Year: 1867

Speech of Hon. Thomas N. Davey,


of Lawrence County, Ina tie


House of Representatives.


MIR. Speaker: | rise to ask the patient
attention Of the House fora few minutes
only; not to attempt discussion of the
principles embodied in the Senate Reso-
luton, which is now before us for our
consideration and action, for suppose
that we have already as much light on
that subject as we can get; but to say,
that after careful, and candid investi-
CATION OF the "logic of events" have
decided to give it my unequivocal en-
dorsement and support That this
announcement will excite astonishment
in the minds of some have no doubt,
and they will wonder what "change has
come over the spirit of my dream;" and
l answer that my views have not
changed-that l have not been led in
any Investigation of truth to any new or
better light, but divested of prejudice,
passion, or any other influence, now
give expression to the long cherished
convictions of my heart. But, perhaps
a hasty review of my former vote is due
to myself as well as to those with whom
| then acted, not, however, as an apol-
ogy, but explanatory.


You will remember, Mr.. Speaker,
how suddenly the resolution now upon
the table was sprung upon the attention
OF the House, and at time, too, when
there was not the most remote prospect
ofits passage; how persistentits friends
and enemies were to secure vote upon
it, although the minority protested and
begged for time to consider and prepare
for decided and harmonious action; and
how stubbornly every proposition was
rejected, until goadcd and driven to the
wall, the situation was accepted, and the
unenviable result obtained. Whether
this attitude of our radical friends, who
then so sweetly harmonized with their
Copperhead brethren, justified the con-
duct of those who voted down that
which their conscience approved, is not
for me to determine. / will say, how
ever, that such a result was secured.


If | had regarded that as a test vote,
or that the ultimate success of the meas
ure had hinged upon it, should not
then have cast my influence against it,
for to do so would have turned back
ward the current of my whole life, and
raised a suicidal hand against those pro-
gressive views which ] have cultivated
from my boyhood. And in seeking to
arrest the passage of the resolution at
that time l was guided by a desire to
put the question of manhood suffrage
beyond the possibility of defeat when
ever it was submitted to the people; for
although fully endorsed the PROPOSE
ton, yet feared that the public senti-
ment of the State was not, as the
immortal Nasby expresses it, educated
up to the point of its" acceptance; but
as the earnest, hopeful, working element
of the party in the Senate, as well as in
this body, are Of a different opinion, ]
am very willing now to strike for the
truth and abide the issue; for


''He Il the freeman whom the truth makes free


And all are slaves beside.


Saw, what Is freedom but the power TO be


Unled by error from The souls pure light,


And but to God and truth TO bow the Knee,


In hope forever bright.


One thing is very certain: that the
great plans of God in the mysterious
unfoldings of his Providence, have
forced us across the rubicon, and in my
opinion it now becomes necessary to
burn the bridges behind US, and 60 for
ward to the conflict.


As l have already intimated, Mr..
Speaker, am no recent convert to the
stirring elementary principles of our
Government, that call men are created
equal, and have an inalienable right to
life, liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness !" neither am just from the
anxious seat, as to whether the black
Iogdhst or the Vhite traitor should exercise
the high prerogatiye of an American
citizen. And it is not with the slightest
degree of reluctance that have agreed
to give my vote in this Hall, and any
influence which l may possess out Of it.
also to the greatest proposition coming
out of the great rebellion-CswI and
Political Equality for all men. Educated
as / was In slave State, you would
naturally suppose that would be bound,
soul and spirit by its so-called sacred
teachings; but, Sir, that was not the
case; for, in my boyhood's home, across
the Alleghanies, / fretted beneath its
fetters, and longed to see the day when
humanity. disenthrallad and rAdAAmad.