raordinary bill."

He viewed with horror the slavery which the head of the War Department
could impose upon the people by virtue of the provisions of this bill.
"He is to send his military satraps," said Mr. Marshall, "into every
county and district of these States; and they may enslave and put down
the entire white people of the country by virtue of this law." He saw
in the bill power "to rob the people by unjust taxation; to take the
hard earnings from the white people of the West, who, unless wiser
counsels prevail, will themselves soon be reduced to worse than
Egyptian bondage. I demand to be informed here upon this floor by what
power you put your hands into their pockets and drag from them their
money to carry out the purposes of this measure."

Mr. Hubbard, of Connecticut, made a short speech in reply to the
speaker last quoted. He said: "The gentleman from Illinois, some
twenty times in the course of his eloquent speech this morning, called
upon some one to tell him where Congress gets the power to enact such
a law as this. In the first place, I commend to him to read the second
section of the article of the immortal amendment of the Constitution,
giving to Congress power to pass all appropriate laws and make all
appropriate legislation for the purpose of carrying out its
provisions. I commend to his careful study the spirit of the second
section of that immortal amendment, and I think, if he will study it
with a willingness to be convinced, he will see that it has given to
this Congress full power in the premises. Moreover, sir, I read in the
Constitution that Congress has been at all times charged with the duty
of providing for the public welfare; and if Congress shall deem that
the public welfare requires this enactment, it is the sworn duty of
every member to give the bill his support.

"Sir, there is an old maxim of law in which I have very considerable
faith, that regard must be had to the public welfare; and this maxim
is said to be the highest law. It is the law of the Constitution, and
in the light of that Constitution as amended I find ample power for
the enactment of this law. It is the duty of Congress to exercise its
power in such a time as this, in a time of public peril; and I hope
that nobody on this side of the House will be so craven as to want
courage to come up to the question and give his vote for the bill. It
is necessary to provide for the public welfare."

Mr. Moulton, of Illinois, sp