The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1868-03-05

sir, disguise II AZ men may, between
the friends OF the Constitution aud
Government Of the United States aud
its enemies, opeIor covert.
The gentleman from New York
(M BrUoks) could not, with all his
ingenuity, in presenting his minority
report against this bill, fail 60 echo
the voice which comes back to US
from tho past, the voice we hoard
seven years ago on this door, declor-
ing it was unconstitutional 90 inter.
fero With the sovereignty of the Sc
codiug States, alleged TO be supreme,
aud assuming the rightful authority
TO strike down the Constitution on
the ono hand, and to strike down the
rights of the organized people of the
eouotry on the other.
The words Of the goutleman's re-
port are stereotyped, Il was my
privilege, sir, to stand on this Aoor
this day seven years ago, and hear
precisely the utterauce to which we
have listened to-day, when men we're
mastering in South Carolina as men
are mastering in South Carolina to-
day, against the supremacy Of the
Constitution aud the integrity Of the
Union, soizing your arms, seiliug your
treasure, seiEiug your ships, seiziug
your citizens, charged aud chargeablc
with no erimo save fidelity to the
Constitution.
1t is a significant fact that the
very Representative from my own
State who on that day stood on this
floor, aud with an junction as ferven,
as that which marks the utterance OF
the gentleman to-day, declared after
those acts of secession, after those
acts of public robbery, after those
acts Of iucipient treason, that il was
contrary to the genius aud spirit Of
the Constitution to coeroe seeding
States. The gentleman who made that
utterance that day is now the aceep ted
standard-bearer Of the party on whose
behalf the gentleman from New York
(Mr. Brooks) speaks when he come,
with his apology for treason saying tha
it is unconstitutional to provide by
law for carrying into effect the writ
ten letter Of the Constitution.
When the contest had progressed
from that day, in January, 1861
until the whole land was covered
with armed men, until the whole
heavens were filled with blackness
until the habitations of the land were
filled with dead, aud 1t became nee.
essary, in order that your country
defenders might be furnished the
means of shelter aud transportation
and defense. TO make forced loan,
the same gentleman Mr. Pendleton
arose in his place aud declared that
it was unconstitutional to emit bills
Of credit for the redemption of which
stood pledged by acts Of Congress the
uncounted wealth Of the whole peo.
pie of the United States Strange to
say, when it suits his purpose, the
same gentleman, without any change
Of that instrument, has the audacity
to-day to go before the people and
proclaim his readiness, provided his
party be intrusted with the power, TO
violate the Constitution in that be
half to the extent of an issue of 50,
900, 10000 at once of bills of credit
redeemable never, aud thereby rcpu-
diate the obligations Of the country
thus incurred Of necessity aud in de-
lense of the nations life.
1t becomes such gentlemen to talk
about the Constitution, aud to de-
nounce as unconstitutional the bill
now under consideration, aud the bill
which is intended to aid the peo-
pie speedily to restore tue shattered
fabric Of civil government in the in
surrectionary States.
This brings me to the considera-
ton Of the first section Of the bill
which l venture to say is as clearl,
constitutional as any rot ever passed
by the Congress OF the United States
Trusting, as | do, that in some form
and in substance that section viii
pass into law, | am of opinion that i
will bo adjudged constitutional BY
every Judge upon your Supreme
Bench.