Year: 1865

my friend and colleague has explained this
matter. understood from his speech that
he assumed different position. / am glad
that he concurs with me in the principle that
sovereignty inheres in the people.


Our fathers believed the division ofpowers
which they provided between the States
and the Federal Government to be essen
tial to our free system of Government.
concur in that opinion, and am therefore
to invest the Federal Government
with an additional power, to enable it to con-.
Urol the internal and domestic concerns of
the States. / am opposed, sir, to the central
iZation of power in the hands ofthe Federal
Government. This is one of the dangers
which now threatens to disturb, If not over
throw, our system ofgovernment. Iwould
not make this invasion either to establish or
abolish slavery. These are questions pecu-
liarly and exclusively belonging to the
States, and we may rest assured that they
will dispose of them to suit themselves.
Maryland has already done SO; Missouri has
done the same thing, and Kentucky is about
to organize plan for the accomplishment
of the same object. But, sir, as citizen OF
Ohio, and Representative from that State
on this floor, | have no desire to interfere
with the action of the people of kentucky
i'm disposing of the question OF slavery to
suit themselves. All candid men must ad-
nit that State action will be the most salts
factory plan of settling the question, and
cannot disturb the amicable relations
which should exist between the several
States, while the effect of adding the pro-
posed amendment to the Constitution, will
tend to disturb the harmony of the States,
and embitter and further prolong this un-
fortunate war.


Is it possible that this amendment can
aid in subduing the rebellion and restoring
the Union? cannot agree with gentle
men who have argued that it will. Cen
tlemen, instead of adhering to the original
declarations made at the commencement of
this war, have entirely changed their pur-
poses, and now propose plans of reconstruc-
tion and readmission of States, on such
terms and conditions as can only result in
protracting the struggle. Sir, am glad to
know that one of the ablest generals of the
age, one who has so recently added new
luster to our arms in his victorious and tri-
umphant march through Georgia, and in
the capture of Savannah, has enunciated to
the people of that State some views which
seem to me eminently proper and patriotic.
In letter written by General Sherman on
the Sth instant, he says:


Georgia is not out of the Union and therefore
the talk Of reconstruction appears to me inaPpro-
priate Some of the people have been and still are
in state Of revolution and as long as they remain
armed and organized, the United States must pursue
them with armies and deal with them according to
military law. But as soon as they break up their
armed organizations and return to their homes, L
take it they will be dealt with by the civil courts.
serve death, because they have committed murder
and other crimes which arc punished with death by
all civilized Governments on earth."


"Whenever the people of Georgia quit rebelling
against their Government and elect members OF
Congress and Senators, and these go and take their
seats then the State Of Georgia will have resumed
| her functions in the UniOn."


Sir, if this Administration had borne
high in the face of Heaven and the Amerl


can people the broad banner of the Constr


tuition, inscribed upon it, The Constitution
and the Union, these must be preserved at
all hazards these are our terms of peace; ;
we ask no other;" this war, in my humble
| judgment, would have long since termina-
ted. But other principles and another pol
| icy have prevailed, and still prevail, which
add new obstacles to the suppression of the
rebellion. and tend to prolong the war.
We started out on the theory of compelling
those who had combined to break up the
| Union to obey the constitutional authority
of the United States. We had the right to


do that, and our strength was in adhering


to that single purpose, to require obedience


to the Constitution by the people of every


section of the country.


In this hour, when our arms have been


victorious in Georgia, in Tennessee, and in
North Carolina: when the victory of Cen
eral Sherman is followed up by him by such


prudent conduct as to arouse and strength


en- the Union sentiment of the people of
Georgia, it becomes us to adopt wise and


patriotic policy, and endeavor by honorable


Cancellation to aid our armies in convincing


the people of the insurgent States, that only


under the old Constitution, which was the
| work of their fathers as well as ours, can


they be secure, and that such security can


not be had under Jefferson Davis. ltseems
to me that in this period of our history at


this very time, we need the highest order OF


statesmanship-a craftsmanship that shall


not be controlled by the pmad passions OF


the hour, but one which shall employ every


power consistent with the true honor and


interests of the country, to stay the further
effusion of blood, and restore peace to our


beloved land.


Mr.. Speaker, in my Judgment the policy


of this Administration has tailed very much


in coming up to the true requirements OF


the times. 1t seems unfortunate for the IN


terests of the country that the Republican


party is so organzed-and do not wish to


say this in any partisan or unkind feeling


that it is not adapted to the administration


of a great Government like ours. Instead


of endeavoring to conform and harmonlze


itself and its doctrines to the Constitution


of the country, it seems only capable o1


working out its destiny by making the Con-


stitution conform to It's sectional ana un-
wise pollcy' IL mas s.ioWn iSseli u.oeily


incapable of administering Government
, like this, composed of States with different
local institutions and therefore. in order to
Ioeai :.n U.s., "1 ;Sto,,oa ~ hos dotor.
perpeCuaUe ltS OWn eAisIehCc, IL has uOVci