.::^^^><^<^^^ 6->\y, O ^. Class. ^ &na JiV^ S I^ E E C H / OF vw^ HON. JOHN B. HU81 O IT C L ^\. li li IC , DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRI^SENTATIVES OF KENTUCKY, FEBRUARY 11, 1863. ON THE REPORT OF THE Cf^MMITTEE ON FEDERAL RELATIONS, AND THE AMENDMENTS THERETO. FRANKFORT, KENTl'CKV : PRINTED AT THE COMM(_).\ WEA LTIT OFFlCJv WM. E. HUGHES STATE PRINTER. 18 6 :j . ^^\ one or another direction just as the practice of such familiarity is indulged and continuevel doctrine tliat any State has such a right wlien she c ■mes io act in concert with oihers in reference to whatever concerns tlw wiioh^ In such cases, it is the plainest dictate of common sense that whuiCvep affects the whole should be regulated by the mutual consent of ali, and not by the ('iscietion of each." Article 0, seition 2, United States Constitution, declares: " Thig Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be m;ide in fiursuance thereof, and all treaties made under tlie authori!\ oi' v.ie United States, shall be the supreme law of the land, anything in ilie laws or Constitution of any State to the contrary notwithstanding." Justice Story, upon the Supreme Court bench said : "The C*)nMitu- tion of the Unitecl States was established, not by the States in their sovereign capjicity. but emphatically, as the preamble of the Cmstitu- tion declares, by the people of the United States." Chief Justice AJarshall said : " The Constitution and laws of a Suite, so lar as they are repugnant to the Constitution and laws of the i nited States, are a!)solutely void. They are members of one great empire." Daniel Webster, in his leply to Hayne, said : " It is. sir, the people's Constitution, the peop(de's Government, made lor the peo[)le, made by the people, and answerable to the people. The people oi the United Stat(?s have declared that it shall be the sitpreme law." This is enough from authority, and history, and :^eui*c, to e-tH!>lish the fact of a Nati(»nal Governtnent; a mighty fact, and a miiiiity and magnificent system of government, commamiing our allegi;inc<' arsd deserving our love Secession, then, the miserabbi teaching of" Siaies Rights," as engendered and put I'orth by the South Carolina schotd, has no warrant in the Constitution, none in authority, none in states- manship, f)ut is in palpable violation of all; is a [)r')lilic source t)t our civil troubles; is, in i'ncl, t/ cason ; and its author.s, its aiders and abet- ters are the propagaridists of treason. Tlie mode of interpretation of this written Government, thus adopt- ed and ratified by the peo|)le to effect its enil.-<, is higlily important. This Government is not vested with, and can e.^ceicise no poaer. liiit is not delegatid to it by the CiDistihUinn. itself. Tliis is an iinportmt and vital j)rinciple, and ii arises out of the nature of tfie instruiiient as it 6 was first framed and adopted. The amendments to the Constitution most clearly develop this principle: "The eiiasneration, in the Consti- tution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to d(-'ny and destro^?^ others retained by the people." "The powers not iich:i!;(itcd to the United States, nor prohibited by it to the States, are re.f the dearest rights and immunities of liber- ty. The p()\,vers exercised are usurpations. What is throperty hy an implied consti- tutional right in him, as Comaian ler-in-Chief, becau-e, in his opinion, he may thereby 'best subdue the enemy," he may, with equal season, *foi- the same end, disregard every constitutional restriction upon him, oi-^ he may exercise any power not delegated to him, and may thus set aside tlie entire Constitution and a lopf despotic rule. Every reserved right of the States, every reserved riglit of the people, could he crush- ed beneath his loot at his autocratic will. Me extends this sweepings power over extensive districts, as a /cffislaloi\ not for a specific opeifition oi occasion, but without limit as to time. It is, in Ibrm and suL)ssHnce, a l(/.:o, and a terribh^ one too. Under his assuaiption, landrf, personal- ty, and all the products oi" labor and toil, ir»ay.be swept away tVom their owners by an imperial tiku.sc. 'J'he question is notatfected by the fact that the States designated in the proclau»;ition, or the gr(?ater part of the citizi^ns thereof, a -e in open rci)el!ion against the National Government. These rebellious States are, in a legal sense, still members of the Union, and under the right- iul authority of the Government. The ordinances of secession are null and void. This is the fotmdaiion of prosecuting a war to ejiforce the laws over them, and to bring them back to their allegiance In its ef- fects it operates alike upon the h^yal and disloyal, U()on the property of the woman and cliild, and those under any other disability. 10 But, iir, let us notice the proclamation of the 24th of September, and the orders to carry it into execution. It is not necc^^sary for niy purposes to enter u{)on the much-discussed question, whether the power to suspend the " writ of liobcas corpus'^ is conferred on the President or Congress. •! will, however, sny that, in my opinion, Conlicy of th;it party o{' p ditical u') >■ li/.ioni.^/H, who openly declare, •■ Voho iy pretends that this act (pro.da- mnrioa) i- constitutional, and no!) >dv cares wliether it is or not." Elevens tlie leader in the !owni^ts '-sieUen" .'U tal!\ an I efloi-ts to restore the Government as it was This faction, that see.ns To have temporary control of the (iovernment, liavi- aiisen tVo n false philosophy. As the lalse nnd subtle teac-hiiiiTs of the SouMi C/arolina school, in regard to the struc- ture and interpretations of our foi-m of g vernment, stimulated by comtnercial considerations, eiiienlered .scrcssinii and rebellion, ^o the ps-.'Vfln political philo.-ophv of .\oithern moralists evolved politi.-al abolilitmi -la They i-ejeeted mor.il eli'oi-fs u|)on individual minds; they rejected reason and truth, and the relorming process of Christianity. They entered the |)o!iiica! aiena, and have attempted, by politieal agencies, lo reforoi and reconstru<'t society upon a moral ba-is. ia unison with the speculaiive conceits of an undelined and undefinable general hu. iiiinihiriiinisin. 'i'liey would lesiore society, and bring it up to their stand ird of Wild imaginings, by first destroying it They put 7/r//Mrt' above rrrc/t/fion, and above the revealed system of grace. 'J'hey cast a-ide constitutions, and even the Bible itself, and bringdown God to their standard ol what He should be. They make a man Gnd, and \\K>\ .\. Gal iiKiii riiev overleap the boundaries of Church and State, and contuse I'le !ej,itiu(ate operations of political and moral agenciea. IB ]r.f]Mmftv v< ai? of i;i!r(|iial((! pro,- p^'iity . of w iiich lh«y anfl their fathers were hoiimiftd rei ipieiits. tiiey have established thf '• hjohf")- law" as the idol of their devotion, and, r< ekle^ss. drive the ear of llieir Jtisrei nant cmshinjriy c-ver tlie :io\ ermrient and liberties i>f this jjreat people. The bad tea(diini;;il and usurping- edicts. A craz'-d ami rec! posterity. Are we to cease to strive, for our country's safety because the President and Conj^ress. for the time bcimr^ have fallen into feaiful errors? No sir. Let us by all constitutional means, {1 amvscl iio rcx'ohiliniiiirij (iction.) earnestly stiive to correct the errors, and remove the had. faithless, trust* es fri>rn their places of pow- er. "'Let the people but be right, and no President can long be wrong. Nor can he effect any fatal mi>chief if he should he." The popular mind, once instructed, will arouse itselCto the great task before it. and it is equal to the achievement, if sense and virtue enough remain for self government. It will reju-h the evil thr ugh the ballot-bo.x, and more immediately through the mighty j)o\\g one united and mighty utter- ance from hundreds of thousands of conservative freemen, coming up to the guilty oflicials, like the 'sound ol many waters," it mu-^t be heard aiul lieeded. This voice has spoken, is speaking. Here is hope. The dark clou?, when one*' the sentiment f)t' the country demands it. And this will occur when sense and nnson attain the ascendant. It may be that hmger suffering and more severe^ punishment must, be endm-ed under the dispensation (d" that \il-wise and superintenfiing Provklenee, whose hand is up(>n us: His ends will be accomplished in Hiis own g;f)()d time. The fui'nalave law. I would leave no grol!tical, and moral power •)f the people — will come into it, form or re-form their Government, atid carry it on successfully. Soon the recvsanls \\\\\ seek admission, and be cheerfully received. Thus a last- ing, honorable peace will be st cured, healing the sorrow,- of tb^'. past, and sj)reading one universal smile of joy over the face of the whole land It is said th^t it cannot now be regularly obtained. t.er ir then come irregularly. W it but have p^.pular powei- to sanction it, its i:ieg- ular action will soon I'orce regularity, and put into form and operative substance its decisions and determinations. Without populai sanc- tion it tan never exist, and that is an end of the schem(\ Mr. chairman, as i»n eflicierit adjunct to a iXationai (Convention, and its speedy action. I lavor what is styled in one of the resolutions under consideration, " a iVJississip|)i Valley State Conference." That is. the States ol the Mississippi valley, as soon as practicable, and as many of them as possible, hold a convention of " advice and consultation," with a view to deterudne what is best to be d(me for the *' pi esei vation of the whole Government, and the further puip<)>e ot maintaining their integrity and union." Sir, there is no Hartford conventionism in 1" this. There i:^ no purpose to form " treaties or alliances" in deroga- tion of constitutional prohibition. But, sir, the great States lyin.^: Mathin the water-shed of the Apalachian chain on the East, and the ston}' mountains on the West, cannot be cut otf from the free naviga- tion of the " Father of Waters." The}- canpot be divided by an east and M'^est line. The finger of nature has drawn no such line. The teeming and increasing millions of fee white men, on its upper waters, of that race of men who love freedom and prosperity, will never consent that the mouths of the .Mississipr)i shall l)e closed against them by import or export duties, or in any otiier way. They will have its navigation as open to their commerc!\ and as free as its mighty waters in their resistless course to the Gulf They have a title to it by purchase and contract. They have a title to it as part of one Government. They have a title to it from the decree of nature itself None of these claims will be abandoned. The people on its lower waters need the prod ctions of those on its upper waters, as much as the latter do those of the former ; so that, in the division of labor, in the exchange of products best adapted to each region, in mutual dependence on each other, the prosperity, happiness and glory of all will be advanced and promoted. These considerations bind them peculiarly together, and their advice and counsel, coming from a convention for that purpose, would be im- posing. If the States of the great valley determine to inaugurate a National Convention, it would be an accomplished fact. Now, Mr. chairman, in the views I have thought proper to pre- sent in this imperfect discussion, is there anything to give aid and comfort to the wicked rebellion that is upon us? God forbid that any one should entertain such a thought ! There can be nothing to en- # courage or strengthen the elements of opposition to our Government, in or out of this House, unless truth can promote and encourage error. Condemnation of the bad, dangerous, acts of the Administration is not condemnation of that Government itself, but rather true support of it. Tame submission to usurpation is encouragement to tyranny. The remedies I have suggested, and briefly discussed, are constitution- al and peaceful. They may appear slow to a suffering people, but they will be sure to the accomplishment of the end. '* Lawless and usconstitutional remedies would prove worse than the disease." There is no remedy in the rebellion. I have been, and shall continue to be, its firm and uncompromising foe. I regard it as the fruitful source of all our political woes. Let not those in our midst who favor it, and sym- pathize with it, (I wish I could say there were none such,) take com- fort or heart from honest and fearless opposition to a bad Administra- tion. It does not lie in their mouths to complain of an action of a Government they are plotting and striving to overthrow. None of the Union sentiment here or of the State, however we may differ as to the mode of correcting the evil courses of the men in temporary power, will ever give the shadow of countenance to their schemes. This rebellion without cause, springing from the wicked ambition of a band of conspirators for supposed commercial advantages, founded upon the idea that " cotton is king," seized hold of the prerext that the social institution of slavery was in danger, when they knew it was not, be- 18 cause t.liry could luore readily and surt^Iy upon that subject, and frotn its connections and character and environments, past and present, ex- cite the storm of [)asr!ion requisite to effect their wicked purpose. They knew that by this means they would have thp potent aid of fa- natical abolitionists, and become with them co-workers in disunion. Kentucky cannot tVaternize or compromise with Disuniojiisls ov with treason. This Southern concern, in its organization, is built upon a sandy foundation, that could not, if established, resist the storms of its own ne- cessary operations. The fatal heresy of State secession is fundamental in its organism. And, too, in this age, pa.st the middle of the nineteenth century, when physical improvements and the enterprise of commerce have almost made a sniidarily of the sentiments of nations and of peo- ples to propose as a chief corner-stone in their fabric of confederacy \he cxtensvin and propngatioa of African slavery, is a defiance of the w< rid's opinions and a stupendous falacy. Has the rebellion done any thing in its mad career to commend it to the lovers of free government? Tiv conuiieuvl it to Kentucky? Jt began in robbery. By fraud and force it codipelled States against the will of a majority of their people, to secede and join in with them It has confiscated the debts, in their limit^!, due to citizens of other States. It has confiscated the property of citizens of the loyal States, found in their reach. It has confisca- ted the estate of its own citizens, who de.-^iied to stand by the old flag and the government ol their fathers. It has incarcerated non-combat- ant citizens of loyal S ates in loathsome dungeons, without charges preferred, and without cause. It has condemned to ignominious death its citizens without civil trial, and l)y the edict of ii-responsible military ti'ibunal, and that, too, without notice of even that kind of trinl. It spurns the privileges of the " writ of habeas corpus.^'' it has seized and destroyed tlie private property of its people without compensation. It has filled the ranks of its armies by a ruthless conscription. It has forced the citizen into armed rebellion against the government he loved. It claims absolute despotic power over the persons and prop- erty of their dominion for its own uses. It has armed the savage Indian, antl used tlie slave in its war against the Federal Government. •' Oh! my soul, come not thou into their secret !" But, sir, this rebellion has invaded Kentucky, and has attempted at whatever cost of blood and treasure, to subjugate and drag us out, against the oft lepeated opinions of the people, into fellowship with them. They have occupied parts of our teriitory ; seized the arms and munitions of war of the State ; set up a provisional government over the State, and inaugurated a Governor, without the pretext of right; in hostility to the constituted authorities; levied taxes, seized her revenues; robb( d her officers, her banks, her citizens ; murdered and pillaged her people; bu; nt their towns, and hamlets, and homes; destroyed rail- roads and public impiovements, even in wantoness, and swept general desolation, like a prairie-lire of the west, ovei larg • tr£icts of fertile tin ituiv. Kentucky has no fellowship with such a despotism, and "will only submit to it when sheljas no power to resist it." Who, then, would encourage these things? Who would invite back the invading forces of Bragg and Smith and Marshall ? He that would do so, let him go view the desolation.'-j of Tennessee, from the 19 line of Kentucky to its southern boundaries. Let him go view the desert waste, the gloomy destruction, over the fairest parts of poor old Virginia — over old Fauquier, sir, (pointing to Hon. M. P. Marshall, who sat before him,) where sleep the distinguished and honored dead of your long line of ancestry. All the love^ness of her classic valleys, and all the treasures and the granduer of her great old hills, are tram- pled beneath the destroying tread of contending hosts. Is it to such a condition he would bring the fair fields of my own native Kentucky? Every wo "shot from malignant stars to earth" would follow such an invasion. Our borders would hecome the fit habitation for owls andbats, the coverts and the dens for wild beast, and their dreary cries would be heard as lonesomely desolate as "the wolt^'s long howl from Onalaska'a sliore." Sir, this destiny is preparing for us. If Kentucky were this day united; if there were no persons in our midst ardently desiring the success of this rebellion, and whose faces grow brighter w^hen the invaders come ; if, instead of preliminary meetings and organizations of what they call the Democratic 'party, (I fear more for the sake of party success, if nothing worse, than with any higher views, we could have their harmonious co-operation with all Uaiofi men to save our bleeding country, we would not again be seriously invaded. The aid this re- bellion may jastly expect from sympathizers and abetters now in our midst, who, iVom the wise policy pursued by the Union party, enjoy in peace the privileges and protection of a benificent Government they seek to overthrow, does more, and will do more, to bring red-handed war again upon us th;ui all other causes. We would keep off these horrors. Tliry would bring them, in revengeful wrath, upon us. Kentucky knows her position. She is not to be forced by the irrita- tions, and goadings, and usurpations of abolitionism into the rebellion of the South. " One rebellion cannot drive us into another." We may be placed between the upper and nether millstones, and ground to dust, hut we will not be drawn from our firm foundation of truth and constitutional liberty. Kentucky's loyalty has been sneered at and contemned in high places. Hei^ past, at least, in this regard, is secure. Her acts speak aloud. The valor of her soldiery at Wild Cat, Mill Spring, Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Murfreesboro', and other fought- en fields, attest her high position. One-half of her military power is in the field for the cause of the country, enduring the fatigues of the march, the tedious routine and exposures of the camp, the sad horrors of the hospital, and the peiils of battle. Our whole State is clad in mourning, and the wail of sorrow comes up from tens of thousands of ^'trickt!n heaits, and thousands of desolate homes. Kentucky spurns these mean and contemptible aspersions. She at least will honor her " noble brave." They that perish in the strife she will not deem as dead, but as only " exchanging their country's arms for their country's hearts." Sir, uix-iinity :i:i 1 hT,-n):iy of a^tioi is of t!i3 utn^st importance in our deliverance on the questions before us. We should, in a spirit of p itriotii: c ncession, endeavor to givw an united utterance. If we sprak with a divitled voice, much of its potency, much of its legiti- mate effect will be lost. I beg for this spirit of harmony. I shall give my vot^j sir, to the report of the majority of the committee, because it 20 embodies more of the substance of what I deem proper to sav, and more of the proper manner of doing it, than any other proposition be- fore us. It is generally correct in principle, condensed in matter, and imposing in form. I thank the committee for their indulgent at- tention, n *^''^