Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-10
Union and American.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10. 1866.
A GREAT SPEECH.

1t is truly refreshing in this era Of wild
and proscriptive radicalism, as exhibited in
the daily proceedings of the American Con-
gress, to hear amid the storm that prevails
the manly counsels of one who, embued
with the spirit of true statesmanship, speaks
as patriots were wont to speak in the earlier
and purer days of the republic. OF this
character was the speech Of the HoS. Mr..
DAWSON, of Pennsylvania, recently deliv-
cred in Congress, on the present and pros
pectiye condition of the country; from the
concluding part of which we extract the fol-
lowing and commend it to the sober thought
of every honest citizen, regardless of his past
prejudices or associations in connection with
the recent troubles of the country:
Mr.. Speaker, have but word to add
concerning the relation of the General Gov
| ernment TO the States, and of the States to
one another / have listened with respect
and attention 10 the principles of interna-
tional law az they have been discussed with
rare ability by the distinguished gentlemen
on the other side of the House, but think
they have failed to prove ont of Grotius and
Vattel and PufendOrf that America has NO
laws, no Consultation, and no Union among
her great sisterhood OF States. Wemust not
forget that we ara considering n question
purely of internal administration, which
must be settled solely by the municipal laws
of our own country, and not by the laws
of nations. The question before us is,
what are the rights and obligations of our
own citizens toward their own government
in time of peace; and not, what are the
relative duties of two foreign countries in
time of open and fagrant war? The law Of
nations takes nc cognizauce Of that which is
done in time Of place by single government
with its own people.
1t is true that where people divide, and
the parties become hostile to one another
and take up arms and thus make a civil
war, the common humanity Of the world
will insist that the contest between them, as
long as it continues to be military contest,
shall be carried on according TO the rules
and principles which apply to separate bel
igorent nations.
/ maintain that when the rebellion was
suppressed the law resumed its Authority.
The law was suspended during the rebellion
because il could not be executed but il was |
not repealed, destroyed, or abolished. II
the sovereign whose power has been opposed
by an insurgent force is an absolute despot,
he may wreak his vengeance AZ viii, as Rus |
sis did upon Poland and Austria upon Hun
gary. If he is limited monarch, he must
govern after rebellion as he did before, |
according the laws Of the realm. II the |
armed opposition was made against a con-
stitutional republic, 10 is abs;nrd 10 say that
have acquired from the rebellion a power |
which the Constitution did not give them. |
1t is equally absurd 10 say that the laws
were abolished by the very war which was
waged for their preservation. We must re-
member that this government has not been |
revolutionized by the Southern rebellion, |
and deny that it has added one particle to |
the power Of any man who hollis Office under |
the United States.
/ believe most devoutly in the constitution |
framed BY the fathers Of the Republic, and |
in that Union which was the result OF the 1
constitution. have no faith in any other |
mode of bringing the States together. We
must still look TO that constitution and the |
laws for justification Of all we do, and /
every citizen may still plead that he owes
no obedience to mere arbitrary power be-
cause there Is no arbitrary power in exis-
tence.
+ happened TO represent region Of eos;n-
try which was once in rebellion against the
United States. The iasarrection was put
down by superior military force. In those
days. under the lead Of Washington and
Hamilton, the monstrous doctrine that a.
conquered people they and their children
had no rights under, the constitution was
never thought Of They submitted 30 the
law and the law protected them. III IL.
The people Of the South have submitted
TO she aHfhority and Governmens of the
United States. What is that government
The Constitution and laws. But our radical
friends say their submission was made TO the
will Of the dominant party In this House and |
Senate.