Speech Of Hon George W Julian Of Indiana On The Slavery Question Delivered In The House Of Representatives May 14 1850 Classi

Author : George Washington Julian
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781331211518
Total Pages : 20 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (115 download)

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Download or read book Speech of Hon. Geo; W. Julian, of Indiana written by George Washington Julian and published by . This book was released on 2015-07-12 with total page 20 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from Speech of Hon. Geo; W. Julian, of Indiana: Delivered in the House of Representatives, Tuesday, January 14, 1862 The House being in Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union - Mr. Julian said: Mr. Chairman: Every thinking; man naturally surveys the field of politics from his own peculiar stand-point, and reaches his conclusions by the help of his own methods of thought. Considerable diversities of judgment are therefore inevitable, even among the disciples of the same faith, while uniformity of opinion, however desirable in matters essential, is of far less consequence than perfect freedom of thought. The discovery and practical acceptance of the Truth should be our grand aim; and all harmony among men, secured by the sacrifice of this aim, is at once the sure prophecy and natural parent of discord. Since free thought and its free utterance must be the condition precedent of all progress, it may be safe to affirm that he is a better soldier in the army of reform who conscientiously battles even for false principles, than he who meanly accommodates himself to that which has numbers on its side, through a cowardly fear of dissent and division. I propose, sir, somewhat in the spirit of these observations, to speak of the war in which our country is involved. In the name of a constituency of freemen, I shall say what I believe ought to be said, in the present stage of our national troubles; and I shall do so without favor or fear. This is a war of ideas, not less than of armies, and no servant of the Republic should march with muffled drums against the foe. So far as my own personal or political fortunes are concerned, I shall take no thought for the morrow. This is no time for any public man to confer with flesh and blood. The fabric of free Government, reared by our fathers, is in flames. In the opinion of many, the great Model Republic of the world is in the throes and spasms of death. This is one of the grand judgment-days of history, and whoever believes in the government of the world by a Providence will interpret this tremendous conflict as the voice of Jehovah, calling the nation to account for its sins, and teaching us, through the terrible lesson of civil war, that "the unjust thing shall not prosper." Sir, in a crisis so transcendently appalling as the present, so grandly solemnized by tokens of national retribution, the deepest moral convictions of every man should find a voice, and nothing should be more coveted than perfect self-renunciation and singleness of purpose in the endeavor to save the life of the Government and the liberty of the people. Mr. Chairman, the cause of this gigantic conspiracy against the Constitution and laws is the topic which meets us at the very threshold of any intelligent thought or action on our part. What produced this infernal attempt upon the nations life? What is it that has called into deadly conflict from the walks of peace more than a million of men, brethren and kindred, and the joint heirs of a common heritage of liberty? What power is it that has run through the entire gamut of ordinary villainies, and at last turned national assassin? These questions demand an answer. Shall we postpone it, as some of our loyal men advise us, till peace shall be restored, and the Union re-established? Sir, this would be to affront common sense, and surrender our mightiest weapons to the rebels. The solemn issue of national life or death must, be disposed of upon its merits, and we should bring ourselves face to face with it, and with every question fairly connecting itself with the great controversy. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com