Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-02-02

seats are vacant. The North has no res
possibility in that matter. Their scat,
are vacant because they were occupied by
men faithless alike to their country anl
their party; who represented States which
choose rather to rebel against their gov.
crnment than to enjoy the rights and bless
ings it guaranteed to them. The country
and the party hive jus, caaso Of com
plaiut against the treason and the traitor.
that have vacated those seats.
Had the Representatives OF the South
stood firm in their allegiance to the gov
ernment, and submitted to it's laws and
been governed by IFS wise provisions. We
of the North would have been spared laI
greater evils than will ensuc 10 the Soutl
as q consequence of the proposed amend
ment If it should be constitutionally adop-
ted. / fully believe that the debts due
from the South to .he North alone, which,
by the legislation of the Southern States,
1t has been made penal offence TO pay.
are more than equal to tho value of all the
slaves held in the southern territory. In
addition, let the blighted hearts, desolated
homes. and the debt -burdsned people OF
the North vindicate this statement.
Mr.. Speaker. the effect of this action by
this bodyis only in its operation to Sub
nit to the people, to your constituents and
to mine. sir, the proposition of amendment
Of the Constitution. 1t remains for them
to decide it by their suffrage. We shall
then all have with them an opportunity Of
expressing our opinions upon the question
at tie ballot box. / know Of no good rea-
son why !, as Democrat, believing in the
right of the people to rule, should AFRO
gate to myself, in my position as a repre-
sentative, the exclusive right Of q voice
upon this subject. They have. under our
constitution. an equal right with myself,
as1 | will not deprive them by my actions
of the privilege OF exercising it.
Mr.. Speaker, am fully aware of the
fact that my position aud intended action
upon this allimportant question will not
be in accord with my friends upon this
side of the chamber. l yiel to none of
them in my attachment TO the party with
which have acted cherish as fondly as
any tho memories Of the great and good
men who have been its Standard bearers.
ana many of whom have passed away; and
| have as much confidence in its future as
power for good in the government of this
great nation, as any man in the country.
Yet | believe this thing Of slavery has lift
ell its hydra heal above the government of
my country. 1t has been for years dead
weight upon our patty. And the time. in
my humble judgment, has now come when
as party we ought to unloose ourselves
from this dead body. We ought no long
or to consent to be dragged down by it.
Influence. We ought to accept the facts
of history as they are tralspiring around
us. and march on with the world in its
progress Of human events.
The times now favor and the way is
open for tho great Democratic party to
turn its back upon the dark past. and it's
eyes upol the bright future. The day is
past when the party North will ever again
in its national, state. county. or city po-
litical conventions. assume position 9TH
er than in opposition to slavery.