8 and no man on the floor then denied it. Mr. Vallandigham, The same version was quoted in a speech of Mr. Edgerton in this House, and was denied at the time. I denied it in a card soon after it was first stated, eighteen months ago. Mr. Diven. Will the gentleman allow me to ask him a question? Mr. Blake. This is purely an Ohio matter, I hope the gentleman will not interfere in it. Mr. Diven. I merely wanted to ask a single question. Mr. Blake. Very well, I yield to the gentleman. Mr. Diven. The question I proposed to ask of some member of the Ohio delegation who was present at this meeting is, what time in the evening it was ? (Laughter.) Mr. Blake. It was early in the evening I assure the gentleman. As I said before, I have no question of veracity with any other eolleagues upon this point. I did not kown that it was a matter of controversy; I never heard it questioned. I wish to say that my memory upon this subject I think cannot be at fault; but at the same time I do not wish to charge as treacherous the memory of any other gentleman. I am confident of the accuracy of my recollection because of other circumstances in connexion with it which are fresh in my mind. I remember the Hon. Mr. Theaker, whose letter has been read at the clerk’s desk, had, standing in the corner of the room,, a eane, and when my colleague made the remark to which I have re- fered, Mr. Theaker started to get his cane, and said: “I will march over your dead body now, if necessary.” I must believe the statement to be true, I cannot doubt the word of the Hon. T. C. Theaker and the other members who corroborate him. Upon this point, however, my colleague is entitled to his denial, and I give him the benefit -of it for I have no desire to do him any injustice. Again: I find in the Charleston Mercury, a rebel organ of the South, the following: [Correspondence of the Charleston Mercury.] “Richmond, January 26. “ Yesterday a New-Yorker, who left Washington last Friday, arrived here and sought an interview with the President He was well accredited by letters to prominent southern gentlemen. He says the war cannot last ninety days; that the Yankee finances are in an inextricable confusion; the soldiers in all their armies mutinous, and only waiting to be paid off to disband. Then, says he, will come th® hanging of the Lincolnites—and there will be a clean sweep. This, like other such statements, should but make us more vigorous in pushing on the war. You may rest assured there is something in the story about im- f ortant matters in secret session, which I have been repeating from day to day. t is a treaty, or a loan, or both, with France.” Sir, this is the way and manner the rebels are sustained in their efforts to destroy the lives of our gallant men, and encouraged to resist the authority of the Constitution and the enforcement of the laws. And yet, with these facts before us, we hear men complaining arrests ! Sir, I complain that we have not had more of them. Sir, the men who are thus aiding the rebels, ought not only to be arrested; they ought to besliot. But not only has my* colleague been consistent in his sympathy for the-rebels, and his opposition to every measure to put down the rebellion and maintain the Constitution, but he has also been consistent in his abuse of New England and his threats of a western confederacy.
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