Year: 1867

, Jthis rebellion commenced, said tboro
) was no right of secession under the Con-
stitution of the United States, that no


State had the right to secede, but that


he had no authority under the Constitu-


tion to oppose or prevent it. Suppose,
|sir, that man being murdered should


use no means to oppose the violence in


aicted upon him by the murderer ex-
cept to say to his assailant, "You have


no moral, no religious, no legal right to
do what you are doing, but 1 have no


right or authority to oppose you in your
attack upon me-" Mr. Speaker, would


not this be an anomaly? Would any
thing in the affairs of men long exist
with the tendency to so much mischief
and evil manifest in all ages? Creation
would be useless, as destruction would
Immediately follow. aes. lsS.s a no.


Sir, there would be as much sense in
such proclamation by any man mur-
derously assailed as there was in the an
nouncement made by the President of
this Republic when the southern States
were taking their measures of secession.
Sir, there is no Government that has
not the power within it Of self.pressrva-
ton. ..[ - ........
Mr. Speaker, the Opposition have
been constantly proclaiming the same
idea-weakness of the General Govern
ment, its inability to resist violence.
The changes have constantly been rung
upon the Constitution; every step we
have taken has been declared to be in
violation of the Constitution of the Uni
led States. 1t surprises me that WITH.
the Constitution so sadly broken and
torn by the majority here, the gentle.
men composing the minority can find
enough of it left to warrant their COM
ing here and taking part in legislation.
This cry of invasion of the Constitu-
tion is the final resort in every argu-
ment. We are constantly told that we
are unconstitutionally infringing upon
the rights of the States, trying to blot
out and obliterate State lines. Mr..
Speaker, | am not forgetful of the fact
that our Government is complex in
form, that while we have a national
Governments we have State sovereign
ties within and under that Government.
And | am not unmindful of another
fact: that the States in their separate
capacities and the nation as whole are
completely and admirably represented
In the Legislative branch of this Govern
ment. The Senators at the other end
of this Capitol are the proper and legit-
innate representatives of the States,
while the members of this House are
the representatives of the people at
large. | am not unmindful of another
fact that the people in order to form
more perfect Union did ordain and
establish the Constitution of the United
States


Sir, until | see some fragrant outrage
committed by the Senate upon the
rights of the States 1 shall feel it nv
duty to leave the guardianship of the,
States to them, and confne myself to
my legitimate business as Representa-
tive of the people. shall not, howev-s
er, while so acting, forget that there
are States in this Union. When 1 hear
so much said at this end of the Capitol
about violating the Constitution and in
fringing the rights of the States, think
it is like the last resort of kings; they
have no other argument, and they think
this is very fine to dwell upon. Our
Constitution, / think, has been we'll
preserved, not only by loyal Represen.
tatives in this Hall, but by the loyal
men who went to the field and fought
our battles and crushed the rebellion.


MIR. Speaker, l have digressed some
what from the bill before the House,.
but l think that the question on which
l have dwet had reference more or less
to it. think that proper self-respect
on the part of Congress, as we'll as a re-
gard to the welfare and safety of the
nation, requires that before this session
expires we shall adopt some measure
which will enable the loyal men of the
southern States to reorganize govern
ment and have some protection for them
selves. ............


l had proposed to yield the remain
der Of my time to the gentleman from
Ohio, MIR. Shellabarger, ] but I see that
he is not now present. ..-.


A GOOD joke is told at the expense Of
a suburban school teacher, who kept
after school youngster who manifested
great aversion to acquiring additional
learning, and in the course of the rep
rimand the teacher said ''Now, James,
can you tell me one thing you have
learned since the quarter commenced p
"Yes, l have learned s mething."-
"What is it % "Well I've learned
where there is a bully chestnut tree
that none of the boys know anything
about, and was going there for nuts,
if you hadn't kept me after school, -
FARMER ooino To get his priat