Year: 1861

Mr.. Chairman, suppose Great Britain,
suppose France, suppose all the Powers OF
the world combined, had thus outraged the
flag of the United States, would not every
one of us have demanded men and money
to wipe out the indignity, and to repel fur
ther like assaults, at whatever hazard Yet,
sir, the Governor of Florida, before the
/ State of Florida had seeded, goes with an
armed force, seizes upon our property, and
turns the guns of the people of the United
States against the Army and Navy of the
United States. l am also told-with what
truth / do not know-that cannon are
planted upon the banks of the Mississippi
river, at or near the city of Vicksburgh, in
the State of Mississippi, and that our steam
boats are now compelled to land there and
to give an account of themselves. We do
not know at what moment they may be SUBJ
ject to tribute and seizure. To whom To
the State of Mississippi ? I agree with all
my colleagues from the State of Ohio, from
both sides of this House, that there is one
thing immutable-a laW that is q higher
law. 1t is, that the Mississippi river, gath
ering all the rivulets of the Northwest into
one current, must be permitted to float our
commerce uninterrupted and untrammeled
to the sea, or thousands of men will float
down>upon its waters and make it free.


Mr.. Branch.-The gentleman from Ohio
will allow me to ask him whether the state
ment he has just made is founded upon any
good authority Can he inform this House
authoritatively that cannon have been
planted upon the banks of the Mississippi,
to control the navigation of that river?


Mr.. Sherman.-I can only respond, that
what have stated saw in the newspapers
of the day. I have already declared that
have no official information upon the SUBJ
ject. I know from private information
that citizens of Ohio, engaged in lawful
commencement of political opinions like
those professed by you, (Mr. Branch )-have
been detained in the State of Louisiana un-
til thay could send back to Ohio for proof
that they had not voted for Mr.. Lincoln. As
this was an act of lawless violence not
sanctioned by State, | arraiga no one
for it.


Mr.. Branch.-The gentleman will allow
me still further. ] will tell the gentleman
from Ohio, what we all know very well,
that there are many things in the newspa-
pers which afterwards turn out to be uu-
true. There is now DO gentleman on this
floor from the State of Mississippi who can
give accurate and reliable information as to
the circumstances referred to by the gentle
man from Ohio; and wish simply to say
to him that the gentlemen around me, those
who are in the best position to know
whether this fact is true or not, are of the
opinion that it is without foundation and
entirely untrue.


Mr.. Sherman-I hope that 1t may not be
true. trust to find that is entirely with
out foundation.


Mr.. Crawford-Let me say a word TO the
gentleman from Ohio. presume that the
whole of this statement which has gone
out into the press of the country about can
non been planted upon the banks of the
Mississippi river, may have grown out of
the fact that there was some apprehension
on the part of the people dwelling upon
that river that Gen. Scott was preparing to
send down large force for the purpose of
commencing an invasion into the southern
States from some point in the State of Mis-
sissippi. do not know that cannon have
been planted; but if there has been, then it
hts been done for their protection and de-
fense. l would do so were l in their place,
apprehending such an invasion


Mr.. Sherman.-I stated that | found the
fact in the newspapers of the day and
upon the newspapers we have to rely until
we are furnished with official information.
1t is certain that our flag has been fred into
that the property of the United States has
been seized T; and that the guns of the
United States have been turned against the
people and the shipping of the United
States. 1t is certain that acts of war have
been committed by the State of South
Carolina. No one doubts, | suppose that
the forts at the mouth of the Mississippi
are in the possession, not of the troops of
the United States, but troops that will resist
the troops of the United States. There is
no doubt that Baton Rouge has been seized !,
no doubt, sir, that act after act of war has
been repeated. l ask you, as the Repre-
sentatives of a brave people, what shall we
do The question is not Shall we coerce
State but shall we not defend the prop
erty of the United States against all enc
mics, at home or abroad, here or wherever
the flag of our country floats?


Must this Government submit to insult
and indignity L? Must it surrender its prop
erty, its flag, its nationally Do you, gen.
tlemen from Virginia, whose great states
men had so large a share in laying the
foundations of our Government, desire to
see it thus dishonored Are you ready to
Join excited men, who will not lisien to rea-
son; who ever spurn your patriotism as
timidity; who reject your councils and who
would drag you as unwilling victims at the
/ HSCI VI OhOtA Ntll vi u
under its weight all hope of civil liberty for
ages to come? Are you aroused into mad
ness by political defeat?


Mr.. Hill.-Will the gentleman allow me
| a moment?


Mr.. Sherman.-I never decline to yield.


Mr.. HILL think know the feelings OF
the honorable gentleman we'll enough to
! know that the question l am about to ask
! will not be deemed offensive. I desire to
ask him whether he thinks that it is wholly
incompatible with the dignity of our great
country that conciliation should be had


with these parties that have so grievously
offended, according to his argument, by the
capture of these forts Must these acts be


expiated by blood, before any terms of &C
commodation can be had?


Mr.. Sherman.--My friend from Georgia,


whose patriotic feelings | know and appre-


ciate well knows that do not bring this


matter forward for the purpose of adding to


the excitement, but for the purpose of show


ing that the argument was not stated cor


rectly by nv cOlleaoua T Mr. Pendlptnn /