Year: 1861

The Border States propositions were pro-
jected by gentleman from Maryland, and
presented by member from Tennessee,
and, with Mr. Crittenden's propositions,
were repeatedly and severally rejected in
this House by the almost unanimous vote OF
the Republicans.


Mr.. Crittenden's Compromise, which re-
ceived the vote of every Southern member
upon this floor, excepting one from Arkan-
sas, never on any one occasion received one
solitary vote from the Republicans in the
Senate or House.


The so-called Adams Amendment, mode
rate as that was, was carried through this
chamber by the bare majority of one. after
severe struggle. Sixty-fve Republicans
voted to the last against it,


Up to twelve o'clock on the 4th of March
peace seemed to be the policy of all parties,
when Mr.. Lincoln delivered his inaugural,
and which left thirty millions of people in
doubt whether it meant peace or war. Un-
der this confidence in the restoration Of peace
the prosperity of the country revived, Seces-
sion in the past languished, and Secession
in the future was arrested by the course of
Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee,
all of which declared for the old Union.
The national heart beat high with hope
the elections in Rhode Island, in New York
and in the Western States gave abundant
evidence that the people were resolved on
the most ample, satisfactory, constitutional
guarantees as the price of the restoration OF
Union--then it was that long and agonized
howl came up from defeated and disappoin-
ted politicians. The newspaper press teem-
ed with appeals and threats to the President:
the mails groaned under the weight of letters
demanding change of policy, while se-
ceret conclave Of the Governors of the States
of Ohio, New York, Massachusetts. Penn
sylvania and other States convened in this
city and promised men and money to carry
on the irrepressible conflict aad thms it was
that party in the pangs of dissoiutioa, in
the very hour and article of death, demand
ed vigorous measures which could restore
it life, but at the expense of civil war-and
nothing else.


/ But there was yet another cause.-the
passage of the ill-digested and unstatesman-
like tariff bill (Morrill's) About the same
time the Confederate Congress adopted our
tariff act of 1857-the result was inevitable
The trade and commerce of the West began
to look to the South, from which it had been
directed years ago by the canals and rail
heavy cost to the West. They threatened
to resume their ancient and accustomed
channels-the water courses of the Ohio
and Mississippi, and political association
~ &c &na IN fol
low the direction of trade.


The city of New York began then to
clamor loudly for the repeal of the tariff act.
Threatened thus with the loss of both politi-
cal power and wealth New England and
Pennsylvania-tha laad of peace-began
now, too, to demand coercion and civil war
as the price of the preservation of their
wealth began to demand the subjugation of
the South-aye, the subjugation of the
South. He spoke not to children. and not
a man in sound of his voice but knew that
the South could not be restored to obedience
to the Constitution except throug b subjuga-
tion


The subjugation of the South and the
closing up of her ports, first by force and
then by law, was resolved upon, and when
this policy was once established the self-same
motive of waning commerce and of threat
ened trade impelled the city of New York
to place herself first in the ranks of the up
rising which swept over the North and West.


He would not now assert what subsequent
acts of the Administration may make appar-
ent, that it's frequent infractions of the Con-
stitutien, its high-handed usurpations of
power, formed part of a conspiracy to over
turn Republican institutions aud establish
strong consolidated government, but rather
that in the beginning they rushed needless
ly into acts which were designed to revive
| the fallen fortunes Of party, and the woe
full consequences of which were not then
| foreseen.


Whatever may have been the purpose, he
now asserted that every principal act of the
Administration has been glaring usurpa-
tion of power and palpable and dangerous
violation Of the Constitution, and every one
of which acts might we'll have been post
poned until the assembling of Congress.


The whole responsibility of the war has
been boldly assumed by the Executive, and
all the power deemed necessary for his pur.
poses are boldly usurped, either from the
States, the people or Congress while the
judiciary, that last refuge Of hope ane
liberty, was turned away from with contempt
Now he comes and asks Congress to supper
the army he has raised in plain violation o
the Constitution, and to ratify his usurpatior
by law er post tacto, and thus to make our
selves parties to our own degradation, ane
to his infractions of the supreme law of tn
land


Beginning with these wide breaches of thu
Constitution, these enormous usurpations O
the most dangerous of all powers. the power
of the sword, the sanctity Of the telegraph
was invaded. though it turns out significant.
ly enough that the only traitor discovered
so far, is one of the appointees and special
pets of the Administration. One step more
will bring upon us search and seizure Of the
publc mails, and finally, as in the days o