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1 G. W. Dunlap, Speech of Hon. G. W. Dunlap, of Kentucky, on the Cause of the Rebellion, and the Constitutional Power of Congress to Quell It by Emancipating the Slaves 1 (1862)

handle is hein.slavery/spgwdkyrb0001 and id is 1 raw text is: SPEECH OF HON. G. W. DUNLAP, OF KENTUCKY, ON THE CAUSE OF THE REBELLION, AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL POWER OF CONGRESS TO QUELL IT BY EMAN- CIPATING THE SLAVES. DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, JANUARY 31, 1862. The House being in Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, Mr. DUNLAP addressed the Committee as follows: Mr. CHAIRMAN : The custom has long prevailed, I believe, in this body, that when in Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, all matters of general interest, touching the welfare of the nation, were subjects of considera- tion. I should feel that I was trampling upon that long-established usage if I did not in my place to day raise my voice in behalf of that Government which in the past has been my shield and my protection, and my only hope in the fu- ture. In what I say here I know I shall differ from many who have preceded me upon the great topics which now disturb the public mind. My convictions, however, are the result of past thought, and will be presented with a conscious- ness of the rectitude of the motives which impel them. In this perilous strug- gle for a nation's integrity, the patriotic heart should be stimulated by thought, which is the motive power of action, that just conclusions may be formed. I purpose to say to gentlemen who have preceded me, and in the hearing of those who may follow me, that I differ widely with them when they intimate and declare upon this floor that Slavery was the cause of this rebellion. It may be a bold assumption and a bold assertion, but I assume it; and I intend to present my views connected with it for the purpose of showing that I am right, and that, although it may have been one of the ulterior considerations which entered into the bosoms or the hearts of those who did open this rebellious warfare, still I insist it was not the proximate and immediate cause of the rebel- lion. Sir, I attribute it to that ungovernable, uncontrollable, and insatiable thirst for power which has ever stimulated the human heart and guided the action of men throughout this whole country. Never, since the organization of this Government, have we had, until the present incumbenttook his seat, a Pres- ident who either did not spring from a southern State, or from a northern State entertaining southern principles, as a basis of action which governed him in the distribution of power and patronage. During all that time, men from the southern States have occupied high places: in Cabinet councils, in foreign dip- lomacy ; and enjoyed all the rich emoluments of office, as well as northern men, and no complaint was ever uttered. Am I right in this assertion ? Let me re- cite a historic fact, in which you will all agree: early after the organization of the Government of the United States, all that territory northwest of the Ohio river was ceded to and received by the Government as free territory, iu which slavery could not be admitted or recognized. During the continuance of terri- torial pupilage, State after State was admitted into the Union with a constitu- tion republican in form of government, until in 1858 the last, Minnesota, was rcceived.

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