214 



CONGRESS, U. S. 



opposed, he thus declared those of which he 

 was in favor : " Mr. Speaker, having stated 

 thus frankly what I will not support, it may be 

 asked me ' what affirmative action do you pro- 

 pose shall be taken ? ' This is a most important 

 inquiry. But, sir, aware of all the responsibil- 

 ities which devolve upon me as a Representa- 

 tive, of all the perils which environ my coun- 

 try, asking for that wisdom of duty which 

 cometh down freely from above, and hoping 

 for that fortitude which renders man ' equal to 

 either fortune,' I have no difficulty in answer- 

 ing the inquiry. I propose that the Constitu- 

 tion of the Republic shall remain forever in- 

 tact, the same invulnerable, immortal aegis of 

 human rights, forged upon the stithies of our 

 revolutionary demi-gods. I propose that the 

 Union of the States ordained by our fathers, 

 and upon which their and our common Father 

 has smiled glory and prosperity, shall, at all 

 hazard and by every power of the Government, 

 be maintained. I propose that the just laws 

 of my country shall be enforced everywhere 

 throughout her borders, and by every constitu- 

 tional means ; and that such additional legisla- 

 tion shall be immediately had as will enable 

 such object to be accomplished. I propose 

 that the property of the Republic which has 

 been unlawfully seized shall be repossessed ; 

 that the civil and military officers of the Gov- 

 ernment, who for the discharge of their duties 

 have been imprisoned or beleaguered, shall im- 

 mediately be succored ; and that the honor of 

 our flag, which has been tarnished, shall be 

 vindicated before the world. I propose that 

 the will of the people of the Union, mighty, 

 majestic, and constitutionally expressed at the 

 national election, shall be respected and obeyed. 

 And above all, sir, do I propose that liberty 

 shall not again be beaten down upon the thresh- 

 old and beside the altars of this her temple. 

 That the free principles which underlie the 

 whole structure of the Republic, for which 

 constitutions were ordained, laws enacted, and 

 the will of the people expressed, shall not again 

 be compelled to pass under the yoke of sla- 

 very." 



Mr. Duell, of New York, also said : " In my 

 judgment, the present is no time for compro- 

 mise. Until the strength of the Government 

 be tested, it is not right, or legal, or politic to 

 consider concessions. It is only when traitors 

 have been reduced to obedience, or the Gov- 

 ernment has proved impotent, that we should 

 be constructing articles of agreement. A com- 

 promise at this time would be the humiliation 

 of one section, loyal to the Union and obedient 

 to the laws made under the Constitution, to 

 another section in array against the Govern- 

 ment of the Union, and defying law, order, jus- 

 tice, and right. My remedy, then, will be 

 found in executing the Constitution as it is, 

 and enforcing the laws of the General Govern- 

 ment. I have no sympathy with any man who 

 repudiates the Constitution of our common 

 country, whether he resides North or South. 



By that Constitution I abide, both in its letter 

 and in its spirit. Standing firmly upon the 

 principles of freedom and the Constitution we 

 shall have no cause for self-reproach, even if 

 civil war should follow." 



Mr. Reynolds, of New York, said : " We are 

 asked to make new laws. I answer, there are 

 too many already. Let the present laws be 

 enforced. Amend the Constitution ? Let the 

 people do it in the regular way, whenever they 

 think it desirable. I shall not object. No, 

 sir ; obey the Constitution, and administer the 

 laws as they are, and all will be well. Stand 

 by the Union of our fathers. Rally under the 

 glorious folds of the Stars and Stripes, AND THE 

 COUNTRY WILL BE SAVED. And for the rest, let 

 us ' trust in God, and keep our powder dry.' " 



In the House the Committee on Military 

 Affairs reported a supplementary bill which 

 proposed to amend the act of 1798, that pro- 

 vides for calling forth the militia to execute 

 the laws of the Union, to suppress insurrection 

 and repel invasion. 



Mr. Stanton, of Ohio, thus explained the 

 supplementary bill : " In my judgment, that 

 law covers the case of an insurrection against 

 the authority of the United States, and author- 

 izes the calling out of the militia for the pur- 

 pose of putting down an insurrection against 

 the authority of the United States. But I find 

 that the late Attorney-General, Mr. Black, has 

 expressed a different opinion to the President 

 of the United States of this section of the law, 

 and holds that it only authorizes the President 

 to call out the militia to aid the officer of the 

 court the marshal in the execution of process 

 directed to him, and to overcome combina- 

 tions against the execution of some particular 

 law, and does not authorize the calling out of 

 the militia for the purpose of putting down a 

 general insurrection against the authority of 

 the United States. In my judgment, the law 

 was intended to go that far ; but in order to 

 remove doubt and ambiguity, and to avoid any 

 obscurity, the Committee on Military Affairs 

 deemed it their duty to report this biD." 



Mr. Sickles, of New York, inquired : u Do I 

 understand that it is one of the premises upon 

 which this bill is founded that there is a gen- 

 eral insurrection against the authority of the 

 United States?" 



Mr. Stanton : " Yes, sir." 



Mr. Sickles: "Then the gentleman differs 

 broadly with the President elect, who says that 

 there is no danger, no trouble, and treats the 

 idea of apprehension with ridicule. There is a 

 great discrepancy here. 



" I will state what I understand to be the 

 present condition of things, and what I under- 

 stand to be the necessity that exists for the pas- 

 sage of such a measure as this. The incoming 

 Administration does not desire to be under the 

 necessity' of running counter to the opinion of 

 the Attorney-General under the present Ad- 

 ministration, and of subjecting itself to the 

 charge of usurpation, by exercising powers the 



