Our Country Before Party

6 guage, and such as to command the attention of all loyal men. Now the time to which I refer was when Thomas Corwin was chairman of a meeting in this city, called when the Southern States were about going out of the Union, and when, perhaps, some of them had gone out, to see if we could not unite on the proposition that secession was rebellion, and that rebellion must be crushed; and to see if all parties would not unite for that purpose. We met at the room of Mr. Pugh. The Ohio delegation was present. The Ohio delegation in this House, all, did agree on that proposition, with the exception of my colleague, [Mr. Vallandigham.] I cannot be mistaken about this. It was talked over at the time, and since, between members; and I remember very well the manly position of Mr. Howard, of Ohio on the subject. I remember well, that he gave all men to understand that troops would be marched anywhere through Ohio, to put down a rebellion, if it became necessary. Mr. V allandigham, He never said any such thing. It is a downright falsehood. Mr. Slake. You can call it what you please. I let it go to the country with the evidence I have given. Your denial and my statement may go for what they are worth. Mr. Vallandigham. Very well; they may. Mr. Blake. It does not stand on my statement alone. It is in consistency with the conduct of my colleague ever since the war commenced. It stands on record evidence of men who have ears to hear, and who were present on that occasion as well as myseltj and who did hear, and they do confirm the statement I have made. I am very willing the country should decide who has told the falsehood. I say my colleague [Mr. Vallandigham] did .say, at the meeting referred to, substantially what the Hon. T. C. Theaker declares he said, and 1 believe he made use of that very language. Mr. Theaker is well sustained by several other members of Congress who were present. Some of my colleagues say they did not hear the language said to have been used by the gentleman, I am not surprised that all present did not hear it, for there was much “noise and confusion” there about that time. Sir, the fact that some gentlemen did not hear it, and say they did not, can in no way invalidate the testimony of those who did hear it, and say they did. Mr. Pendleton. If my colleague will allow me a moment, I desire to say this. I was present at the meeting of the Ohio delegation referred to by my colleague. I recollect very well what transpired there. The scene that occurred, I am sure, will never be foi gotten by any of us that were present. I desire now to say, once for aofthat f believe I heard every word whH wa» spoken during the whole of that meetmg. 1 heard the speech of my colieague, [Mr. Vallandigham,] from beginning to end, and I did not hear and I do not believe ihat there was uttered any such language as has been here to night, and repeatedly heretofore, attributed to my colleague, [Mr. Vallandigham. j Mr. Hlake. I appeal to my colleague, [Mr. Ashley,] who was present, and there were others present,'but who are absent from the Hous- at this time, I will furnish their statement to the reporter. • Mr. Ashley. I was present, sir, at that meeting. The occurrences of that uigQt are fresh in my memory. During the evening the con-

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