Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-01-29
QD'blol' q. Stateslllanl, l


- Oefi u Ter. sr-ssi s. tiei ii@sss sf;sf
Loyalty Debnte In the United
States Senate.
| We extract the following from the
speech of Senator Doolittle, on the ques-
ton Of admitting Philip Frank Thomas
to his seat as one Of the Senators from
Maryland. Said Mr.. Doolittle:
- The question of loyalty is
"a question difficult at times to define. By
loyalty we generally mean a disposition.
and purpose to maintain the Government
and the Constitution of the United States.
A wrong opinion on such subject must
not be taken to be criminal. A wrong
opinion is not treason. Sir, let me put
cases which may possibly arise. Take
the case of Wendell Phillips, of Massai
chusetts, who about 1860, or afterward,
coming here to the City of Washington.
made public speech, in which he de-;
clared that he was in favor of a dissolu
ton of the Union, and had been for
twenty years. Suppose Wendell Phil
lips should be elected to the Senate of
the United States, and the time should
come when the majority was changed in
this body, and the question should be
put whether Wendell Phillips was loyal
to the Government, or, not. he having
made this public speech in the City Of
Washington, declaring that he had been
in favor of dissolution of the Union
for twenty years, and the majority should
believe that the maintenance of an opin-
ion like that on the part of Wendell
Phillips was inconsistent with the 10y
atty, Of Senator, and therefore should
exclude hima ,fsf 80 ed5 o. s5g5
Take the case of Mr. Greeley, who,
in 1860. for nearly six weeks through
the Tribune, advocated the doctrine that
if majority of the people of any State
at the South desired to withdraw from
the Union, they had a right to with
draw. We know very well, from what
we have read in the public newspapers,
that when the Convention of Georgia
Notwithstanding the speech Of
Alexander II. Stephens appealing to
them against tin favor of secession,
Robert Toombs, who had left this Senate
Chamber for the purpose Of joining the
IouclIOH, III TIE OouSSutlOH vi 0coi Id,
with the Nev York Tribune in his hand,
carried the Convention in favor of seces-
sion. He read the articles of Horace
Greeley, stating that if majority OF the
people of State desired to secede, they
had right to do it. Suppose that
Horace Greeley should be elected SEN
ator to this body, and the question of
his loyalty should be put to him because
he had advocated doctrine like this
Sir, is it safe, as precedent, for the
Senate to adopt resolution declaring
that because man entertains wrong
topinion he shall be deemed disloyal OF
ibe excluded from his seat for that reason?
Take another case. 1t was stated upon
the authority of Albert G. Brown, form
terly a member of this body, that when
be Withdrew from this Senate Chamber
after giving his reasons for joining the
South, between the door of this Cham
tber and the Supreme Court room he met
Edwin NJ. Stanton, and Mr.. Stanton
urged him to go forward, applauded him
in his course, and urged him to go home
to the people of the South and stand up
for the doctrine for which he contended
+ Mr.. Sumner-I will ask my friend il
he does not know that that has been
positively denied2
MIR. Doolittle--I have never seen il
4 denied. '4jl i-snt ~ -iisI 7siia9,d ls'sI
4 Mr.. Sumner-I understand that it is a
pure invention.
90 Mr.. Doolittle-Albert G.. Brown made
the allegation in a speech in the Con-
tfederate Congress. 9
i Mr.. Sumner-Yery well but does the
Senator believe it 81 ss4n l.sfsss5
Mr.. Doolittle-I ask the honorable
Senator if he has ever seen it de-
MED !? If he has, he has seen what ]
[never have. SIS fslil.,3s qse,ai ~
4 Mr.. SUMNER always understood
| that it was an untruth.
Mr.. Doolittle-I have never seen il
4 denied. 1t has been published in the
newspapers here in the City of Wash
ington. ....ta... ~. .' ~.
i Also in the leading Democratic ant
Conservative presses of, the country
The Chronicle, even, has never deniet
it, we think, though in its new-hedget
friendship for Mr.. Stanton it would no
be slow to do so had it half an oppor
tunity. It announced, however, tha
Mr. Stanton had done great service to tn,
Radical leaders by revealing to then
= Cabinet secrets.-ED. WASH. INT.
! Mr.. Johnson-I- do not think Mr.
Stanton has denied it.
Mr.. Sumner-Mr. Stanton's whole lif
denies it.
Mr.. Johnson--That is another matter
Mr. Doolittle-Mr. President, sa,
this, that the precedent proposed to b.
established is most dangerous. I d.
J not stand here to charge Mr.. Stanton
with disloyalty. Mr.. Stanton went int
o the Administration of Mr.. Lincoln, an,
: devoted his whole energies to help sus
s. tain the Government during the rebellion
What did say was this
4 Mr.. Edmunds-Whati is the date whel
Mr.. Brown is said to have had this con
versationa
Mr.. Doolittle-The day on which h
made his speech here, withdrawing fror
the Senate-in December. 1860, 1 be
tlievr; do not remember the exact date
. Mr.. Sumner-It was in January, 1856
that the speech was made.
Mr.. Doolittle-W Whenever he with
drew from the Senate.
!. Mr.. Edmunds-May I ask was it be
!. fore or after Mr.. Stanton went into MI
lBuchanan's Cabinet
Mr.. Doolittle-I believe Mr.. Stanto
was not in the Cabinet. 1t was befor
he went into the Cabinet, l think.
Mr.. Sumner And when he, went int
the Cabinet he went in to bear his test
mony for the country against the rebe
lion.
Mr.. Doolittle-I read from the Int