Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-19
iosudsr 10 General Garfield.

when i commenced, That spoke Tor my sell. I
aud that alone would be responsible for ~nal |
sad. | am sell aware OF all that did say |
have said IL deliberately; have said il because
nv conscience told me it vas ght. and nv
iudg meut approved IT, | have said Il; because.
~heu ~aiked down WITH my colleague 10 the
trout OF that oesk. 20 take the oath required Of
me IN becoming member of tbis House. | held
up NY hand, as be raised bis, before Heaven,
and took upon myself a solemn oath TO support
the Cor stitution OF the United States; and so
help me Goo. fearless OF ali the charges that can
be made against me by that gentleman or any
other. by all the minions of power in the land
/ never will violate that oatn. shrink from the
responsibility which then assumed
have never, sir, belonged 20 party which
took that oath with mental reservation |
never took the oath with determination not to
obey part OF the laws Of the land. | remember
the district OF country from which my colleague
halls, the conventions that have been held there
and the iOrclble resistance 10 the enforcement of
the law that has been made there | remember
when the party now power undertook to set
ASIDE a solemn act OF Congress aud appealed 10
the Supreme Court of our Stale To override the
Constitution OF the United States. Sir, have
never been guilty OF that crime have never.
repeat. belonged to party that take this oath
with mental reservation IL seems 20 me that,
II nv colleague had desired 10 stand right before
this House and before tue country, before be as
sumed the responsibility of charging me indvd-
ually with being dislOyal. he should have re
meDbered the authorities that brought before
the House and when he had branded me rs di--
LOYAL, he would have recollected that the leaders
. OF his party and the organs OF his own party
from the New York Tribune down to the Colum
bus Journal OF the State ia which he and | live,
have advocated the doctrines that have promul
gated here 10 day, and that the Secretary OF the
Treasury. hailing from our State too, advocates
this identical doctrine
Then. sir. II that be treason. all these men
traitors. | preferred To get my authority
from the party TO which nv colleague belongs
when | put myself before the House and coun
Try | have done to day. | then say, IF
that be treason, make the most of it-make
the most OF it, ! have brough, here the au-
thorities In my judgment they are correct
aud sound have not. perhaps. had the op
portunties of some other gentlemen on this
floor. but my earliest inspirations were those OF
love and admiration for my country and for
the distinguished statesmen who have adorned
the pages OF her history. | have not been an
unconcerned spectator OF what has taken place
When read the eloquent appeals of Clay and
Webster when | read the eloquent Grafton of
John Quincy Adams, when | read the report
which | have produced 10 day of Thomas II
DthtOus MhfIU ' an Duftu anu imam II
Harrison. when ! referred. as have TO what
the Secretary of State said three d,ys before the
Sunday when the proclamation for seventy five
thousand men was issued and 10 what Edward
Everett -ad before coercion had commenced
when referred to what WAS said bv Senator
from Ohio b Il Wade and the present occu
pant OF the Presidential chair, when referred to
all these. knew that they all leaders of
the party to which gentlemen on the other side
traitor. equally so are they, All that ask is
tina, may be credited with honesty and sincerity
OF convictions. and for Independence in declaring
them in this house and before the country. | am
willing 10 abide the consequences and take the
responsibility.
Now, SIR as to the charge in re -pect TO Knights
of the Golden Circle | have no knowledge of
any such thing So help me God | never had
and with Gods help never will have--never!
! am member OF no political secret organic =
ton | have never been a member of any ex-
cept one, which was known as the Mimi Tribe
in the county where live defy the world to
point to single instance in my life where
have ever had any connection with OF any
knowledge of any other secret political orgapi-
cation. So much for the genteman's charge
against me on that score
Mr.. Garfield: Mr. Chairman, did not charge
the gentleman as belonging to the Knights OF the
Golden Circle Ii were so understood here
distinctly disavow any such intention. | think
did not say so. | only said that such M or
ganizaton existed; and regarded it under
the protection and direction OF the Democratic
party
Mr. Long: Such organization may exist for
aught know, but have no knowledge of it,
and no communication with il. | do not know
that any such organization exists; | trust in God
that it has no existence | carry no banner; |
sound no key note: | speak for party. |
kno~ that | utter sentiments which those on this
side of the House dsapprove; but | say what |
believe TO be true. and what my judgment die
tates to be right. | have said il because il meets
the approval OF my own judgment. | stand upon
it. believe there is no power under the Con
sttu'iOn 10 coerce sovereign States III the Union.
Following the lead of the distinguished gentle
man from Pennsy lvania. Mr. Stevens am OPP
posed to coercing them out at the Union. |
referred TO authorities sustaining me in that pc.
stiOn, and II the gentleman Mr. Garfield were
quick in his response To the doctrine. | ask
him why he did not rise in his place and make
the same denuncntion against the leader of his
own party Alr. Stevens when he made his
speech At an early dav of the session ia reference
the position ot the Southern S'atcsY
Dir Garheli: VIII the gentleman allow me TO
Interrupt hun?
Mr. Long: Yes. sir.
Mr. bdineld: III the gentleman Will refer 81
the speech conh-cation which | had III,
honor To deliver. he will that dissent i
from the doctrine ct the gentleman trOm Peun.
sylvanit IN very pointed ami precise terms.
Mr. Long: That i all very true. have
read the gentleman's speech | think | also
heard him say upon another occasion that he
would leap over the barriers OF the Coustitu
ton to put down this rebellion think | heard
that escape from hi lips during this session
Mr Garfield: said what did say upon that
occasion with great circum>pection aud care
and all ak j. that the gentleman wi fairly
quote me, as presume he intended to do In
reply 10 the gentleman from the GENITAL district
Ot Ohio Mr. Cox ~no j. not IA his seat
when he asked me II would break the Const-
tuition. answered that would not break the
Constitution az all unless il should become ne
ces>ary 10 overlap IL barriers to save the Union
| did not say then. as 10 say now that on such
an occasion would overlap the barriers of the
Constitution. but | would leap into the arms of a
willing people who made the Constitution
Mr. Long Then | give ms colleague credit
for honesty and frarkuess The difference be