Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1861-04-04
A Noble Response.


The Senator on that occasion
looked at me, pointed in my direc-
ton, and made remarks not becoming
a Senator-remark that have been
too often made on this floor, and that
no gentleman would make. He said
that be had struck treason blow
The mighty Senator from Tennessee
struck treason blow. To whom
ibid be allude? He said be saw the
commolion on this bide of the House;
The saw the books being brought in;
he saw that ! was to reply to him.
Sir, if the wor0 "treason was to be
applied by him or any other man to
me, would say you arr a coward and
cannot maintain it. Sir, cannot
express my contempt Of the man who
would so iasinuate , evt 10 thought.
A drop of treason never ran 10 nay
veins. At an hours notice, when
working in . cornfeli for the support
Of my family, when ] heard that
Indiana bal been called on for
troops, Offered my services; and |
did not look upon my family for ten
minutes after l had received the no.
tice until had gone through bloody
battles; until / had carried home with
NE evidence Of devotion to tie Un-
! ion. Does the Senator dare to charge
treason upon me? / think not; for
no gentleman would have the temeFity
TO do it. ] might go en- aud say that
! entered that service as private,
with my napsack on my back, aud was
mustered into the service as a private,
and came home out Of the service
with the rank Of Major-General in
the army. earned it on the bat
tie field. On the battle field / lost
almost the last d n Of my blood
without murmur, ID the service oil
my country Who then is be that
would dare have the brazen effrontery
to charge me with treason TO my
country country which / have
loved from my infan cy, which my
father fought for. and which never
have failed TO fight for myself? |
never will fail to ut Ell the fee Of my
country, or to bleed in her cause when
| am able. Though my arm is not as
! strong as it once WAS. though my
limbs may not now be supple or elias
ticas in youth, | am yet able when
my country shall need my services,
to offer them; and ! shall be the first
to do it on any just OCCASION; but
never against one Of the States Of
] this Union who has left it because
! Justice has been denied her. No, sir:
! nevet!
Then, sir, to whom conld the SEN
ator from Tennessee refer? Could
he allude to my friend Davis? Sir,
! | saw him Oh the battle field. | was
looking right in his face whom he was
wounded. ! saw shuGder pass over
him as the bullet struck him, pre-
clsely at the side-end of his spur,
and passed through the center Of bis
heel. There was perceptibie simply
a shudder; but not murmur; just a
shudder for the instant, when struck
by the bullet; but never for msment
did he lose sight Of the enemy or
the flag, but struggled on through
the battle TO the end, following the
glorious stars and stripes, that en-
biem of The Union. that emblem Of
the Constitution, that emblem Of pro-
lection to every State Of the Confed-
eracy under the Cons titution as gall
lantly as ever did mortal map; and
yet upon this floor there are some
base enoughto alluds to bin as trait
or. Mr.. President, ! have not words
to express my contempt for any man
that can apply such term to such
man as Jefferson Davis. Hea traitor!
Treason applied to him! lie, the
purest and bravest Of patriots? He
fought for bis flag and country when
the towards and paltroons that now
dare yillify him, were supine at home.
He will live gloriously in history
when they are earth and forgotten.
Sir, this treason does not fall within
the definition given by Hudibras TO
that crime; for the South fourishes
and prospers. The people who have
seeded from the Union, and have
formed a government of their own.
are charged with treason. ] will tell
gentlemen, they will have more than
ordinary difficulty to contend with
when they invade the rights Of that
government.
Personal Liberty BtHs.-SeyeralI