and intellectual science.

In its pursuit passions and interests.

should be subordinate to wisdom and truth. Acrimony should give place to charity if not to good humor. This is for the behoof of society, whose tranquillity depends far more upon the dominant thought than upon the successful sword.

I would not, if I could, perpetuate any of the conflicts illustrated in this collection. I have had my share of such conflicts. No ambition now actuates me save that I may be instrumental, through these pages, in mirroring the past eight years, with the clearness and fidelity of truth. Whatever my own views may have seemed to some, they are to be judged as you my constituents judged them, by their expression as here given, without partisan gloss or misrepresentation.

Notwithstanding this volume has been prepared for your kind eye, it is published with distrust; therefore I crave from you the same indulgence which you have always accorded.

NEW YORK CITY, June 30,

1865.

1

SAMUEL S. COX.

VINNO

EIGHT YEARS IN CONGRESS.

I.

A CONSTITUTIONAL OPPOSITION.

OUTSIDE of the "home circle" of constituents to whom this volume is inscribed, it may be read by those in search of the motives and principles which actuated a constitutional opposition in time of civil war. It was either the good or bad fortune of the writer to antagonize with the administration of his own party on the territorial questions from 1856 to 1860. But this may be overlooked by unfriendly critics. The time of war being the time of danger, the unreflecting and unphilosophical may wonder how such an opposition at such a period could consist with patriotism. Do they forget how England was saved from disgrace in the Crimean war by the onslaughts of the opposition led by the London Times? May not the Government be magnified by exposing the weakness of its administration? Is there not constant need of such criticism as will strengthen the Government while it condemns the policy of its imbecile or corrupt agents? Lest the very function should cease by the incapacity of the functionary, should we be less heedful how we undignify the office by undue contempt of the officer, than how we unduly dignify the officer at the expense of the office?

Hence, in all free countries an opposition is regarded as an element of the Constitution-an estate of the realm. It cannot be dispensed with without danger to Liberty. However great may be the obligation of the country to the soldier for his valiant right arm, it owes something to those who, regardless of the frowns of power or the allurements of patronage, maintained a steadfast front against the corruptions and tyrannies incident to war.

If I

may quote from a letter addressed to me on the 22d of January,