The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1866-06-21
A Rebel, dyed in the wool, Speaks
Speech Of Mr.. Harris, Of Maryland, in the
House Of Representatives on the lith inst

We give the open paragraphs Of
the speech Of Mr.. HARRIS, of Mary.
land, in the House on the 18th inst.
to show southern animus.
tFtom the Congregational Globe Report
Mn. HARRTs-I now stand as
stood before the war; as ] stood after
the war commenced; as | stood in the
last Congress, when | received its
crown of censure; as | stood in prison
and before that internal instrument
of tyranny, a court-martial. And as
| stand in principle so will stand
practice, whenever occasion may re-
quire.
When | indicate that there has
been no change in my principles, this
House, and this country, possibly
for the avowal of them has been at
tended by an unexpected notoriety-'
may infer what my position now is.
/ am az old line Democrat, and beliere
IN Me doctrine Of secession. / believe
that the several States Of this Union,
have the right to separate from it,
each acting for itself. / believe that
abuses and usurpations have been
practiced ard threatened to so great
an extent by their associates and part
ners in this governmental compact,
that the southern States were justified
in going out; and, sir, | further be-
lievc by their ordinances of secession,
that they did 60 out, and thereby be-
came to this Union foreign States.
These convictions | cannot change,
and do not expect will ever be rcmov-
ed. | will most assurcdly proclaim
them and stand by them as long as a
single citizen of the Confederate
States is in chains, or subject to pen
atty for asserting them. There is no
political or personal consideration
which would prompt ME to such a
desertion. As he right of secession is
he only Thing that rcsHces them from
the charge Of treason, Dy roice shall
eUer accord ,oiM my coRvictions, and
nener .j0iR IN Md rerdjct against them.
| should consider myself as assuming
a most infamous position if it did
What, sir, l that think them right
L that would have joined them if the
sovereign State of Maryland had said
SOTO desert them now, in their ut
most need, when / can legitimately
give them such protection as is in my
power honestly to give-never
From what have said, Mr.. Spea
ker, this House will readily infer that
| am adverse to the reconstruction
policy of the President.
confess that Andrew johnson has
been, in adopting his mode of recon
struction, consistent with.thc views of
the late President, with those of the
Republican party that elected him,
and with his own declaration from
the time he abandoned the Democrat
ic party and Joined the Republicans.
These facts do not commend him to
me; but surely it is not his fault that
he is at issue with many of the peo-
pie who raised him to his present sta
tion. Among the acts of his admin
istration which receive my sternest
denunciation, he has done and said
some things that meet my hearty con-
currcnce. The vetoes he has during
this session sent TO Congress, l need
not mention; but there is one decla-
ration of his, which, if enforced by
him, will cause his name to ring
throughout the civilized world, and
rank him high in the list of patriots.
There was much in his speech on the
22d of February, which | disapproved
of, but there was one paragraph which
sounded in my ear like 4" the voice of
one crying in the wilderness, make
the paths straight" | will read it,
sir:
"The principle that carried us
through the Revolution was, that
there should be no taxation without
representation. | hold to that prin-
ciple, which was laid down as funda-
mental by our fathers. If itwas good
then, it is good now. If it was worth
standing by then, it is worth standing
by now. 1t is fundamental, and
should bo observed as long as free
government cndures.
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