Mr. BINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, it was to me an agreeable surprise to hear the words of the honorable Gentfrom Indiana [Mr. Voon arms] in general commendation of the POTUS I cannot forget that, when the eatbody of loyal free men who dwell between these oceans were engaged in a fierce struggle for the life of the Republic with an nrme conspiracy and revolt, occupying and claiming to hold an area of territory equal in extent to half the continent of Europe, they received no earnest support from the gentleman or his party and when the same loyal people, by the sacrifice of blood, sought to sustain all patriotic citizens then found anywhere within the limits of these insurgent States, of whom and m Johnson was one, in their bones endeavors to callback those people from their madness and their crime, nei ther that loyal people, nor those patriotic citizens of rebel States, received an efficient support at the hands either of the gent eman or of the party with which he was associated. I have not forgotten that the gentleman who attempts this day to nrraign the patriotic party of the Union, the party of the constitution, the party of law, the party of protection to each loyal citizen against the combined power of all, was accustomed, in his place here, to join with others of his party in the cry, “You cannot save the Government by arms 1” I have not forgotten, sir, that when this terrible, and, as the gentleman has well said, unparalleled and unmatched conflict between the friends of the Union and the enemies of the Union was shaking both hemispheres, covering the whole heavens with darkness, and filling the liabitations of the people with lamentation and death, the gentleman was among that party of supporters of the conspiracy who assembled at Chicago and declared the war for the Union a failure. Now, sir, I would have remained silent, in view of all the thoughtful and well oonsidered words that the gentleman has seen fit this day to utter in commendation of the President, but for the fact that he has chosen to attempt to indoctrinate this House and the country with the same fell spirit of his party which in the past originated rebellion, and will in the future, if followed, renew and peretuate rebellion. The gentlemans position ere cannot be mistaken. His argument is elaborate; it is written word for word and letter for letter; it is well considered; but he will excuse me for saying here that it is with me a conviction as strong as knowledge that the proposition upon which the whole structure of his argument rests is the position that was assumed from 1st to last by every man who entered into the conspiracy against the nation, or who aided it; and if it be acted upon new by the Representatives of the people, it must result only in perpetuating that conspiracy to the destruction of the constitution. Whatis the position that is assumed and enun ciated here today with so much earnestness, and I may say lausibility, by the Gentfrom Indiana? tis simplythis“once a State, always a State, ” with althe powers and lights of a State within the Union. If I misconceive in any way the gentlemans actual position, as announced in his speech, I will be eatly obliged to him if he will correct me. Once a State, always a State, with all the rights of a State, with the right of full apd equal Representation, with the right of local legislation.” This seems to bet e gentlemans statement, or the effect of it. Wherein doesitdiffer from the position that was assumed at the very commencement of this reatstruggle, which has happily, thus far, ends so well. o thanks to the gentleman or his party that it has ended so well, but thanks only to God, who has in His keepin the destiny of nations, to the loyal people, and to that grand, heroic army of the Union that stood these 4 years past as a wall of fire between us and wars desolation, making even death itself beautiful by the sacrifice of themselves for their country.