tigue the Convention, I shall feel little con-
cern about becoming tired myself, because
this is the afternoon rather than the forenoon
of the day. [Laughter.]
And here permit me to say that I have
never listened to a discussion with which I
have been more pleased, not only as to the
matter, but as to the manner of its delivery;
and the courteous, kind and gentlemanly
bearing of all the speakers towards each
other and towards the House generally. And
being unaccustomed myself to speaking, I
have some fears that I may unintentionally
transgress the rule and make an exception to
the generally courteous and gentlemanly be-
havior of members here. [Laughter.] And I
disavow in advance any intention to give of-
fence, at the same time that I think it is
quite likely I shall deliver myself of some
ideas which may not be wholly palatable to
all, and in a manner rather uncouth.
Though I was the author of the hour rule
under which we are now operating, I did not
offer it with any disposition to limit debate
or to stifle the freest latitude of discussion.
But knowing that there were a great many
persons to speak, and that time has a limit, I
thought it. proper to limit speeches to an
hour in length, supposing that was time
enough for a man to speak who had anything
to say; and that if he bad nothing to say
he ought to get done in an hour. And I
was not at all concerned whether the oppo-
nents of this article monopolized all the time
or whether it was divided with those who
think as I do; for I think they will live to
see the time when they will regret that their
names go down to posterity connected with
such heresies as they have uttered here. And
they have more to suffer—for they have made
longer speeches and I believe more of them
than have come from our side—they will
have more to suffer in the estimation of those
who may read them hereafter, than we will
who have said less.
And if the time ever comes when my hon-
orable friend from Howard (Mr. Sands) shall
get his philosophical and inoral lever erected,
[laughter,] I hope he will attach it not to the
doctrines which have been uttered here, that
he may by no possibility raise them. The
doctrines themselves are bound downwards;
[renewed Laughter] they belong to a different
sphere. The tragical operations of those doc-
trines sent the first colony to that region.
[Laughter and applause.] But in mercy to
the gentlemen who have advocated those doc-
trines here, I would like the lever to be at-
tached to them, in order to detach them from
the doctrines that are tending downwards;
these no philosophical or other lever can ever
raise, and which will inevitably carry their
authors with them if they da not get loose
from them.
Mr. President, all this lengthy labored dis-
cussion to which we have listened on that |
side of the question, abounding as the speeches
did in philippics of the most severe and bit-
ter character, in denunciations the most
sweeping against the administration gener-
ally, all these speeches had one distinguishing
feature. I will say here that they manifested
a great deal of ability, a great deal of re-
search, and as literary, and historical, and
legal efforts, they were really creditable.
But the same remark will apply to them all
—there was not a particle of soul in them;
there was not a single patriotic aspiration;
there was not a single wish or preference ex-
pressed by which the stranger listening to
them could have told whether the speakers
belonged to the Federal Government or to
the Rebel Government. The gentleman from
Prince George's (Mr. Clarke) who first spoke,
said that the question had been submitted to
the arbitrament of the sword, and there he
would let it be. But be never manifested
the least concern as to which way that decis-
ion terminated, whether in favor of the Gov-
ernment of his country or in favor of those
who are trying to break it up. With as
much indifference as a Frenchman or an
Englishman could have stated it, he said it
had been submitted to the arbitrament of the
sword, and there let it be. I could not help
thinking of some lines written by the old
poet:
" Breathes there a man with soul so dead,
Who never to himself has said,
This is my own, my native land?
If such there breathe, go mark him well;
For him no minstrel rapture swell ;
High though his title, proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim,
In spite of all his power and pelf,
The wretch concentered all in self
Living shall forfeit fair renown,
And doubly dying shall go down
To the vile dust from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonored and unsung."
It was painful to notice the total absence
of any patriotic emotion, any desire for the
success of the arms of the Government over
the traitorous horde that is trying to destroy
it. There was not one word of cheer for the
brave men who are periling their lives in
efforts to uphold the glorious old flag of our
country; nor one word of condemnation or
rebuke of the godless crew that inaugurated
this rebellion to break up this Government.
With the most utter indifference the gentle-
man said it had been submitted to the arbi-
trament of the sword, and there let it remain.
Another very remarkable feature which
struck me in listening to this discussion, long
and able as it was, was the diversity of opin-
ion expressed by the opposition. Now, truth
is simple and always consistent with itself—
and if no other proof was presented of the
utter absurdity and falsity of the propositions
advanced here, their inconsistency with them- |
