Year: 1864

March IL, 1854.


The House being in Committee of the Whole on
the state of the Union


Mr.. BLISS said :: ol HIS
CHAIRMAN II propose, according to
the custom of this House in, Committee of the


Whole House en- the state of the Union, to
submit some remarks upon the message and
proclamation of the President which were
com nunicated to Congress at the commence
ment of the present session. and to briefly
consider some topics presented therein, which
are of vast importance to the millions of peo-
pie who are represented upon this floor. The
message and proclamation, communicated to-
gether, and involving the same subjects, are
substantially one document, and in my remarks
will be so treated. The subjects therein pre-
sented are such as give rise to the widest diff
ference of political opinion possible among cur
people-a portion of whom, and probably a
majority of this body, protesting to receive the
President with satisfaction, and some with ad-
miration while all rational men, who have
not been indoetriuated with the revolutionary
views of the so called Republican party, con-
template them with;amazement and fear, and
we'll may they tremble in vieu of such enor-
nous assumptions of ungranted power.


The Constitution of the United States,
which in better times was admitted to be the
paramount law of the land, in defining the
powers aud duties Of tel President, provides
that


"He shall from time to time give to the
Congress information of the state ofthe Union,
and recommend to their consideration such
measures as he shall judge necessary and ex-
pediert."


In accordance with this provision of the
Constitution many statesmanlike papers; under
the title of message, were by former Presi-
dents communicated to Congress, and thence
to the people at large. They exhibited the on
ward march of an e. ceedingly happy and
prosperous people toward the attainment of
unexampled dignity and power. In times of
peace and in times of war they showed the ad-
mirable= working of our wise and benefcent
Government. The well adjusted powers of
the Constitution were found to be sufficient
for every national emergency. The Chief
Magistrate had no occasion for the exercise of
even doubtful powers. 1t is refreshing to
withdraw as far as possible, for brief space,
our contemplations from the present condition
to read anew those glowing descriptions of the
country's prosperity. But those halcyon days
of the Republic are past, and message of
different type now claims our consideration.


The President is not required to inform
Congress of the facts to the condition or in
tegrity of what was once the Union-its bro
ken fragments are as visible IS US as to him
but the duty Of his Office Isl by the application
of the wisdom and craftsmanship whichhis po-
sition guarantees that he shall possess, to ad-
wise the legislative department and the people
country from terrible dilemma in which it
has no aid of past experience to show the
means, if such there be, by which that Union
to which the Constitution calls his attention,
and which has crumbled under his guardian
ship, may be restored. do not call upon the
President to give a hi tory Of the concatena-
ted circumstances which led to the dissolution
l do not think that it would be a pleasant
task for him to write the narrative, nor do I
think it would be 81 fficiensly authentic when
written.


1t would be profitable, however, for us all
to pause and consider the causes which have
brought oar country to its present unfortunate
condition, and arise from the reflection with a
solemn purpose to recognize the instructive
truths of our history, and, without party pas
sion or selfihness, which we cannot afford to
indulge in these times, to set ourselves by
common consent about the work of replacing
the Government upon its old foundations, to
the end that its old prosperity may revive.


There is no difficulty in determining the
source of the evil It is the temporary sue
cess in the councils of the nation of principles
and. policy which are in irreconcilable antag-
onism to the Government. Upon that antag-
onism the present Administration came into
power, and thas it may be seen what force
has begotten purpose to change the princi-
Piles of the Government into conformity to the
notions and advantages of successful party
If an intelligent stranger desired to discover
the root of our national difficulties, he would
inquire into the history, character,
and action of the political parties into which
our people have been divided. He would
readily ascertain that the party called Demo
cratic had administered the Government with
great success from its early years, and with
but little interruption, and had on all occasions
adhered strictly to the letter and spirit of the
Constitution, and secured to the nation
the blessings which, faithfully supper
ted, it was competent to bestow. On the 9TH
er hand, he would learn the history of a party
of perpetual opposition, constantly villilying
the administration of Jefferson, Madison, Mon
roe, jackson; and of the latter Democratic
Presidents, ehameIeonizing itself as often as
its iufexible purpose of opposition required
He would learn also how all opposition to that
party was unavailing while anything like the
true principle of the Constitution and Govern
ment were acknowledged and this research
would bring him down with the current of
events to about the time of the Chicago con-
vention, where form and effect were given to
the anti-democratic sentiment to achieve
victory over the principles of the Constitution
and to verify the apprehensions of our great
now gone, who, in words as true rs
inspired prophecy, foretold the danger of
sectional party's success And there [ leave
the supposed inquirer with his conclusion to
be inferred.


In the year of our Lord 1860, party re-
Gently yclept Republican assembled in con-
vention at Chicago to nominate q candidate
for the Presidency of the United States. That
memorable convention was composed of speci-
mems of all the disintegrated factional organi-
Ea.ions, which, under too many names to be
here recited, had therefore been fighting
against the gallant and successful Democracy.
The newly aggregated party was strong in


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