The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1865-02-15


from Vermont Mr Morrill,, differing on
many particulars, agree on this, that the
power Of their Iogic is such that no hon
est man can dissent from their conclu.
sions, and that those who do not intend
to vote with them for this amendment
are actuated either by sympathy with
slavery or by sympathy with the rebel
lion. Sir, l repel with indignation the
insinuation I repel it with that honest
warmth whichsis consistent with the per-
sonal respect which those gentlemen
know | feel personally for them. l say
it is unworthy for them that it is un-
worthy their high character, unworthy Of
their position In this House. ut is the
art of the ~demagogue to ascribe unwor.
thy motives to an act which may in itself
be honest. 0g eds d Ytf3aih roi ea
This Constitution demands the highest
admiration of my intellect. 1t has re-.
iceived the profound homageof my heart.
The oath which | have taken commands
me to perform that duty which my intel
lect and my heart impose upon me aud
I intend, through evil aud through good
report, through whatever storm Of popu-
lar disiayor, to stand, by it, as 1 UNDER
stand it, even to the end l. love my
whole country, South as well as North ;
and ii is because / love il that no act Of
mine shall retard the restoration Of peace
or the reconstruction of that Union which
made itall my country. 1 am a northern
man l have their prsjudices III love my
section / love its people; l love its in
situations ; | am jealous of its honor ;
and no oct Of mine shall stain the luster
of the fame of its good faith. l an a
citizen Of Ohio. 1t is the home Of my
fathers, as it is the home Of my children;
and | will stand by this Constitution be-
cause l wish to preserve forever the
rights and dignities Of my State, and
maintain forever the liberties of its citi-
zeps. IS ~ . F pt Ts'', n.
| am not influenced, therefore by any
peculiar love for the people Of the South;
by any peculiar regard for their institu-
tons. l stand unmoyed bv the consider
atoms which have been addressed to US.
1t is nothing to me that gentlemen from
slaveholding States approve this amend
ment ; it is nothing to me that the tide
of the popular sentiment runs in favor
of it; it is nothing to me that we Of the
northern States who believe as | do stand
alone, if alone we must stand. I intend
to do my duty as | understand it, and l
am prepared for the consequences be
they what they may. aIg1 ~ se.
But, Mr.. Speaker, if | we're influenced
by the motives which gentlemen on the
other side attribute to me, it would be
easy for me to fall into the current of
public opinion which is carrying them SO
rapidly away. Its because | am not
that occupy the position l do to-day
The time is fast passing away whom un-
der the influence of your policy and your
Legislation the Southers States or people
will have tho least interest in your laws.
Your legislation has turned to ashes the
golden fruits Of your military success
Your policy has verified the alleged causes
of secessiony Gentlemen must not be
misled by the syren voices that cone up
TO them from captured cities Of the South.
They WOO you but to ruin. If you mis-
understand them they will lead you as
willing victims upon gu%icksands and
rocks. Esd.
II you drive southern people. by your
military power to the last extremity, and
superadd, as the majority Of this House
desire, emancipation Of slaves, confsca-
tion Of property, destruction Of local
governments, destruction Of State consti-
tutious, division Of territory-if that be
your policy, they willliberate their slaves,
they viii arm their negroes, they will
break dewn the only barrier that sepa.
rates them from the sympathies of.
oil Europe, and, aided by the moral force,
if not the material power of Europe,
they will establish their independence,
and your Union President will sign the
treaty Of dissolution. And then, in ex-
change for free MARYLAND with her slaves
enfranehised and her white citizens en-.
shaved ; in exchange for free Missouri
with her slaves enfranchised aud her
white citizens decimated by the ven
geauce Of the guerrillas, we will have
given up this Union with all its benefits,
and have subverted a form of govern
meut the fairest and freest, the most
hopeful Of blessings in the future, that
God in His mercy eve youchsafed to man.