Year: 1861

Of the Constitution. the rights Of man. and
the liberties of the American people.


Understand by coercion a right to march
troops wheresoever the Government desires
to march them. You hear much said
about the invasion of asovereign State
Who can invade State? The home
Government or foreign Government p
Virginia is to-day as much part of the
United States as Indiana, and the Presi-
dent has as much right to march troops
there. and hope is now engaged in march
ing troops there for the purpose of crush
ing out rebellion. Let us stand by the
compromises of the Constitution. Let us
hereafter send all our specific messages 10
traitors at the mouth of the cannon. Let
the politicians reflect honestly the viii of
the people. and your volunteer soldiers
will crush ont this rebellion without lead
ers aud without officers. They have de-
termined to do this very thing a~


But gentlemen say how, from the ruins
viii you reconstruct the Republic? We
do not contemplate any destruction Of the
Republic which involyesa reconstruction.
We intend to protect the Union men of the
border States, to foster the Union senti-
ment, to get up counter revolution.
which will lay all secession and treason In
ruins. That is what We propose to do
We expect soon to readmit Tennessee into
the Uaion. as we have recently readmitted
old Virginia; we expect soon to readmit
North Csrolinia; and we expect to present.
in six months, an unbroken front to all
foreign Powers, no single star erased, the
light of no star obliterated by. treason in
any part the country. When we get
the seeding States properly represented
upon the floor of the Congress OF the
United States, then we shall have nothing
to do but to punish the last remains and
remnants of this most disgraceful rebell-
ion; and the remedy. after all. is Ken
tuck remedy; we proPose---hemp- That
is the remedy for treason: not under mob
law, but under indictments in courts
We propose to have courts and judges
sworn to support the law. and who will
abide by that sacred oath. When this Is
done. promise you that treason and re-
bellion will be buried forever.


ID Senators, L have regretted the necessity

that compelled me to speak for few mo-
ments on this occasion; but it was an occa-
sion, it seemed to me, that called for ut
terance. II l had refused to raise my
voice in defence of the Constitution and
liberties of the country, the very stones
would have cried out i'm mutiny. 1t is q
time when patriots. without treachery. can
not be silent. We differ about this great
question, but there is no diversity of opin-
ion in reference to the transcenlent I'M
portance aad magnitude of the discussion
in which we are engaged. If 1 have made
myself sufficiently understood. have ac-
complished my purpose. sail under no
false colors. Whatever / honestly be-
lievc, that | boldly avow; and upon the
avowal of these sentiments l take my
stand before my constituents and the peo-
pie Of the United States; nay. more. |
am willing that these sentiments should be
inscribed as an epitaph upon my tomb
stone. l desire no prouder eulogy than
"there is a man who humbly discharged
his duty so his country and his God. and
dared to think there is something sacred in
the nature of an oath to support the
Con stitution Of the country"