Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-03-06
ONE OF THE SPEECHES.


in the "spread eagle" style, we have met with
for long time, was recently delivered in the
Missouri Legislature, by one General Reilly.
AS the authOr is evidently ga trump we feel
disposed to help immortalize him by publish
ing his speech in full. After a long and heat
ed discussion on the reference of bill amend
ing the charter of the city Carondelet, to
standing committee of the House, Mr.. Reilly
obtained the floor and addressed the House,
rs follows:
Mr.. SPEAKER Everybody is pitching into
this matter like toad frogs into willow sw amp,
lovely evening in the balmy month of
June, when the mellow light OF the full moon
fills with delicious flood the thin, ETHEREAL at
mospheric air. [Applause.l Sir, want to put
in a word, or perhaps word and half.
There seems to be disposition to fight. l
say, if there is any lighting to be done, come
on with your corn-cobs and lightning-bugs
In the language of the ancient Roman,
"Come one, come ALL this rock shall fy
From its firm base, in pig g eye
Now, there has been great deal of bombast
here to-day. ca II it bonn bast from ssAlpha''
TO Omega" (I don't understand the mean
ing of the words tbough.) Sir, the question
TO refer, is great and pagnificent question:.
1t is the all-absorbing questionable sponge,
slr-a large unreasonable sponge, of globe
shape, in Il small tumbler of water-it sucks
up everything. Sir, l stand here with the
weapons [ have designated, to defend the
rights OF ot- LOUIS county, the rights OF any
other county-even the county OF Cedar it.
seif. Laughter and applause.l Sir, the de-
bate has assumed latitudinosity. We have
had little blackjack buncombe, little two
bit buncombe, bonn bast buncombe, bung g-hole
buncombe, and the devil and his grandmother
knows what other kind of buncombe. Laugh
ter. Why, sir, just give some of 'em little
Southern soap and little Northern water, and
quicker than hound pup can lick skillet
they will make enough buncOmbe- -lather to
wash the golden flock that roams abroad the
szure meads Of heaven. [Cheers and laugh
ter. allude to the starry armament.
The SPEAKER-The gentleman is out of or
der; he must confine himself to the question.
MR. REILY.-Just retain your linen if you
please. I'll stick to the text as close as pitch
plaster to pine plank, or a lean pig to hot
jam rock. [Cries of go on > you'll dol
/ want TO say to these carboneriferous gen.
tlemen, these ingenious individuals, these de-
tonatng demonstrators, these pereginous vol
canoes, come on with your combustibles II
don't well, I'll suck the gulf of Mexico
through goose quill. daughter and ap-
p'anss.] Perhaps you think I'm diminuive
fabars and sparse in the mundane elevation.
You may discover, gentlemen, you Ia
boring under as great misapprehension as
though you had incinnerated your inner vest
ment. In the language of the noble bard,
"I was not born in thicket
To be scared by cricket" [App.l
Sir, we have lost our proper position. Our
proper position is to the zenith and nadir-our
heads TO the one, our heels to the other, at
right angle with the horizon, spanned by that
azure arch of the lustrous armament, bright
with the curruscations of innumerable con-
seiations, and proud as specked stud horse
on a county court day. Cheers.l
"But how have the mighty fallen,'' is the
language of the poet Silversmith. We have
lost our proper position. We have assumed a
lnCh iD6i nlor ol
And what Is the cause Echo answers s'bun-
combe,'; sir, ssbuncombe." The people have
been fed on buncombe, while lot of SPAWN
ed, rngboned, hamstrung, wind CALLED, swyn-
eyed. Splithoofed, distempered, poieviled, pot
bellied politicians have had their noses in
the public crib until there amt fodder enough
left to make cruel for sick grasshop-
per- [Cheers and loud laughter.
Sir, these hungry brats keep tugging at the
puhhc pap. They say, "let down your milk.
nGck, or you'll have a. split bag" Do you
tNihk they can stuff such buncombe down our
craw No, sir; you might as well try to stuff
outer in wild cat with hot awl. (Contin-
ueu laughter The thing can't be did.
Inc public grindstone is great institution,
SIr yes, sir, great institution. One of the
E'ealest, perhaps, that ever rose, reigned or
teii. But, sir, there is too much private cut
tiery ground. The thing won't pay. Occa-
aiohaily big axe is brought in to be fixed up,
iot tbe purpose Vi HeWJnS uOWn
ne sharled trunks Of error and clearing out
me prush-wood of ignorance and folly that
ooStIuct the public highway of progress. The
iaaehine whirls; the age is applied. The
4ookers-on are enchanted with the brilliant
Spafks ELECTED. The tool is noished /; keenly
eused; and, while the public stare in gaping
expectancy of seeing the road cleared the inn
plement is siYly taken off to improve the pri-
a'e acres OF some ''faithful friend of the peo-
p'c. What is the result2 The obstructions
Imam unmovcd. The people curse because
o car iags-or, if it does move, 'tis at the ex-
benSe ol broken wheel and jaded and sore-
'Nea team. tell you the thing won't pay.