, 1862-09-15
a BOLD SPEECH,


Thaddeus Stevens, Of Pennsylvania, having |
received 4 unanimous denomination for Con- |
gresss from the Union men of his district, &C. :!
cepted it in the following speech, delivered |
before the convention, in which he discusses
the policy Of the government with great bold
ness:
"FELLoW CITIZENS: have come for the
purpose OF thanking you and accepting your
norluation. It is always gratifying to pub
lie man to be assured Of the continued coai-
Gence Of those whose servant he is, but eSpe-
cially so in times like these, when the wisest
men differ on questions Of policy. had pre-
pared to speak on those questions, aud to
crt:icisu, not in tni-omc manner, but Us
thought it deserved. the conduct Of the War
and the present policy OF the administration;
nut in the last hour I have he6itated whether
to speak as I had inteuIed-whether it were
proper to cliticise now, in this hour Of deep
est gloom, when We know not where our ar-
mics are, but only that they are nowhere sue
cy6sful. But whether We advise the govern
ment. or find fault with it, we must all do ev-
erythiug to strengthen the hands of our na-
tion. Let us not despair; life is not all sun
Ehiuc-it has gloom with joy, adversely with
prosperity-nor is the victory always to the
| just-human energy and seasnestness will OIL
| ten Wrc6t from fate what would seem to be-
| long to justice alone. Possibly We have not
| yet suffered enough; but let no man fAlter in
his loyalty to the government, no matter how
he may crilieise lis policy; Tor he who talters
| now Is traitor not only to his country but to
humanity and to his God.
II have not determined whether to speak
as had intended; perhaps, when We know
| the result Of these few days may meet you
and speak to you. I have protested against
the present policy, not only to the people, but
to tie face Of tile president and his cabinet,
and On the floor Of Congress, as those know
who have done me the honor to read my
speeches; told them that they were exercising
too much lenity at the request Of border
ment, has loyalty in his haart. I have accused
the prime minister to his face for having goue
back from the fulth he Taught me, and instead
OF armiDg every man, black OF white, who
would fight for this Union, withholding q
wcll-meaning president from doing SO until,
as We advance into their country aud OUT ar
mics dwindle away from miasma and disease,
they spring up behind us aud retake what we
had gained. They still hold the Mississippi,
and threaten us even On the banks Of the
Ohio; al because the slaves at home are civ
. ing them no trouble-because We are, at the
point Of the bayonet, keeping them loyal to
their masters instead Of to the Cniou-
II have told these things to the president
and s fsenet ne and {61{ W6cn 'pdS
!, have melted away and - 900, ,o00,0J0 beer
spent. "Come to this ~ when another half mil
lion lives shall have been lost, and billion Q
dollars more laid upon you II flXltl0n. can
, not and will not stand this-and if you cleo
: ne shall vote that every man be armed
| black and white, who can aid in crushing tn
rebelliHu; that every inch OF rebel soil b
taken and sold to pay the debt OF this war.
. will not 20 with the president IN paying for al
n the elayes-l did not vote for his resolution
= will not vote to pay for any slave OF a rebel
. But will uphold the administration as +.
n fs possihle-saying at the SAME time that II
= al in vain uu1ess they change their policy
: Would it not be byttvr that Is, ,0Uv arme
Z slaves should lie unburied around the bas1l
= fields Mt at Manassas than that your friends an
= nine should thus be there? The rebels mign
:, huye slain them; they would have saved u:
- and cur own men would have gone fresh int
), action ard to victory. Yet a. this symr:
4 thizeTs at the North cr5 'ahol1tionH Ahol
~ lion-yes! abolish everything on the flce {
= | the car:h but this C6ion; free every sllye-
slay every tTaitor-burn every rebel mansion
). ifthesc things b. necessary to preserve th
:, temnle Of freedom TO the world and to or
!: posterity. Unless We do this we cannot col
~ queT them. have spoken thus in CongTe:
~ and il the last week, after few remarks
- mine, tho vote WAS eishtS-f Ut to toTty-two-
~ ~ eighty-fcur agreeing with me, where ye
~ - ago not fifty could have been found; and if
go back there again, if VIZ have any one left
~ ieht by that time, the whole na:ion will
y with me! Either we mustp pursue that polio
~ ~ or the war will be disgraceful1y abandoned
Il last and our country diyided-aud he Is
a. traitor who talks Of separation on any term
20 | Agsin, thank you-1 have said more than
~. Intended when l began, less than expect'
,o last night; but I have told you these thing
- that even If my principles be wrong, theG sh