Remarks of Hon. J. E. Bouligny, on the Secession of Louisiana
REMARKS
of
HON. J. E. BOULIGNY,
on the
SECESSION OF LOUISIANA.
DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FEBRUARY 5, 1861.
The Speaker. The Chair asks the permission of the House to give the floor to the gentleman from Louisiana, (Mr. Taylor,) who desires to make a few observations.
No objection was made.
Mr. Taylor announced the secession of the State of Louisiana, and his own withdrawal from the House. He has withheld his remarks for revision.[1]
Mr. Bouligny obtained the floor.
The Speaker. If there is no objection, the gentleman from Louisiana will proceed.
Mr. Bouligny said: I take this occasion to express my regret that I am not able to agree with the honorable Senators from my State,[2] and especially with my colleague (Mr. Taylor) who has just taken his seat, although I entertain the greatest regard for their opinions. In the outset, permit me to say that until a few moments ago, I was in the same condition with my colleague, not having received official information of the passage of the ordinance of secession by the convention of my State. Nor have I received from the Legislature of my State, now in session, any information of the passage by that body of a resolution instructing her Senators, or requesting her Representatives, to withdraw from Congress. For one, although I respect that body, I shall not obey its request. I was not elected by that body, and I have nothing to do with it, or it with me.
In reference to the convention, I will say that I respect that body, as I do the Legislature of my State. Many of its members are my personal and intimate friends; but I think they have shown discourtesy to me when they have not even thought proper to send me a copy of their ordinance of secession; certainly, I shall pay it no attention until it is communicated to me. (Laughter.)
Mr. Speaker, there is another reason which compels me to differ with the Senators and Representatives of my State. I am the only member of Congress from Louisiana who was elected as an American Union man. To those principles I shall stand forever. (Great applause in the galleries.)
Again: when I came here, I took the oath to sustain the Constitution of the United States. What does that mean? Does not the Constitution of the United States mean the Union of the United States? I so understand it; and to that oath I shall adhere firmly to the end. Whenever I am instructed by my immediate constituents, and am requested by them to withdraw from Congress, I shall comply with those instructions as soon as they are received. Then, and not until then, I shall resign; and after resigning my position, I shall yet be a Union man, and stand under the flag of the country which gave me birth. (Great applause in the galleries and on the floor.)
Notes[edit]
- ↑ Rep. Miles Taylor from Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District. Report from the Washington, D.C., Evening Star (February 6, 1861): "Mr. Taylor, of La., in a brief speech reviewed the course of the seceding States, and justified the action of Louisiana. He said that the tide of secession had progressed so far that there was no power in existence that could arrest it. If both Houses of Congress should unanimously pass the propositions of the Committee of Thirty-three, it would have no effect upon the determination of the South. He asserted that the influence of cotton upon the whole civilized world was so great, that any attempt to coerce the South would lessen the supply of cotton, and plunge the whole world in bankruptcy and ruin; and if the Federal Goverment attempted to carry out the policy styled the enorcement of the laws, the whole South would rise up to a man to resist it." (Wikisource contributor note)
- ↑ Sens. Judah P. Benjamin and John Slidell, who both resigned from the U.S. Senate on February 4, 1861. (Wikisource contributor note)
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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