll Committee of the
Whole on the state Of the Union, let Us
inquire: how stands the Union to-day?
\ little over three years ago the present
occupant of the Presidential mansion, AT
the other end of the avenue, came int
this city under cover Of night, disguised
in plaid cloak and Scotch cap, least as was
feared by his friends, he might have re-
ceiyed a warmer greeting than would have
been agreeable ON his way through Balti-
more, at the hands of the constituents OF
the honorable gentleman from Maryland
{ Mr. Davis) On the 4th of March he was
inauguratcd, and in his address deprecated
civil war, using that ever to be memorable
language, Suppose you go to war, you
cannot fight always, and when, after much
loss on both sides. and no gain on either
you cease fighting, the identical questions
as to terms OF intercourse are again upon
you.' Seven States had up to that time
seeded from the Union. All bell eyed
that war would be ayertcd. At The con-
clusion Of the address the lancntcd Doug
las, who had closely watched every word
as it escaped from the lips IF the President,
turned to friend, and, with tears in his
eyes, thanked God that after all the clec-
ton OF Abraham Lincoln would not IN
yolvc the nation in war A secret meet
Ing OF the Governors OF Il number of states
was soon after held III this city \ scheme
was devised and vessel sent out under pre-
tonse OF furnishing provisions 20 the troop.
with Major Anderson III Fort Sumter
On arriving III Charleston ilarbor The pco-
pie Of shat city fired upon the fort. The
telegraph bore the news 10 this city. and
on its first mention to the President, he
exclaimed. II knew they would do it, >
hicli to my mind is conclusive that it
WAS intended expressly for that purpose.
Seventy five thousand mcn were immedi-
ately called for, war was inaugurated. TWEEN
! ty days were given the insurgents to lay
down their arms; an additional five hun
1rcd thousand men were called
, for. hostiities commenced. The rebellion
was to be crushed inside CT sixty days;
more troops were cllled for; the Union
was to be restored with all the rights,
equality and dignity Of the States unin-
paired No man was permitted TO ques-
ton for moment the right OF the govern
ment to coercc the States back into the
Union 70 doubt the right or question
the speedy suppression OF the rebellion and
, restoration OF the Union, was t. be de-
nounced as a traitor to the Government
and sympathizer with the South. Thus,
sir. was tie war inaugurated.
The first year passed away; the second
came and passed in like manner, so for the
third: aud now sir, let he again inquire
how stands the Union today! The brief
period OF three short years has produced a
fearful change in this free, happy and
prosperous governments; SO free in its re-
straints upon personal liberty, and so gen
tie in It's demands upon the resources OF
tae people, that the celebrated Humboldt
after travelling through the country on his
return 10 Europe, said: ''The American
people have government which you can
neither see nor feel" SO different is il
now and so great is the change, that the
inquiry might well be made to-day, are We
rot in Constantinople, in ST. Petersburg
in Vienna, in Rome or in Paris?- Military
Governors and their Provost MarshaE
override the laws, and the echo of the arm
ed heel rings forth as clearly now in
America as i'll France or Austria, and the
President sits today guarded by armed
soldiery, stationed at every approach lead
ing to the executive Mansion.
SO far from crushing the rebellion il
sixty days, three years have passed away
and from the day the conflict began uptt
the present hour, the Confederate army
has not been forced beyond the sound o.
their guns from the dome of the capital il
which we are assembled The city o
Washington is to-day, as it has been fol
three years, guarded by Federal troop
in all the forts and fortifcations.-witl it'll
which it is surrounded, to prevent an at
tack from the enemy, and as an eyidenc,
of The despondency of the Administration
and the unsuccessful opening of the sprins
campaign of the fourth year Of the prog
ress of the war, the Morning Chronicle o
this city, the Presidents organ, lin an ed
itorial few mornings since, said
"Charleston has not been taken; lie
maintains bold front on the Rapidan
the Florida expedition was failure; th
Sherman expedition has not been IA success
and the rebels have everywhere show
more vigor than they were supposed t
possess" Although the same paper, an
others in support Of the Administrations
!, have told the country from time to tim
during the past winter, that the rebelio
WAS crushed and slavery was dead; tha