The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1866-02-15

So~. sr, iss Constitutes gives no definition OF !
indistdaal which the Constitution defines and for
vhsa e rrescribes punishment This. SIR. Is both
tbs letter and The spirit cf the instru-nf. In nsia
sr paragraph line Ct that instrument - their
any aiftsien 20 the expulsion pa:sSh nent rf
state The person or Individual IS alone referred 70.
and she STATE such RsNise besd pass be.
The Government has retained, IA lis ewn hands. the
power and right Ia punish ire tsoa. Having done
this would il be jus; 70 hold State responsible when
its citizens commit treason Can Congress impose
such responsibility
WHAT CONSTITUTION sCAzASrTxs.
IN This mon republesn form OF sosernu ent, and
shall protect each OF thsm sgain.s isvssiar. and
application of the Legislature Of the Executive.
" zen the Legislature cannot De corveeed.h against
domestic violence. - tossfststsaa, art. T. sec 4.
Now sir, what does this article of the Cor sstatien
guaranty A republican form Of government. To
Cnian. noes il guaranty il ~ States out Of the
Unione Certainly not This power. therefore.
only be exercised by Congress over Stats in the
Union nd not States 81 ~ In fac. SIR, the
Constitution never contemplated the case Of State
going out, or being out 81 the alau- srentiemen on
this foor have i.bored, with uuch sssuseness and
learning, In shew how State NAV go out OF the
nioI and thai under their way, eleven of the States
have actually gone
beg leave In remind thoss gentlemen, with great
respect, that slIhough the mode is somewhat novel
the principle itself IS Ii Is the same prfu-
cp'e which first pceare in the celebrated resolutions
of 17ss. which revived under ths name Of NULL
hcation by John &. Calhoun in 1850, snd eliminated
in secession in 1881 Itis the same vicious principle
which has seduced the hearts ct PARTON OF oar PEG
pie from their allegiance 10 government. which has
irampled on our flag, which has esthed our land IN
blood and filled homes with mourning. lad
hoped. sir, that four years OF WAR, and such war
had wiped out forever from he public mind every
thought notification. secession and dsunon, aud
that had emerged from the bloadv contest with
but one national pusaiion. that tue States are one
and nsepsrahle, now and forever
The gentleman from Ohio has been at great pains
70 show tina, the Government has right 10 treat
sfsyirfu af A
public enemy that is, adIudge him guilty OF
treason and deprive him Of citizenship while the
Constitution expressly provides that person shall
be convicted unless the testimony OF two
witnesses 10 the same overt act or on confession IN
open court
What Mr. Chairman, would be the parc.icaf opera
OF this doctrine of constructive treason Of
declaring that whenever by fraud or violence state
government should be interrupted or oFerthrown the
whole people within its borders, body should De
treated as public enemies and beyond the protection
OF the General Government. Would it not at once
transfer the allegiance of citizen from the
tional TO the State government, aud etectuslly
destroy entire system? When the storms OF su-
multi nd civil discord should would the alright
ened citizen v to the flag of his country only to be
told that his State had rebeled and that he himself
was traitor What nerved the ms and inspired
the hearts of many true patriots IN the South da
ring the recent struggle II was the convection that
citizenship could only be lost by individual and
not forfeited by the of Others. 1t was the
vction that the air they breathed the phere
Of the whole nation, and that when the storm had pas
sed it would again be pure inv igoratng and peaceful
hered 10 their allegiance with greater 6delity, met
danger with mere determined bravery, who offered up
their lives cheeriully, and bore the flag OF their
country through fercer storms than the Union
of the South. Andrew johnson, in speech TO the
people of Knoxville. thus describes their condition;
my country men my heart yearns toward you and
am of you. l have climbed Wonder mountains,
rock-rbbed and in glowing the sunshine, in whose
gorges, whose sons hunted ike beasts
have fallen to rise more. do not speak of these
things TO draw tears 1t is not the time for tears
but for blows. speak OF them that NAV fit your
for unconquerabie fight. And | speak OF them
because the mountain seems te talk To My house
is amang the mountains, and. though it is mot far
away, cannot go to it. 1t is the place where | met
and loved her who is the mother of children. Do
| love the mountains And if liberty is TO expire,
if freedom is be destroyed ii my country in all its
length and breadth is remble beneath the nppres
sors tread let the flag, the dear Cd flag the last flag
be planted rocky heights, and upon il let there
be this inscription: Here Is the end of all that is
dear the heart and sacred to the mory of man "
The doctrine of the gentleman from Ohio treats
these public enemies, and deems them to have
forfeited their political rights. And indeed sir his
doctrine has received sanction from the action of
the House itself The time, however, must come and
that soon, when shall be brought face to face on
all these great quest ons. We deciue whether
those who members of Congress during the
critical period Of the rebellion, including the
Pres deut himself, who went home and encountered
all its fures and have come back with certificates of
election, to be admitted, 10 be shot down. as
rebels at the door of the Capitol by the bullets of
of the enemy, but by the votes OF Congress.