Representative Bouligny: Forever a Unionman
By Staying Put
One of the 150th themes that I think is interesting is the diverse political opinion on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line. After Louisiana seceded from the Union all of its U.S. senators and representatives left Congress except for one. In the House on February 5, 1861 Miles Taylor delivered his departure address. Afterwards Lousiana Representative John Edward Bouligny took the House floor to explain that he was not going to follow his Fellow Louisianans out of Congress:
From The New-York Times February 6, 1861:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Feb. 5. …
Mr. BOULIGNY said that until a few minutes ago he was in a similar position with his colleague. He had received no official information that an ordinance of secession had been passed by Louisiana. As to the Convention, he was not elected by them, and had nothing to do with their action. He should not, therefore, obey their instructions. Some of the gentlemen of that body were his personal and intimate friends. He thought discourtesy had been exercised towards him, in not sending him a copy of the ordinance. He would therefore pay no attention to it until he received official notice of its passage. Another reason compelled him to differ with the Senators and Representatives from that State. He was the only member of Congress elected therefrom as an American Unionman and to this principle he should stand forever. [Applause.] When I came here, he added, I took an oath to maintain the Constitution of the United States. What does that mean? Does it not mean the union of the States? It does, if I understand it right. By that oath I shall stand. Whenever instructed by my immediate constituents and asked by them to withdraw myself from this House, their wishes shall be complied with as soon as I receive the information. I shall, however, not only withdraw, but resign my seat. After I do so, I shall continue to be a Unionman, and stand under the flag of the country that gave me birth. [Long continued applause on the floor and in the galleries intermingled with cries of “Good”].
You can read all the House proceedings for that day at The New York Times Archive.
