Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-05-22
q e. sss, Gard. ca o. e,,o lines. pss


bent upon treason and the destruction Of Tho
country (which they liv3d. The moment
Mt Dousias ascertained that this was their
fen, deliberate purpose, he canie out irdhi
among Them like an honest man, and became
yeparate, and his honorable followers came
along also, and they are CO cooperating most
cordially to-day with the Republican party
everywhere: The Senator seeks no recon.
struction with ,he Douglas party, for how
could they join IN any reconstruction They
would look well coalescing again with the
wretches who have prosecuted their great
and venerable leader to death. How could
his disciples form coalition with those who
crucified him with those reconstructors un-
der the lead of Mr.. VallaDdieham, OF tho
House of Representatives?
The Senator talks about things being done
IN the dark l should like to know where
/ this meeting was held for reconstrnctins and
fixing the policy that was TO govern the
Deinocratic party in its renovated form. IL
was some dark purlieu. perhaps, of this
Capitol; a fit place for the conspirators who
connected the idea of rising in their places
and assaulting the Administration, accusing
1t Of tyranny, and comparing il to an in9
QUESTION. Every man of that stamp in the
Senate has already risen and belched forth
his anathemas against the Administration
OF the country. and especially against the
Secretary Of War, Mr.. Stanton.
What has he done2 The Senator saws
that he was in the Administration of Mr..
buchanan. That is true. When Mr..
! Buchanau's Administration became so cor.
rupt with treacbery, when it became so we'll
kaown that it could not hold together any
longer, when its rottenness had torn it to
pieces and sunk it beneath contempt, it was
necessity tina; they should call an honest
man into their Administration o man who
went unwillingly, a man whose character
has always been aboye reproach, man who,
thcugh of Democratic predictions, had
retired from politics; a man whose great
mind and clearness of intellect had placed
him at the very head of one of the most
honorable professions man who could
command at his will whatever price he asked
He did take it upon himself, at the call Of
Mr.. buchanan, TO take part in his Admins
tration. 80 far from acting with those cor
rupt traitors who had broken it down, say
her. in my place, and speak what is known
| 70 many Senators, If this nation was saved
from utter shipwreck by treachery, Mr..
Stanton, in that Administration of Mr..
Buchanan, did more to uphold it than any
other. Sir, he saved it from utter ship
wreck; he saved your Constitution from
revolution and ruin. Is he to be assailed
here! Sir, he never Sought any Office
His pure life, his great knowledge of affairs,
and his ability, had commended him in
these pcrilous times as the best man the
President could find to heal the wounds Of
this Republic aud guide the ship of state
through the terrible storm which is now up
OH il. He is an inquisitor! Why?
Mr.. President, that man is not quite
honest who thus argues Constitutional ques-
tipns in this Seuate, aud invokes the Con
stitution IN behalf of the rights of every
man precisely a. he would in timesof peace,
whore were isolated cases OF delinguerct,
and whers it was safe to bring man to trial.
The man who says it, and would have 5ou
proceed with these traitors precisely as you
would in time Of peace, is endeavoring to
deceive the public. Can you prosecute a
traitor South o. Mason and Dixon's line :?
As the old saying is, you might as well try
the devil III hell, and summon as jurors his
chief angels. 1t is impracticable it can
not be done. Why, then, stand up here
contending that men should be tried by all
the Constitutional guarantees that ara
thrown around them in peaceful times? l
repeat what | said: as no jurist has yet un-
dertaken to define the liuits to which man
might go in the honest defence of his life
when assailed so no statesman would under
take to limit the powers that the Govern
ment might use to preserve its life when as
sailed by traitors. / defy the gentleman to
make an argument worthy Of the name
against that proposition.
Do ynn think that We will stand by, Weld
ing to your argument, while ycu fetter our
legs and bind our arms with the Constitu-
tion of the United States that you may stab
it to death? Is that your idea Of the Con-
stitution that it is made to tie the hands of
honest men from its defence, while traitors
may stab it to the heart? That is the use
you would make of the Constitution OF the
United States. Sir, say again, have no
scruples about the Constitution of the Uni
ted States as welded against traitors in this
that the ordinary course of the common
law and of the Constitution cannot bc fol-
lowed. Shall the Constitution lie down aud
die? Must we give up all our glorious prin-
ciplcs that were defended by it because trai-
turs have assaied il in such way that they
have prevented its operation? Sir. folly
, like that would deserve the ignominious fate
! which would inevitably follow so foolish d
course.
Mr.. President as have said heretofore.
! it is remarkable fact, that although thou
sands upon thousands OF men have fallen
victims to this rebellion on the field Of
i battle, and many thousands more have beer
mangled and wounded, inhicting misery
poverty, and death upon millions of people
we are yet told on this -four that We should
+ be tender-footed that we cannot tie the
hands of miserable traitor from giving in
4 formation to the enemy, aud thus aidin:
them to carry on this accursed war IL thai
! the logic Of the Senator? Sir, he will fnc
!, but few adherents here he will find les
' among the people, for they are entirel
q ahead Of us in all that pertains to the Wig
;. orous prosecution of this war and vigorou
4 dealing with traitors according TO thei
i criGes. Why, sir, in every hole and corne
!. of this city, nay, in almost every city Of tn
r United States, and in the country, too, yo
o find these slippery, slimy, glib-tongued trait
!. ors who are ready on all occasions to Civ
!. information of all the movements of you
4 army aud of every other Important fact +
s the ereny, so that they have it earlier tina
n we. You would mot expect that q man Ia
st ken with arms in his hands, fighting again,