Year: 1862

yet undertaken to define the limits tC
which man might 90 in the homes
defense Of his lifo when assailed, so M
statesman would undertake to limit the
powers that the Government might use
to preserve its life when assailed by
traitors. l defy the gentleman to make
an argument worthy of the name agains
that proposition.


Do you think that we will stand by
yielding to your argument, while you
fetter our legs and bind our arms with
the Constitution Of tho United States
that you may stab it to death Is that
your idea Of the Constitution, that it is
made to tie the hands Of honest men
FROM its defense, while traitors may
stab it to the heart ? That is the use
you would make Of the Constitution of
the United States. Sir, say again, I
have no scruples about the Constitution
OF the United States as welded against
traitors in these times of violent revo-
luton. You have seen that the ordina
ry course Of the common law and Of the
Constitution cannot be followed. Shall
the Constitution lie down and dio2-
Must we give up all our glorious prin-
ciples that were defended by it be.
cause traitors have assaulted it in such
way that they have prevented its op-
GRAFTON? Sir, folly like that would de-
serve the ignominious fate which would
inevitably follow so foolish q course.


Mr.. President, as have said hereto
fore, it is remarkable fact, that altho'
thousands upon thousands of men have
fallen victims to this rebellion on the
field of battle, and many thousands
more have been mangled and wounded,
intilcting misery, poverty, and death
upon millions Of people, we arc yet told
on this floor that we should be tender
footed that we cannot tie the hands of
a miserable traitor from giving infor-
nation to the enemy, and thus aiding
them to carry on this accursed war. Is
that the logic Of the Senator Sir, he
will find but few adherents here; he will
find less among the people, for they are
entirely ahead Of US in all that per-
tains to the vigorous prosecution of this
war and vigorous dealing with trait.
ors according to their crimes. Why,
sir, in every hole and corner in this city,
nay, in almost every city of the United
States, and in the country too, you find
those slippery, Shiny, glib. .tongued
traitors who are ready on all occasions
fn oriv in Form Ftnn NF all tha
ments of your army and of every other
important fact to the enemy, so that
they have it earlier than we. You
would not expect that man taken with
arms in his hands, fighting against our
armies, prosecuting us to death, should
go entirely without punishment; and
yet he does the enemy infinitely less
service than the man who, pretending
to be Union man, pretending to be
loyal, worms himself into the knowl.
edge of the most important secrets of
your Executive, and thon goes forth
and gives it to your enemies. whereby
Of your men may die in vain
upon the field of battle, and all brought
about by this slippery, slimy, traitor
There are men who would get up after.
ward in this Senate, and, with tears in
their eyes, plead the cause Of just such
a wretch as that who, with all the evil
dence of guilt upon him, was sent off
for little while to sojourn in one of
our Notifications, and call it linguistic,
rial, yrannical levilish.


Sir, the man that makes use of these
need not tell me that he is
loyal. tell you the danger to our in
is not so great from traitors
in the field with arms in their hands as
it is from the nimble ,tongued, slippery
who go forth apologising and
countermanding every energetic meas
ure of the Administration as tyraunical
and wrong, and endeavoring to deceive
the people and stir them up to hostility
against this wise, this just, this most
moderate Administration I do not
believe the people are going to be de-
ceived by it. do not believe that
your night meeting to reconstruct the
Democratic party, your resolutions oil
censurc accusing them of tyranny here
and intimidation abroad-I do not be
lieve all these things and all your mach,
nations will be able to deceive an ava
kened people who understand all your
arts, and are determined to back a wise
Administration in the course it shall
pursue.


notice that the Senator from Ken.
tucky, (Mr. PowelD in the speech he
made here the other day, nourned over
tho degoneracy Of the Senate. He was
horror stricken or sorrow. stricken with
the comparison of the great men who
were here in former times and who are
now here. He especially referred to
Massachusetts,, Well, sir, Massachu
setts is my old mother, aud | do moi
like to hear her assailed without saying
a word in her behalf. | tell him Mas


sachusetts was never more adorned


there never was more patriotism, there


never was more efficiency to oxtricat,


the country from the difficulty into


which tits plunged, than there is from


Massachusetts o.day. How is it with


old Kentucky Did the Senator thinl


of that in tho remarks he made2 Iii,


former colleague stood here u year agC


preaching those same doctrines of con


ciliation aud anti.coercion, invoking


the Constitution 10 favor Of traitors, ia


king pay out of the Treasury, holdini


up his hand to God aud swearing tha


he would be loyal to the Constitution


and then sneaking of into tho rebe


army to stab your Constitution to death


That is the successor of old Harr


Clay, OF glorious memoryl Is not tina
degeneraeY2 The Senalor himself con