Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-01-02
MR.. RiYM0ND'S SPEECH.

We have as yet received no full report of
the speech Of Mr.. RAYMOND of New York,
In the House OF Representatives, on the 2 st
ult This speech, it will be recolectcd, was
In reply to the abominable TRADE of Thadcus
Stevens, delivered few days previous We
present below synopsis Of the relnarks OF
Ar. H. as we find them in an exchange -
Mr.. Raymond said, that although not a
representative of his party, he was OF the
sentiments OF the loyal people Of New York.
lie was here to aid; by his influence, in re-
storing the Union to its old integrity, and en-
shrlnIng 1t with that independence for which
1t was created. He was glad to assume, and
believed that there was not u dissenting voice
in this House, or any man in this c0nntrv
who does not wish, from the bottom Of his
heart, that we Shall have the great republic
once more.
lie considered that the duty laid with this
Congress to devise means to restore it and to
enact such laws as to prevent future rccur-
renee OF the rebel ION. lie differed with the
gentleman from Pennsylvania, {Mr Stevcusj
who rcck0ned these States rs territories. ac-
cordimS to his version Of the Constitution
l hat gentleman had opened the hail aud in
vitcd th2 discussion, ard differing with him
in views, as set FORTH he (AIr. Ruymond)
would express his own upon this question.
lie held that the States recently in rebellion
were never out Of the Union, Notwithstanding
their ordinances Of secession, which Congress
declared null and void, and by which dccla-
ration it had admitted that these States had
never left the Union.
The gentleman (NIr. Stcvens) contends in
his speech that these States were out of the
IL ii, IL,
to be subjected by Congress- to territorial rule,
as having forfeited their rights for four years,
becoming, i'll fact, Il separate power and GOV
crnmcnt, and now to be dealt with according
to the will Of the conqucref, and disciplined
as the Government may prescribe. If they
were separate, Mr.. Raymond asked how they
became so. 1t must have been at some spc-
cllCd time, and by some specified act
The mere declarations Of secession by State
Legislatures amounted to nothing but wind
and fury. This government has made laws
for the States Of the South, and the centlc>
man voted for them. They were simply a
part Of the United States at war with the
Federal Government, carrying on the war un-
til it reached such magnitude as to call forth
all cur energies, and the passage ot severe
laws to subdue them. The Supreme Court
DECIDED that the States could rot leave the
Union justifiably, yet they commenced the
war upon this decision. We have no laws to
punish States for the acts they perform
The Constitution docs not deal with States as
Statcs, but in few exceptions, unless the Pre-
sidcnt and constituted authorities. in order to
form more perfect Union aud enforcement
of the laws for the government Of persons
but if these persons commit crimes against
the Government, they are guilty of treason
y State cannot be hung, therefore the or-
ganic law still exists. n State may always
exist, but it may not have a specific constitl-
ton at specific time. Practical operation
is one thing; existence is quite another
Mr.. Kelly, Of Pennsylvania, asked if a
State constitution should be oYerthroWn and
destroyed, and practical operations close.
would there be State?
Mr.. Raymond-If there be no constitution
whatever, there would be no State but this
is not the case with the States Of the South
They always have had constitutions, but their
practical relations to the Federal Government
were ill wrong. Their State laws being pre-
served as guaranty, they still had the right
to assume positions with u.s. 1t was his view
that these States were still in the Union. and
that the conquest all have achieved is over
rebellion, and not over any independent power.
If, however, the gentleman asserts that the
Southern States were Independent, he could
not see, for the lite of him, why we sit here
deliberating how to dispose of Jefferson Davis
for fragrant treason. We might as well sup~
pose that the States of the South COULD pre-
fer SUCH crime against us for prosecuting them.
Our Governm ,nt has denied that they were
corporate as whole, or that they could con-
tract debts to be paid off by themselves. If
we acknowledge them as an independent
power, then we must admit their corporality
and their solvent duties. We have certain
guarantees to require of Them before they can
come back to the Union. When they sur
rendered their armies they gave up not only
their weapons and organizations but some of
their civil rights. Before they enjoy the
privileges of liberty with us they should rep
resent loyal districts. He would leave the
requirements to Congress.
! Mr.. Il. concluded by saying that he hoped
that the majority upon this floor would exer-
else its leuiency and magnnnimity towards
these wayward States in permitting them. at
an early day, to representation in Congress.
ID. s. Warren, mail carrier from Iowa
City to Washington, Iowa, was frozen a few
| 0iUhtS Sinca on hiS Uov to tho l,ttor ,,l,oo