Year: 1861




IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,


January Is, 1861.


coNTNUED.1


Mr.. CIemens.-Will the gentleman allow
me one word


Mr. Sherman Certainly.


Mr.. Clemens want to say few words
only


Mr.. &herman.-Very well; go on.
| Mr.. Clen2ens.-The course of South Car
! olina toward Virginia has not only been
marked as the gentleman from Ohio has
characterized it, but her Governor declared
/ in his message that Virginia must be dis
! pensed with that South Carolina must act
I without her, because she holds the Union
! above the Constitution and now Virginia
! is called upon to interpose to save a State
! from the just indignation of the people of
the United States, which, in the Inaugural
/ tion of a revolution like this, could fix a
/ stigma such as that upon sister State of
| the Confederacy.


Mr. Leake.-Will the gentleman from
Ohio permit me for one moment?
Mr.. Sherman.-I trust the gentleman will
not consider me discourteous if l decline to
do so at this point.


Sir, it was but the other day that was
told by distinguished citizen of an abso-
lute monarchy-and the remark made
deep impression upon my mind--that he de-
pl0Eed the events now transpiring around
US. that he deplored what he considered
the Inevitable fall of this Republic; but,
said he, one good will result from it /; it
! will stop forever the struggle for free insti-
tutiOns in Europe; it will establish upon a
secure basis the existing Governments of
the Old World. / felt that the remark was
/ true. If this Government cannot survive
constitutional election; if we cannot defend
our property and protect our flag; if this
/ Government crumbles before the first sign
of disaffection, what hope is there for free
institutions in countries where kings and
mobiles and marshals and hereditary institu-
| tions and laws of primogeniture have exist
ed for ages? Sir, when in modern times
the love Of liberty has inspired the masses /
of any people to demand the right of self
government, they have been pointed to the
French revolution of 1898, and to South
America, where changing Republics rise
and disappear SO rapsdly that not ten men
in this House tell me their names.-
They have been pointed also to Mexico
God forbid that the despots of the Old World
should ever adorn their internal logic by
pointing to a disturbed Union here It was
said, with poets license, that


F,aainrn shriekeS as Kosciusko fell


Sir, freedom will die with the fall of this
Republic. Those who survive the first ca
lamity will find springing into existence
! military despotisms North, South, East, and
West. Instead of two divisions there will
be many divisions. The condition of this
country will be worse than that of Mexico,
/ because we are braver, stronger, a more
powerful people, and shall fight each other
with greater tenacity. If this Government
q, I.
| the Napoleon of some section of this Repub-
| lie All history teaches us that free Gov
ernment is never broken up and disrupted
| unless military despotism of force is sub
| stituted for the will of the people; and we
! have nc right to suppose that our country
will be an exception to the general rule.


Mr.. Chairman, l appeal in all candor to
the Representatives of the border States TO
arrest the tide that, but for you, will in
few days place US in hostile array with
each other. | know the movements in the
Cotton States have gone so far that we can
not arrest them. | appeal to the Represent
1 atives of the border States to arrest the
progress of this storm for little time, at
least. Let US see whether there is any
hope for peace and conciliation. If there is
not, then, if we cannot agree let us fight
but if we can agree let us do it like men,



feelings of rage and disappointment by the
weakest State in this Confederacy. Sirs, if
you do peace will again smile upon our
country. If you do not, see nothing but
civil war before US. My colleague may
paint in beautiful language the blessings of
peace, and cry "peace peace when there
is no peace :" but Mr.. Chairman, you and l
see already rising in the West, where mill
tary feeling is so rife, a spirit which will
not brook much longer the insults already
cast upon the flag of our country. I do not
threaten for | dread-not for you and me,
or the members of this House, for I suppose
we have the ordinary courage of our race;
we are but atoms in the stOrm-but thous-
ands and millions of men, like us, will re-
gret the day when this Government was
hurried into revolution, without oppOrtuni-
ty for parley or delay. If your people will
not aid the Government in maintaining the
public property in the seeding States, then
we must do it in spite of you or perish in
the attempt. We must not allow the Gov
ernment to crumble at our feet. You can
arrest this movement, and you alone can do
it. ask you, gentlemen from Virginia
and the South, does not your blood boil
with indignation when you read of the sur
render of our forts and the dishonor of our
flag ? Are they not yours as we'll as mine
Las tHc t4COlluS VI S6CIlOuallSu DeCOHle
stronger than the love of country =? I ask
if the same patriotism which brought your
J fathers and mine into common battle-felds,
amid all the storms of the Revolution, does
not now rebel when you are forced into a
civil war by the madness of Il few men in
the Southern States Sir, do not believe
it. For the moment, under the smart oi
imaginary wrongs, under the dIsappoint-
ment of political defeat, your people may be
hurried into acts of madness, but when re-
turning reason comes, woe be to those who
have led them astrayl Then a single
wave of the star-spanged banner will
silence the miserable party cries with


which you have misled them.


L Let US not deceive ourselves with the
:, idea that this Government can be broken


up on Mason and Dixon's liae, or upon any
= other line, without involving US in all We


dread There is no man, with head tc