Year: 1862

SPEECH DIT THADDEus STEVENS, OF PA. IN TUE HOUSE Of


RErREsENrAT YES, JAN. 22d 1869.


On the first day Of the session introduced
a bill containing two propositions. The first
was to put a special and final end to this re-
belion through the necessary instrumentality
of emancipation; the second makes full re-
paration to all loyal men who might suffer by
this mode of warfare. This is no accidental
rebellion caused by Anti-Slavery agitation,
as the Pro-Slavery gentlemen here suppose.
We are in the midst of a crisis which sa-
gacious statesman foretold thirty years ago.
When John C. Calhoun and other South Car
olina conspirators attempted to dissolve the
Union, General Jackson, with an energy and
patriotism which covered a thousand faults,
crushed the treason and confounded the trail
tors. But he said that they would perseverc,
and that the traffic, which was then the al
lodged cause, was bnt mere pretensc, and
that the next pretcXt would be Slavery. From
that time to this they have educated their
people in the doctrine of disunion, until they
had prepared the popular mind for the rebel.
lion which now disturbs the land Those
who supposed that these seceders were actrl-
ateG by desire to redress grievances, either
real or fancied greatly mistake the real oh.
ject Of the traitors. They have rebelled for
no redress Of grievances, but to establish a
slave oligarchy, which would rcpudatc the
odious doctrines of the Declaration of hide
pcndence and justify the establishment Of an
empire admitting the principle of Kings, lords,
and slaves. This Declaration of Indepen.
dence, and the Constitution Of the United
States, were a constant reproach to the slave
holders of the South. They were palpable
contradiction to their domestic institutions.
They were conscious of the improprety OF
being governed by Constitution which was
an evident condemnation of their actual prin.
ciples and Of their Constitution founded on
individual despotism. They feared that the
principles of freedom and the equality OF man
might be gradually breathcd from the North
into Southern ears and minds, and establish,
even there, the doctrine Of the rights of men.
They determined to arrest that evil by build
ing up a barrier between freedom and Slavery.
So long as the rcins Of Government could be
held by Southern hands, and the influence of
the Administration be given to perpetuate
and extend human bondage, they deemed it
prudent to remain in the Union, receive its
benefits, and hold its offices. But they saw
that the regular march Of civilization, wealth
and population, was fast wrestling power from
the South and giving it to the North. They
diligently prepared themselves for rebellion
against the Constitution when they could no
longer rule under it. 1t became evident that
Mr.. Buchanan was to be the last of Southern
Presidents, and his Cabinet, being almost
wholly devoted to the interests Of Slavery,
set themselves boldly at work to weaken the
North and strengthen the South. They trans
ferred most Of the best weapons of war from
the North, where they were manufactured, to
the South, where they could be readily seized,
They plunged the nation into heavy debt
in time of piece, when the Treasury was bare
of cash. They robbed it of millions of fbonds,
and whatever else they could lay hands on.
They fastened upon US an inoipient free-trade
system, which impaired our revenue, paraly-
zed our national industry, and compelled The
expectation of our enormous productions of
gold. They reduced our navy to an unser.
vIceable condition, or dispersed it to the far
thest oceans. Oar little army was on the Pa
cific coast, and otherwise scattered. Thus
prepared for rebellion, the election of Lincoln
precipitated the explosion. And well it did.
Had Buchanan been reelected they would
have had four years more to strengthen the
South and weaken the North. The rebellion
has not come an hour too soon. All must
lament to see a bloody and causeless rebellion.
costing thousands Of human lives and mill,
ions OF treasure. but it being predetermined
on, and inevitable, il was long enough delay