Speech of Hon. James Dixon, of Conn., Delivered in the Senate of the United States, Wednesday, June 25, 1862, on His Resolution Respecting the Legal Effect of Acts or Ordinances of Secession (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1868 Excerpt: ...the rebellious territory I have no difficulty. I believe neither in the doctrine of State rights nor State suicide. A loyal citizen of this Government cannot have his rights taken from him by the act of his. neighbors. The result of their action may deprive him of the means of asserting and exercising them, but they exist in him legally unimpaired. And a man who repudiates his duties to this Government can, in my opinion, claim nothing from it. The doctrine that a State can commit political suicide is completely answered. by that provision of the Constitution which says that the 'United.Slates shall guaranty to every State in this Union a republican form of government." It is made our duty to preserve what a majority of the cit'zens of a State might seek to destroy, the integrity of the form of the Slate government; and so long as one man within its limits stands by his allegiance and defies the rule of rebellion, he has a right to claim from this Government the enforcement of the covenant. Entertaining these views, I have no hesitation in indorsing the plan of the President for restoring the State governments. Jt looks to their preservation instead of annihilation, and presents a practical plan by which the constitutional guarantee can be made effective. The preliminary oath required seems to me to be without objection. The complaint that it is an imputation upou the loyalty of a faithful citizen seems frivolous. As well might a man claim that "to require an oath to speak the truth as a prerequisite to delivering testimony in a court of justice was an impeachment of his veracity. This tenderness about taking extra-constitutional oaths has its origin in a sympathy for traitors which I think is too apparent to be misunderstood. But our friends on t...