Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-05-28
Traitors and their Sympathizers
Speech of Hon. B. F. Wade.

On the 10tn ult., lion. Is. +. wade, IN
U. S. Senate, delivered a. most powerful
speech in reply to structures made by
Senator McDougal, of California, on the
procedure of the Committee on the Con-
duct of the War. Senator McDougal con-
demned the imprisonment of Gen. Stone,
and others, and also denounced the ex-
ercise of the power by the Government in
arresting and imprisoning persons of dis
loyal sympathies and proclivities, charac-
terizing it as tyrannical, &c. To this SEN
ator Wade replies
We are tyrannical-the nation is tyran-
nical, says the gentleman; and he quotes
authorities from nations at war with each
other where there is no suspicion of trea-
son-where all is loyalty on both sides
where nations have national feelings suf-
icient to repress everything favoring the
adversary, and to bring forward every
thing favoring their own nation. lie cites
these precedents to enlighten us in the
midst of a civil revolution, where traitors
are in our midst, where you cannot walk
the streets without meeting men whose
hearts are opposed to the prosecution of
the war. No, sir; you cannot go through
the Executive Departments but you meet
with violent enemies of the Government
you are endeavoring to maintain. lie
reads preeedents from English history to
show the forbearance of that nation in
times of civil strife. | wonder that the
reading of that did not carry him back TO
the time when England was involved IN
civil war. If it had, would he not be as
tonished at the mildnesS and forbearance
of the Government in the course it has
pursued toward these traitors in our
midst? Sir, if you look at the old rec
ords during those troublous times. YOU
will find that men on slighter evidence
than would impeach the gentleman were
hung up by the neck until they were dead,
and yet he lauds the mildness of the Brit
ish Government. 1t is a remarkable fact,
and fear not entirely to our credit eth
er, that while we have been involved in
this great rebellion, while this generation
are taxed, and future generations will be
taxed to the utmost of their capacity to
defend themselves, while this ungodlv
war was waged against the best govern
ment on Gods earth, and it has cost the
AAAOcI lACSAOOS DAOON VI lAltS lldblOn ~ LC-
pei the insurrection, after one whole year
has passed by, there has not yet been
made single example of treason. not
one; no attempt to take the life, nay, ev-
Ell the property, of the hellish traitor that
has caused the sacrifice of our dearest and
most precious blood.
Sir, the man that invoi1es the Constitu- |
tion in forbearance of the law to punish |
traitors, is himself a sympathizer. There |
never was a man who stood up in this |
Senate, from the time when Mr. Brecllin- |
ridge preached daily in favor of constitu- !!
tional guarantees until now, and set up |
barriers against punish |
nent for treason, but what IS in his inner /
most heart of hearts traitor | do not |
want to hear any more of a man than /
that he is invoking the forbearance of the 1
Constitution and the great barriers in IA
ror of American liberty to protect an in
ernal traitor in his course. to know that /
ne is a sympathizer. Our Administration |
S assailed because, not having the tech
lical evidence in their possession to bring
/ man to trial and judgment of death,
hey do not let him 90 at large to plot |
against the life of the Government.
Mr.. President, have said a great deal /
more than / intended: but the theme is a
-ery fruitful one. A tyranny exists here,
t is said. Sir, is it not manifest to every
)ody that from the time when this trea-
on broke out, when we had traitors in
his Senate proclaiming their treason on
his floor, when they conspired TO take
he life of your President ON his way to
he capital, when they beset your regi-
nents coming here for no other purpose
han to defend your capital, untilnow ev-
.ry scintilla of information that your Ex-
.cutive has is communicated to traitors
N the other side of the river as soon as
t is TO people on this side? The Admin
stration have eattemptedt to put that down:
hey have not succeeded; and vet the
senator stands there and says you should
Iot arrest a scoundrel when you know his
eart is with the enemy, but who meanly /
kulks from overt acts in their favor; you
hOuld not imprison him, you should not
estrain him; but you must let it all go,
nd permit the enemy 10 be perfectly
ognizant of every expedition and of ev-
~ move you make. | am sorry that the
enator does not remain on this floor and !
leot the consequences of his insinuations {
gainst the Administration and against
he committee.
Sir, it is perfectly manifest that if per-
ons are shutupin dungeons, and restrain
d OF their liberty, it is that the Consti- {
ution may live. / know it is not in ac- {
ordance with the principles of our Con- |
titution. In ordinary times it could not !
oF moment be tolerated; but when.
18th all your caution, and with all this !
tyranny, yOu have not been i
lie, as yet, to conceal knowledge of {
he most important expeditions of your $
rmies and your intended movements /
'om tho enemy as sooB as your OWE peO- /
lie psssess it, the man who stands up for !
rigid execution of the haJoaS corpus and
ne law, as in time of peace, is but SYM /
athizeP with them. While am up, let i