no more infallible than
the rest of us poor mortals; and yet the moment, by death or accident,
he is placed in the executive chair, it would seem as if some Senators
believed him to be endowed with superhuman wisdom, and ought to be
invested with all the powers of this Government; that Congress ought
to get on their knees before him, and take his insults and his
dictation without resentment and without even an attempt to resist.
Some States may send such instrumentalities here, but God knows some
will not; and I pity those that do, for they would hold their freedom
on a very uncertain tenure.

"Some gentlemen may be patient under the charge of treason, perhaps
the more so because treason is becoming popular in this day; but, sir,
I am a little too old-fashioned to be charged by the executive branch
of this Government as a traitor on the floor of Congress, and not
resent it. I do not care whether he be King or President that
insinuates that I am a disunionist or traitor, standing upon the same
infamous platform with the traitors of the South; I will not take it
from any mortal man, high or low, without repelling the charge. If any
man here is tame enough to do it, he is too tame to be the Senator of
a proud-spirited people, conscious of their own freedom. I claim to be
their representative, and they will censure me if they do not like my
doctrine.

"And now, Mr. President, I wish to make an appeal to those great,
patriotic statesmen on this floor, who, by their love of principle, by
their unswerving honesty, unseduced by the blandishments of executive
power, unawed by threats of violence, stand here to defend the rights
of the people upon this floor, and will stand here forever. I say to
you Senators, we, the majority who are stigmatized as traitors, are
the only barrier to-day between this nation and anarchy and despotism.
If we give way, the hope of this nation is lost by the recreancy--yea,
sir, I will say the treachery--of a man who betrayed our confidence,
got into power, and has gone into the camp of the enemy, and joined
those who never breathed a breath of principle in common with us."

Mr. Lane replied: "I stated that the party to which I belong nominated
the present President of the United States and elected him, and that
as long as he fought within our lines and remained in our party, I
would endeavor to defend him upon this floor against all unjust
assaults. After making that statement, the Senator from O