do it; I have
stated them freely and frankly, and, as a matter of course, I expect
to abide the consequences. I know that it has sometimes been said to
me, by those, too, in whom I would have confidence, that for me, under
circumstances like these, not to follow the instructions of the
Legislature of my State, would be to terminate my political life. Sir,
be it so. I never held or aspired to any other office politically than
the one I now hold; and God knows, if I know my own heart, if I can
see this Union restored after this gigantic war which has put down the
rebellion, and to which I have lent my support, I shall be satisfied.
I do not desire to remain in political life beyond that hour. There is
nothing in that which will have the slightest influence whatever upon
me. The duty which I owe to myself, the duty which I owe to the
country, the duty which I owe to the union of these States, and the
preservation of the rights of the States, and the duty which I owe to
the great Republican party, which I would still desire to save,
prompts me to pursue the course which I now do."

Mr. Garrett Davis, of Kentucky, addressed the Senate in a long speech,
of which the following is the closing paragraph: "Public justice is
often slow, but generally sure. Think you that the people will look on
with folded arms and stolid indifference and see you subvert their
Constitution and liberties, and on their ruins erect a grinding
despotism. No; erelong they will rise up with earthquake force and
fling you from power and place. I commend to your serious meditation
these words: 'Go tell Sylla that you saw Caius Marius sitting upon the
ruins of Carthage!'"

Mr. Saulsbury thought a revolution would result from the passage of
this bill: "In my judgment the passage of this bill is the
inauguration of revolution--bloodless, as yet, but the attempt to
execute it by the machinery and in the mode provided in the bill will
lead to revolution in blood. It is well that the American people
should take warning in time and set their house in order, but it is
utterly impossible that the people of this country will patiently
entertain and submit to this great wrong. I do not say this because I
want a revolution; Heaven knows we have had enough of bloodshed; we
have had enough of strife; there has been enough of mourning in every
household; there are too many new-made graves on which the grass has
not yet grown for any one to wish to see the renewal of