Year: 1864

ssAAC AAsAh Va 1oVAs


l am to-day, as 1 have been from the be-
ginning, opposed to secession. / do not be-
lieve that any such right exists under our
form of government. 1 am to-day, as have


been from the commencement of this un-
fortunate difficulty, opposed to an acknowl-
edgment of the independence of the so-call-
ed Confederate States / hold to-day, as
have held from the beginning-in direct
conflict with the distinguished gentleman
from Pennsylvania Mr.. Stevensl - that
these Confederate States are not outside the
Union, and do not constitute distinct and
foreign nation.


l believe, sir, / know, that my own con-
stituents are opposed to secession, or TO a
recognition of the so-called Confederate
States. / believe that the Democracy of
the great Northwest and the great Demo-
cratic party of the country, are not to-day,
and have not been from the beginning, in
favor of the recognition of the Confederate
States. And although | believe that this
unfortunate war could have been avoided
by fair, just and honorable compromises
between the two sections of the country
that the only obstacle which prevented that
compromise came from the Republican
members of Congress; and that to them is
to be charged the defeat of che compromises
offered by the lamented statesman from
Kentucky, (Mr. Crittenden,) yet, sir, great
armies are in the field; they now confront
each other; we are on the eve of terrible
battles, and trust that whenever these bat
ties do take place, the armies of the North
will be successful, and that the old flag will
be carried in victory wherever it goes
But, sir, candor and frankness require me
to state-and declare it before Heaven and
the country, as the earnest conviction of my
soul-that force alone can not preserve the
Union or restore these States; that to the
sword must be added Cancellation, wise and
prudent craftsmanship, alas! such states
manship as has not yet been displayed by
this Administration. The people of this
country require the Inauguration of sys-
tenn of conciliation by which both peace
and the Union may be restored.


This is the Hall where the peoples repre-
sentatives assemble. Let them act as be-
come the representatives of freemen. Let
us discuss every public measure in that
manly spirit which should characterize the
representatives of a free people. Sir the
gentleman from Maryland Mr.. Davisl has
pose to appeal TO public opinion. We do
not believe, and we are earnest in that be-
lief, that the policy of this Administration
can restore the Union. We believe that it
is destructive of the best interests of this
country. We are determined to resist, by
every legitimate means, within our power,
all efforts, let them come from what quarter
they may, to break up this Union, or pull
down the pillars of the Constitution.


Sir, L repeat it, we expect to appeal to
public opinion, and at the ballot-box to see
to it, that this Administration shall be
turned out of power and men placed in the
%
ister it in obedience to the Constitution.
public opinion. Sir. have you ever consid-
cred the power and force of public opinion?
Have you ever read in history how it has
branded with disgrace and infamy the cor
rupt and unfaithful public servant? Have
you ever read in history how it wre0thes
the brow of the faithful servant with the
appreciation and plaudits of grateful peo-
pie after he may have been stricken down
by the hands of power? Sir. am willing
to trust to public opinion. Sooner or later
it will settle all these questions right.


Sir, if mistake not the signs of the
times, this public opinion, at the next No
vember election, will vindicate one of the
truest, best and noblest men Of this country,
who has been most ungratefully treated by
this Administration. Sir, we intend to ap-





witnessed its power and force? There is
no man so high as to be above it, and he
must be low indeed who is beneath it. 1t
penetrates through doors of oak and bars
of iron into the secret chambers of kings
and princes, where its voice, if not obeyed,
is Mt least feared and respected. 1t whispers
the words of warning and admonition into
the ears of the ruler, who in the silent
watches of the night tosses with sleepless
anxiety on his couch to ponder upon its
meaning. 1t is to that searching tribunal
of public opinion that we intend to present
the acts of the Administration and of this
Congress. / warn you to beware of the
record you make here. Let it be such
one as shall be sanctioned by the Constitu-
ton. and you need not fear the ordeal of
public opinion.


But on this great question of the rights
and duties of the Representative, ask to
read from the same great speech which was
quoted. from to-day by my friend from In
diana, MIR. voorhees,


In speech which Mr.. Webster delivered
in the Senate of the United States in 1884,
he thus describes the duty of Representa-
tive:


but, sir, if the people have right to
discuss the official conduct of the Execu-
tive, so have their Representatives. We
udNC DCCll w iSf~oho q AoOpiOSOhtd-
tive of the people as sentinel on the
watch-tewer of liberty. Is he to be blind
though visible danger approaches? Is he
to be deaf though sounds of peril fill the
air? Is he to be dumb while thousand
duties impal him to raise the cry of alarm?
Is he not, rather, to catch the honest whis-
per which breathes intention or purpose of
encroachment on the public liberties, and
to give his voice breath and utterance at
the first appearance Of danger? Is not his
eve to traverse the whole horizon with the
keen and eager vision of an unhooded
hawk, detecting, through all disguises, ev-
cry enemy advancing in any form toward
the citadel which he guards?


sSir, this watchfulness for public liberty,
this duty of foreseeing danger and pro-
claiming it. this promptitude and boldness
in resisting attacks on the Constitution from
any quarter, this defense of established
landmarks, this fearless resistance of what
ever would transcend or remove them, all
belong to the representative character, are
interviewer with its very nature. If de-
prived of them, an active, intelligent and
faithful agent of the people will be con-
verted into an unresisting and passive in
strument of power. A representative body
which gives up these rights and duties
gives itself up. tits representative body
no longer. 1t has broken the tie between
itself and IFS constituents. and hencef0rth