7 versation became somewhat excite^. If I do not mistake, the then Senator from Ohio [Mr. Pugh] remarked, and directed his remarks to • me, smiting upon his breast and saying, that we would have to march over his dead body before we could march an army into the South to coerce her. I replied'that we would march over it if it was necessary. He said he could raise Irishmen enough in my district to put me down. And I understood my colleague from the Dayton district [Mr. Vallandigham,] to approve and endorse this sentiment, and to say that we would have to march over the Democrats of the Miami district also, before we should be permitted to invade sovereign States for the purpose of coercing them. Mr. Vallandigham. So it was Mr. Pugh, then, who made the remark, was it? Mr. Cox. Mr. Speaker, I think there is not a member of this delegation who has a more distinct recollection of what occurred at that meeting than myself. It was on the 18th of December, 1860. I have some memoranda about it by which I am enabled to refresh my recollection. . I recollect very well, and I have recurred to it since 1 have been here, that we were talking over some propositions by which we were of opinion that, through the action of Congress, we could close up these difficulties with the South without war. That was the way in which this conversation commenced. I myself offered a resolution which was not agreed to at that meeting. The gentleman says that we were all agreed on one policy. Mr. Blake. Except one member of the House, my colleague [Mr. Vallandigham,] and one member of the Senate, [Mr. Pugh,] to the proposition that secession was rebellion, and the rebellion must be crushed out. Mr. Cox. Now, sir, I have here a resolution which I offered in that meeting, and which was rejected by the Republicans who were there. I have that resolution here now in the very language in which it was offered. I wrote in pencil at the kmc and I have preserved it thinking it might possibly be of some sort of use as a historical thing. Here it is: Resolved, That the Representatives of Ohio request.the members of the Ohio Legislature, to abrogate all laws in conflict with the Constitution of the United States, for the return of fugitives from justice, and to vote down all pending laws to impede the execution of the fugitive slave law. Well sir, one thing led to another in that discussion, I may not recollect everything that took place, but I certainly remember no remark of my colleague from the Dayton district of the tenor of that reported by my colleague over the way, [Mr. Blake.] I remember distinctly that a member of Congress from Ohio [Mr. Howard] declared something about being willing to shoulder his musket and go to war, as he has since gone to the war, but I remember nothing of the kind in reference to my colleague [Mr. Vallandigham,] such as my other colleague imputes to him. Mr. Blake. Of course I can have no controversy in respect to this question of veracity with my other colleagues from Ohio. The version I have quoted from, has been published two years and I have never heard it conti overted until now. Mr. Cox. It was denied at the time. Mr. Blake. I was not aware of it. I was present when my coleague [Mr. Edgerton] made his speech last session in this House,
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