The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1850-03-15
Co.'s. RlssGIl nnh Davis.

been the portion ofCol. BisselpS speech,
to which Col. Davis of the Mississippi
Regiment, took mortal offence, and for
which he has challenged Col. B. to mortal
combat:
=" And must now refer to sub,
ject which / would gladly have avoided.
| allude to the claim put forth for South
ern regiment, by the gentleman from Va.
Mr.. Seddon } having met and repulsed
the enemy on tine field of Buena Vista,
at that most critical moment when the
second Indiana Regiment through an un,
fortunate order of their Col. gave way.
Justice to the living, as we'll as to those
who fell on that occasion. demand of ne
prompt correction of the most errone.
Gus statement. And affirm distinctly,
sir, and such is the fact, that at the time
the second Indiana Regiment gave way
the Mississippi Regiment. for whom this
claim is thus gratuitOusly set up, was not
within mile and half of the scene of
action; nor had IL as yet fired a gun or
drawn a trigger, l affirm further, sir,
that the troops which at that time met
and resisted the enemy, and thus, to use
the gentleman's own language, 'snatched
victory from the jaws of defeat" were
the second Kentucky, the second illinois,
and portion Of the first Illinois regiments.
1t gives me no pleasure, sir, to be com
PEELED to allude to this subject, nor can
perceive the necessity or the proprety
of its Introduction into this debate. 1t
having been introduced, however, cou Id
not sit in silence and witness the inflic-
ton of such cruel injustice upon men,
living and dead, whose we'll earned fame
| were monster not 10 protect. The
true and brave hearts oftoo many ofthem,
alas! have already mingled with the soil
of foreign country; but their claims up.
on the justice of, their countrymen can
never cease, nor can my obligations to
them be ever forgotten or disregarded.
No, Sir. The voice Of Hardin-:hat
voice which has so often been heard IN
this hall as mine now is, though far more
eloquently-the voice of Harden, aye, and
of Mckee, and the accomplished Clay
each wrapped now in his bloody shroud
their voice would ireproach me from
the grave. had / failed in this act Of JUS
tice to them and the others who fought
and fell by my side ..'a -a'' a~r"..
| You will suspect me, Mr. Chairman, oi
having warm feelings upon this subject
So lheve; and have given them utter.
ance, as a, matter Of duty In all this
however, by no means de,raci from the
gallant conduct and bearing of the Miss
issipPi Regiment. At other times aud
places on that bloody field. they did all
that their warmest admirers could have
desired. But let me ask again, why wa:
this subject introduced into this debatei
Why does the gentleman say, "the troop.
! OF the North" gave way, when he means
only one regimeutl Why is all this bu
for the purpose of ofdisparaging the Nortl
for the benefit of the South? Why, bu
for the purpose of furnishing material
for that ceaseless. never ending, eterna
theme Of Southern chivaIry" ..s.
MIR. Chairman, the people of the free
States have as strong an attachment fn
their brethren of the South at this YER,
moment as they had during the days o
the Revolution. or at any subsequent pc
! riod; and they will not suffer that attach
: ment to be destroyed by disunionists o
designing men in the North OF in til
{ South. .a,,
l y Y know the people of my State
, know the people ofthe Great West an,
North West; and know their devotion
5 to the American Union. And fee
= warrantedin saying, in my place here, ,tha
when you talk to them of destroying thi
Union, there is not man throughout lha
} vast region who will not raise his han'
and swear by the Eternal God, as nov
: do. it shall never be done, if our arm
can save it. Illinois profered to tn
/, country nine regiments to aid in the vim
dication of her rights IN the war wit
: Mexico. And should danger threate
5 the Union from any source, or in an
5 quarter, in the North or in the South, ,sh
y will be ready to furnish twice, thrice, yes
t four times that number, to march wher
! that danger may be, to return when
is passed, or return no more. ,ft