Year: 1861

NOBLE WARNING.


farey since the warning voice of Patrick Henry aroused
tered in any American Legislature more manly and eo-
quent appeal than was made the 10Th ns in the United
Sates House of Representatives by Clement L. Vaandg
ham, OF Ohio. We give extracts regretting that
space prevents full report:


borrow the credit of the sum not
ing $25O 90 200 being under consideration:


Mr.. Valandigham said:


Mr.. Chairman In the Constitution of the United
States, which the other day to support, and by
the authority of which we assembled here to day. is


legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in
1t ia further written also that the Congress which all
legislative powers granted are thus committed


Shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech
of the press" g


And it yet further written in protection of Senators
which there no liberty That for any speech or
debate in either House they shall rot be questioned any
other place."


Holding up the shield of the Constitution and standing
here IN the place and with the manhood of Representative
OF the people propose to myself to-day the ancient free
dom of speech used within these walls though with
what more, trust, of deCency ard discretion than have
sometimes been exhibited here. Sir do not propose to
discuss the direct question OF this civil in which
engaged Its present prosecution foregone conclusion
and wise his strength on fruitess en-
erprise My position shall at present. for the part
be indicated by votes, and by the resolutions and
tons which may submit. But there many questions
incident to the and to its prosecution about which
| have somewhat to say now.


Mr.. Chairman, the President, in the message before u.s.
demands loan of $4UO 900 OO0an amount
nearly ten times greater than the entire public debt State
and Federal, at the close of the Revolution T 1888, and
four times much the total expenditures 4urng the
three years war with Great Britain in 1872.


Sr, that same Constitution which again hold up, and to
which give my whole and my utmost loyalty COM
mts Congress alone the power borrow money and
fix the purposes to which shall be applied and expressly
Senator and Representative therefore, judge him
SELF his conscience and OATH and before God and the
country o. the Justice and wisdom and policy of the Pres
dents demand whenever this House shall have become
but office wherein to register the DEGREES of the Ex
ecutiye, it wi be high time abolish it. But have
riuh hpiin tn hat
this side of the Chamber differ finally to the
yet firmly and inexoraUy united thing
and that the determination that hs and dgn
ties and privileges, the Representatives of the people
shall be maintained in their spirit and the very letter
who resolved to assert and exercise these
rights, with becoming decency and mode alton certainly
but at the time fully, freely and at every hazard


Sir it is ancient and wise practice of the English Com
mons, to precede ali votes Of SUPPLIES by inquiry init
of the Constitution and the laws by the Executive. Let
follow this safe practice. We in ths Committee o
of nv Titt and my duty as REPRESENTATIVE and availns
myself of the latitude OF debate allowed here propose
consider the present state Of the Nation, and supply ss
some few of the many emissions of the President in th
Message before sir he has undertaken to give nfor
nation of the state of the Unon the Constitution
ques him to do and it was his duty honest Execu
tive, to make that information full impartial and complete
instead of spreading before aboed and lawyerly
dicatlon OF his own course OF Pocya policy which ha
precipitaed into terrible and bloody revolution.
admits the fact he admits that to-day we are IN tn
midst of general ClU tCGT not nsurrection
to be suppressed IN twenty days by proclamation and
posse COnlltdtlS of three months militia


it been the misfortune Of the President from tn
beginning, that he has totally and wholly underestimate
magnitude and character of the revolution with whc
he had to Gea or surely he never WOu have venture
upon the wicked hazardous experiment of calling hr
y millions OF people to among th, mselves without tn
counsel and authority of Cong But when last
found himself hemmed in by the revolution, AID this city
danger he declares, AID walked thus the procIa
nation of tue prii proves him have up
the reality and ignfcance of the movement why did
not forthwith assemble oDgrees, and throw himself upO
the wisdom and patriotism the representatives of tn
| WllC
the Constitution conferred upon Us ay, sir, and power
which Congress had but little while before repeatedly
emphaticay refused to exercise, to permit him to
ciSe But shall rec1r to this point again.


How it that the President has forgotten to remn
aso that when the party thus committed to the pnc
Dle deadly hate aod hostility to the slave institutions
the South the who Lad proclaimed the doctrine
the renressibe conflict and whO in the dilemma alter
native Of this conflict resolved that the Cotton
Rice ers of South Carolina and the Sugar plantations
Louisiana, should ultimately be titled by free abcr ha
obtained power and place the government of tn
States the South, except State chose first to deman
solemn constitutional guarantees for protection against tn
abuse of the tremendous and patronage and Duenc
of the Federal for the purpose OF securing tn
great end sectional conflict before resorng
sion revolution all? Did he not know, how could
stantve adjustment and compromise excer
that offered by the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Kellogg
and all know how that received, came from th
South ? Stop moment and let US


The committee of thirty three moved for in th
House by gentleman from Virginia. the second day of th
session. and received the vote of Southern Repre-
sentative present, except only the members from Sout
Carolina, who declined In the Senate the commi
tee of thirteen moved for by Senator from Kentucky
Mr. Powell and received the silent acquiescence of
Southern Senator present The Crittenden proposition
too moved also by another Senator from Keauck
MIR. Crittenden now amember of this Housea man
erabe his years. loved for his virtues, distinguished
services hoDored for his patriotism for four and fort
Senator other public office devoted from Il
first hour of his manhood to the Union of these States
who though he himself proved his courage fifty years ag
upon the battle field against the foreign enemies of his
try, is row. thank God still for compromise at home
day. Fortunate in long and well spent life of public
vices and private worth he is unfortunate only that he b
survived Union and, fear Constitution younger ths
4 himself


The Border State propositions also projected by
gentleman from Maryland not member of this Hous
and presented by gentleman from Tennessee Mr. Eth
ridge now the Clerk Of this House And yet all these pr
positions coming thus from the South severay
repeatedly rejected by the almost united vote of the Repu
can party the Senate and the House. The Crttend
; propositions with which Mr.. Davis, President of Il
Confederate States and Mr.. Toombs, his Secretary
State declared in the Senate that they would be sa


fed for which every Southern Senator and Represe
tative voted never occasion, received
ary vote the Republican party in either House.
l. The Adams C0rWln amendment so-called, reportt
from the Committee of Thirty three and the only substa
tive amendment proposed from the Hep1Dhcan slde, w
but bare promise that Congress would never be autho
zed to do what ever believed Congress won
undertake do-abolish slavery in the States where it
lists; and yet this prop oston moderate asitwas
for which every Southern member present voted,
one was carried through this House by but msjorit
after long tedious delay and with the utmost difficulty
sxv-Ve Republican MEMBERS with the resOute and dete
mined gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr. Hickman at the
head having voted against it and fought against it to
# very last.


And not this only but part of the history OF the la
session. let remind you that bills were introduced IN
this House proposing to Abolish and close up certain Sou'
ern ports of entry authorize the PRESIDENT TO bocka
the Southern coasts and call out the militia and
the services of volunteers not for three months merely
without any limit az to either numbers or tme for the Ve