Year: 1867

No candid man can deny that thi
measure is revolutionary. That we ar
| In q state of revolution setms TO be al
mitted by the advocates of this bill
/ revolution by whomsOever "eoncurred
/ In is now sdpted and carried on by tn
I majority in congress. 1t Is a revolu
/ tion more dangerous TO the republic


more dangerous 10 its underlying
| its essential principles, than tina
4 which was prosecuted by Rrmed rebel
/ lion. That was for SEPARATION, 70


a separate republic. This government
it was to establish was founded on ;
written constitution with provision
challenging the respect Of the mos
liberal and enlightened minds, anG


which, had it not been for its provision
for slavery, would have been no re


proaeh to any age or to any people. Th'
revolution Of to-day is against ou
written constitution, ami If successfu


will convert the union into a despotism


Think not this can be done in peace ol


without the shedding of blood. It Is moi


well to forget the fearful tflroes OF the ma


ton when secession would have rent tht


constitution asunder and severed the


union. Peaceable consolidation is al


impossible as peaceable secession. " Let


US alone, " will no mors avail in the
one case than the other. The people viii


not relish empire more than dis
membered union. All history is not s
lie. Human hearts and human passions
are not all unlike what they have been


Ia the past The order Of our govern


ment cannot be reversed without des-
perate struggle. The people will not
long brook to crawl at the feet Of despotic
power, or beg their rights and liberties
from the hands of one or two hundred
despots. The people knog the source OF
sovereignty is the people. !" Congress
is ~ not the people. The people
acting through the states created the
United States, to protect, defend, and
preserve, not to destroy, the states.
Twenty-six states are not the United
States.


The charter of the peoples liberties did
not come down from congress. All the
sovereign powers OF congress are named
in the peoples charter I'd congress. In
that charter is all your warrant. 60 be-
yond it and you invade liberty. When
liberty Is invaded all but slaves and des-
potg resent, and sooner or later will
resist the invasion. 1t is the common
cause Of all who are worthy to be free.
It is the cause of the people against
power. In such a conflict liberty and JUS
tice will be not only vindicated, but their
wrongs will be redressed and the NAL.
efactOrs punished. Retr button may be-
slow, but it will come with unerring GER.
tainty, measured by the hand Of divine
Justice.


Mr.. Speaker, I hope, I devoutly pray
these troublesome times may have ar.
end without further sacrifice of fraterna.
blood that our constitutional rights and
liberties may not be lost in this fanatica.
revolution. Let sectional hatred and all
revenge be buried in oblivion. Recon"
eiliation Is the only restoration. This
congress has never avowed any policy
for either. The gentleman admits if we
ask even now what Is the policy OF
congress, the answer ig not always az
hand" 1t is time that answer were
ready it is time all were satisfied and
assured. Delay awakeLs doubt and dis.
trust and begets danger. If those who
pant for more blood could reflect, they
too would discard further sanguinary
measures. Malignant passion has cOun-
seled long enough let it slumber. Is It
not enough TO enslave ten million peo-
pie; hold them In q Estate of conquest
for two years ?" Congress has opportn-
uity such as no other body Of men ever
had, such as I fear it may never have
again, by word to speak peace, recon-
amity to a suffering and un-
happy country. A brave aud unRrme'i
people lie conquered at your feet, bowed
in spirit and oppressed with many sor-
rows. They have surrendered all for
which they contended on the battlefield
and more than you demanded before
they gave TO you their arms. Let not
the pride of victory, passion or revenge
make you unjust and change your VIC
tory into defeat.


Generosity never lost the conquercr
cruel and unwise eXactions
renewed any an arm and renewed
many g struggle. Better than that sub
jugation and oppression should continue
follow the example of the monster duke
Of Alva take twenty thousand to the
block and be satisfied. Two hundred
thousand may not satisfy the people for
wrong and injustice long continued.