The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-06-16
T'I'iTEsT NEWS By MAIL.
sueech or Mr. Harris. OF Maryland,
on the Report or the Rcconstructfon
Comnatttee.

Mr.. Harris said that up to TINS period OF
the session he had been q silent member
from choice, but he deemed II his duty
now 10 declare his views upon some OF the
political questions which are presented for
the consideration of this House and this
country. Although his sentiments were
well understood Ivy his fellow citizens who
cast their votes for him at the last election,
there has been since such whirl in the
political maclstrom that they might either
fear that his own position had been
changed, or possibly they themselves migh'
have been unable 10 withstand the mighty
efforts made to draw them into the Whiri-
pool.
In either event, il is proper and honofa,
! bic that he, as their representative, stoo'u
make open and frank avowals IN vie" VI
F., the political movements which must soon
take place in his State and district. Tic
| should consider il most ignoble act 10
win the support or endorsement oil an!
man by the least conccalment or dcccD-
ton. He would as lief cheat man oil ms
money as, 10y hypocrisy and fraud, to cheat
him of his sentiments.
| Mr.. Harris then continued as follows
then. sir, declare that in principle now
stand as stood before the war as stood
after war was declared: as stood in the
last Congress, when received its crown OF
ccnsurc: rs | stood in prison and before
that internal instrument of tyranny,
court martial. And as | stand in princi-
pie so will stand in practice whenever
occasion may require.
I when indicate that there has been no
change in my principles, this House and
this country, poSSiblv-for the avowal OF
I them has been attended by an unexpected
notoricty-may infer what my position
now is. | am an old line Democrat, and
believe in the doctrine of secession. be-
Eeye that the several States of this Union
have right to separate from it, each act
I inc for itself. | believe that abuses and
usurpations had been practiced and threat
cucd to SO great an extent by their asSo-
catcs and partners in this governmental
compact that the southern States were JUS
tilted in going ont; and, sir, further be-
/ licvc, 10y their ordinance of secession, that
they did 90 out, and thereby became to
this Union foreign States. These convic-
tions cannot change, and do not expect
! will ever be removed will most assured
I " proclaim them and stand by them as
! long as a single citizen of the Confederate
+
asserting them. There is no political or
personal consideration which would prompt
me to such a dcscrtion. As the right Of
secession is the only thing that secures
them from the charge OF treason, my voice
shall ever accord with my convictions, and
never join in that verdict against them.
should consider myself as assuming most
infamous position if ! did. What, sir,
that believe them right; |, that would
have Joined them If the sovereign State OF
Mary land had said so, TO desert them now
! in their utmost need, when | can lcgiti-
natcly give them such protection as 1t is
in my power honestly to give! Never
In the course of his remarks the speaker
said he was adverse to the Presidents Spe-
cfic policy Of demonstrating this Union.
In his view the southern seeded States
have no right to Representatives on tins
/ floor or in the Senate, and 10y his vote he
had heretofore invariably rejected every
application WHICH has been made by any
person claiming such a right; and not only
did he believe that they have no right III
their present position to send Senators and
Representatives here, but he did not think
they have the right to furnish us with
President or Vice President, although there
are many, here and elsewhere, who, while
agreeing with him that these States are ont
Of the Union and not entitled to rcprcSen-
tati"n anywhere, have been so tratcrnal i'll
their feelings, and so magnanmouS in their
conduct, as 10 90 before the line In order
to obtain Stlr services Of the gentleman
who at present fills the Executive chair OF
the United States. Being citizen OF Sc
cedcd and unrcc0nStruCtcd Tennessee, he
is, as also upon their theory, only PreSi-
dent de .tQct0, forced upon the country by
their votes, attended 10y that very effective
implement, their bayonets.
The speaker argued that the southern
States could only be admitted by act of
Congress and with the assent of the peo-
pie, and he never would vote to admit
them so long as the odiouS test oath re-
manned on the statute book.
Referring to the secession of the south
ern States, the speaker said 1t was not
the Constitution they fell out with, but the
pervcrson OF it by their Northern asso-
ciatcs, and their persistent designs TO vlo-
late and destroy important rights which
were secured by that instrument. Those
rights have been destroyed, and can never
be Il source of discord between the north
and the south. Slavery has been abolish
ed, and the seeded States have acquiesccd
in it and the negro is placed in the posi-
ton which You desired him 10 have when
you provoked the war. 1t agonized you
to think that he should be subjected to
compulsory and uncompensated labor, and
your agony has been removed. The idea
of the free white northerncr working by
the side of or in view of a negro slave III
the Territories Of the Union, which SEEM
ed to horrify you, can now have no place
in your minds, and your people and the
free negro can mingle together, both So
cially and politically, in manner to suit
your tastes. This is the full extent OF
your expressed desire; and why, when
you have all you desired when the war
broke out, do you now throw obstacles in
the way OF reunion! You even protested
to 90 to war for the Union, and now, when
free negroism is obtained and reunion Is
offered, you refuse it, and decide it to be
highly important to use the negro in varl-
Gus other phases for the purpose OF ena-
bling you still further and still longer to
Cypress your brethren Of the south.
You wish to use him as a lever, in order
to increase and preserve your orergroWn
political power and diminish that OF the
south, without, in the least, affecting any
improvement in the condition of your pre-
tended pet. You know your proposed
amendment to the Constitution cannot be
adonted If rhp southern States vote against