Year: 1864

AT that time Referring to the disunlon sentiments former
" uttered Ny members of the Republican party when S
Woop had embodied speech sad he had not listen
ed 10 much Of the matter that read aud cared pu


tie for Il for the purposes OF his argument su n
(he ad TO inquire whether this or the otner was a
Abnhtianist "A Democrat, Wing, or hoPuoiican' VI
what may been their uttersnces, Prucont u iuip
dent wise or na~ise, patriotic or obt ~ rona
or former occason whether they were Hght OF wrong
tban that has all gone by Men might very "lueD aner
and differently express themselves "n te eve o suca
eooyulon They might widely Gn" 49, - o,Ssr - svar,
epurse was most rxpeden 10 Dc pursued III 0,a 10 avert
Io st calamity of war from the land. We are 10 the
nilst of that war Armies are confronting armies bayo-
,, nra crnsapd with bay0nets The arguments now 10


i and the only arguments TO be used the inclsive


TnO r.asonngs OF the sword the sharpponted remark
of the bsyonet the Touchdown conclusion of the bursting
hombsha The sentiments read were written under other
circumstances The difference of occasion is wide as
heaven from hell Admit that those men we're wrong, ad
nit that they all at fault in proposing II they did So
snv such expedients 1t only follows that they did not
then AS now understand the true character OF our people
or the power Of sefpreseryaton which rests in our Gov
ernment. . 80


axnaI bis colleague admitted that there something
plausible in the obecon that such an act would be dan
eerous to liberty of speech Freedom OF speech 10
free Government he said) indeed important and the
fun privilege Of fearless aud unrestrained debate Is no.
where more important than IL these halls OF legislation
where we meeting and settling the gSavest and deep
ast anrstions This principle not overlooked, we
10 believe by the fathers who framed our national Coo
sttuon But while the trainers OF this sacred instru
taking care jealously to protect and hedge
around this freedom debate that the representatives
of the people might be left to speak earessy and with
out here all subjects and tree from any haollty
to be called 10 account Tor such speech elsewhere lney
with equal wisdom took to put IN condition that
each House was expected to to aud preserve It's
purity and character The House to take that
should b. nothing sand or done here which should be
preudcal to good nimica to the liberties OF this
country nothing which might tend to give up or abandon
or break down the Government itself And gentlemen
make auother defence. They say the words OF my col
eage not reasonable uterances La one sense they
right Treason defined by law and by the Constitu-
on 1t consists not in language bot IN certain overi acs
aud bs proved ony by certain measure and degrees
of testimony But il does not necessarily follow that
when you are arrsgnDg member for language improper
t. be used acts improper to be done, upon this oo
you must try him or as II by the strict forms ana rules
Of law in a Judicial court. conceive many instances
in whcl offence might be given here requiring the inter
venton the House aud calling for its severest punish
ment where there been nothing savorpg Of tea
son member might use language so profsue and oten
sve in character require that he should be instantly
exreed aud and longer be permitted to re-
main Of our body and yet not be guilty OF treason
or Of any other defined by the statutes OF the c0un
try not therefore, in supporting this resolution,
driven the Necessity of taking the ground that treason
has been committed And when say that the Language
used WAS reasonable, mean to be understood IN this
qualified that while there may not have been CRIME
committed for which he might be held to account before
the other tribunals Of the country yet such words being
uttered here aud at this particular time, tagrane 6uo
with the rebel force at very doors, they become IN
their tendency and effect encouragement to the rebellion
and Isgaton to the enemies VI tue nation 10 go on In
their attempts to overthrow il.


Mr. S., after some further comments on Mr.. LONG $
speech aud the of the opposition SAID IN cohcu-
sion desire To in relation 10 this whole matter OF
the aud couDtrys trials that believing strong re-
needles desperate diseases be properly resoted To
considering that constitutional power may sometimes have
been strained but that has not been exceeded when
gentlemen speak with such holy horror OF the possibility
Of Overlapping the Consttut in order to save the coun
try that do not any thing so terrible IN
that figure. What is the Constitution The form and
framework Of system under and through whIco the
people may carry their Government. 1t Is after all
the form only and .he life itself Mark this difference
The builders Of this framework have provided IN itself
the mode Of s amendment and renovation; but No
such change contemplated for the nation The
Constitution may undergo alteration but the nationality io
which 1t made must be one and eternal To those
theu who talk IDLY of permitting this TO be destroyed
rather than any provision Of the Constitution IN In
least exceeded that under the pretence OF saVn
the Constitution they making war, or encouraging
those who do make war; upon the very existence Of th
nation; while who stand by the Government would
try all the powers of that Constitution to the utmost tha
the nation itself may live.


Mr. VOORHEES,, of Indiana then obtained the floor
and occupied hour in the delivery OF speech in oppo
sition to the resolution He spoke as follows:


Mr. Speaker had not the pleasure Of hearing the gen.
teman from Ohio nor have yet read his speech. The
position therefore which to-day has reference
to the merits dement's Of bis sentiments stand upon
the naked right OF American Representative IN Con-
gress TO utter his views he is not here to utter
views He is not here utter your views He is here
to utter his own, responsible in political sense alone to
the people who sent him here and in moral to the
God before whom we all hasten Aud when ind a man
seeking TO become the judge Of his brother in matter Of
private find who would have burnt Ohm
Rogers at the stake ard have piled the gOts around the
shreking victims At Smithfed. The gentleman from
Ohio Mr. SCHESCK who has just taken his seat would
have led the mob that peted the Sa onr for the freedom
of his opinion He would have stood among the Scribes
and Pbsrisees before the tribunal Of Plate shouting Re-
lease Barabas but 10 the Nazarene, Cruelty him
Cruelty him. Free speech odious at that time
the hills Of Judes il is these balls and had the
gentleman from Ohio Mr. SCHESCK) lived then he would
have been its enemy AZ he IL to day.


Mr. Speaker, this is old question. There s nothing
about IT, The whole history of the world is written
in letters OF blszng light with the cherished deeds Of
the champions Of free speech. The great record
contains the eternal witberng blasting nfay which for
cllDgs to those who as the champions Of despotsm,
to-day seeking to strike down. stop
right to utter them here and elsewhere. The who
will not do it 10 himself q coward and deserves be
slave Sir such fit instruments to crush out lib
erty and in the hands Of yrant to make slaves Of the
people.


Let read from an authority before which the puuy
light Of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. sCHENCK) paes
like that Of rush candle held up the at it's fierce
meridian read from Daniel Webster whose great intel
lect is amot full atoneueu to the country for all the
faults OF New England


When th and the other House sal lose the freedom, OF
speech and debate when they shall surrender the ght Of
publicly and ely All important measures III the
Executive when all rot be allowed maintain their
own Authority aud their privileges by decla ~
resoui they will then be no longer free
uves Of free people but slaves themSc ves
ments TO make slaves OF others"


Sir, Itake my stand on this doctrine viii defend it
IN behalf not only Il any upon this side Of the House
but lust read ly bel pf