Year: 1860

| whether II De the proper form OF Civilization
! or not.


| But, MIR. Chairman, am gviag iute thi
discussion without any arrangement of thought


and perhaps ! may be a little desutory
wish TO call the attention of the Committee t.


another proposition. We are now, probably
for the FIRST TIME in our history, entering a new


aspect of national politics. The safety of oul
institutions has heretofore rested in the unques
tionable loyalty Of the whole people, from one
end of the contederacy to the other in thcil


unquestloned submission to the great verdict


Of the people, pronounced at the ballot-box in


a constitutional manner. You have now, sir


for the first time in the history of the country


Il political party organized on the express doc


trine, and with HE avowed purpose, ef over


throwing the Government, in the event of their


being unable to control it through the ballot


box. 1t is asserted here by gentlemen on


on the other sIde-by one portion of them


that if Rep1bIiean President shall be elect
ed, they will resist his inauguration fofcibly.-
That is one proposition made on the other side
OF the lUUse by the Democratic party.


l take it for granted there can be 40 contro-


versy about what that resistance siaIounts to-
1t can only be done by levying war against
the United States. The thing threatened is
treason against the United States. There can
be DO controversy about that.


Another portion say that, Republican
President be elected, they will secede from the
Conicdcracy, and organize separate and indie
pendent cobeaeracy Of their own. Whether
that constitutes treason or not, is matter Of
i,a1.
but it is, nevertheless, equally fatal TO fhc per-
petuity of the existing Government and the
existing institutions CT the country.


Mr.. Chairman, let us Look this proposition
straight in the face. Here is political party
for eight years in possession uf the Govern
ment, welding its patronage, amounting 10
some eighty million dollars year. The expi-
ration of their lease of power approaches !;
and the question is made, as to whether they
shall be continued longer i'll power. They say
to the people, Gentlemen, we are willing to
take charge of this Government for four years
longer, pretty much on the same terms. We
would like to do it, for it is rather agreeable
than otherwise. If you do not choose 10 in
trust US with this power, then we will resist
any other man who may be placed in the Pres
idential chair. We will rule this country, or
we will ruin it. We will overturn this Gov
If we are not allowed to administer it
ourselves" That is the naked, uAdisguised
of the Democratic party 10 the
year of grace 1860. l say it here in the hear
ing of gentlemen who have advocated these
doctrines and DO not know that any gentle
Man upon that side of the House has disclaim-
ed that as being the settled purpose of the
party.


Mr.. NIBLAcK. As the gentleman from Ohio
seems to take it for granted lis fair thing,
when statement is made, and nobody gets up
to contradict it, that all the members of the
House are to be held bound by it, | would ask
him why he and others did not get up and dis
clAim the doctrines enupciated by the gentle
inan from Illinois Mr.. LovEtoYl and others,
with which am sure he does not coincide p
Is he to be considered as endorsing these doc
trines, because he did not get UP and disclaim
them?


MIR. STANTON. Gentlemen of the other side
of the House. of all shades ofopinions and from
all sections Of the Confcderary, have exercised
the liberty of speech here pretty extens;vely.-
There has been no gag upon them; and sir,
DO not now remember single gentleman of
hem all, who, i'll discussing this subject of the
Presidential election has disclaimed it TO be
the purpose of his party to revolutionize and
overthrow this Government, in the event Of
defeat at the bailot-box.


Mr.. N1BLACK. The thing, then, Mr. Chair
man, amounts to this : If we do not, when
these charges are made against us, get up aud

make speech defining our positions, we are
to be held rs endorsing those who do speak
1t is conclusion repudiate. AS the gentle
man from Ohio has made certain charges a.
5anst this side OF the House, and as | am one
Of the members Included, beg to say to him


hat disclaim being bound by anything that
las been said by any member Of this side or
the other side. When the proper time arrives
10 give the House my opinions on these sub
ccts, l will do so but at this time | deny the
of any man upon this side of the
House 10y his speech to bind me to any posi-
ion which my judgment tlisltpproves of be-


eve that to be the position OF the majority Of
he members on this side of the House.


MIR. STANTON. 1 think that the majority
nave made speeches the other way.


Mr.. NIBLAcK. The majority of this side Of
he House have not yel spoken, and they will
lot probably for sometime to come.


Mr. STANTON Mr.. Chairman, l know no
other mode of ascertaning the opinions and
purposes of party, except by taking tae pub
opinions of the great mass of its
eading men, its representative men, its men
who are intrusted with power, and who enjoy
he confidence of the people they represent
md when they come here, without contradic-
ion, by an unbroken CURRENT of speeches and
declarations upon that side of the House, and
announce that it is their purpose to overturn
his Government or to rule it, / think surely
there can he no further doubt on that head.


Mr.. NIBLACK. / wish to say word here
or the benefit Of the gentleman from Ohio, and
or the benefit Of other gentlemen who may
lecm that he is correct in the position he as
'umes. Any gentleman, or any party, who
will take the position in my district, or in any
,ther diSttict of the Northwcst-it is certainly
50 in Indiana-that he will revolutionize this
Government in the event of any result of any
election, would not get five hundred votes,
whatever might be his personal popularity
There is no difference of opinion in the North
vest on the question at all, if there be in reali
y in any section of the Union. While that is
our position, do not deem that it is necessary
always to get up and disclaim the charge when
the contrary is alleged. The position L have
stated is, so fur as / know, that of all those
around me who come from the same section OF
The country that do.


Mr. STANTON. know that it is not ncceS-
sary for gentleman to get up and disclaim
every expression of sentiment which may be
made by others, and IN which he cannot agree;
but it would seem Mr.. Chairman, that this is
a matter of such great magnitude as to call for
an expression of opinion all around. Ifthe re-
preventative men of the party--not one, not
two, but more than twenty-have declared, in
our hearing, that it is their purpose, and the
purpose of the party to which they belong, to