North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-10-08
Political.
SPEECH OF SENATOR BROWNING,
Republican from Illinois.

sembled at the Court House, on Saturday
night, to hear an address from Senator
Browning The Court Room was filed to
nverfowing, and we are assured that hund-
reds were compelled to go away because they
could not gain admission. Mr. Browning ex-
planned his POSITION upon the confscation
question, and did it to the satisfaction and
approval ofa vast majority Of those who
heard HIM. He sand that Congress had no
power to confscate property, and that con-
fiscation was o humbug. If the power of
con6scation existed anywhere, it existed in
the President by virtue of his Office, as Com
mander-in- Chief of oar armies. The Consti-
tuition conferred no such power upon Con-
gress, and he had sworn to support the Con-
stitution. He could not eupport the confis-
cation bill and the Constitution too, 80 he
supported the Constitution and opposed con-
fiscation. Upon this question he stood with
the President. The same was true upon the
question of arrning the negroes. He was op-
posed TO arming them, and so was the Presi-
dent. He was for the Union as it was, and
the Constitution as it is. In the utterance OF
these truly patriotic sentiments, Mr. Brown
ing was loudly and enthusiastically applaud
ed
Mr.. Browning denounced the abolitionists
in unmeasured terms. He denounced the
abolition leaders in the United States Senate
naming Sumner, Wilson, and others-as
disloyal-traitors to the country-wild, de-
luded, crazy fanatics, who were bent upon the
destruction of the government. He had no
sympathy with them, and had refused to co
operate with them, and should continue to do
so. He had marked out his course and
should pursue it. 1t mattered not that some
of his old personal and political friends had
turned against him-he was for the Union as
it was and the Constitution as it is, and upon
that platform he intended to stand, though
overy dollars worth of property that he
owned in the world should be sacrificed or
destroyed.
He was interrupted by an Abolitionist
present, who charged him with having gone
over to the Democrats. Mr.. Bro oTning re-
sponded that he was ready to 60 over to the
Democrat, or to any party, o, to act with
patriotic men to whatever party they might
belong, who were for the Union and the Con-
stitution. Mr.. B. then asked his brazen-
faced Abolitionist if he would be willing to
receive the South back into the Union, with
all their constitutional rights, if the rebels
would lay down their arms tomorrow As
might be expected, the crazy fanatic replied
no-he would not he would not be willing
to receive the South back unless they would
first abolish slavery. Mfr. Browning said this
was just as he supposed-these Abolitionists
were not in favor of the Union and the Consti-
tuition, but would sacrifice both, and bring
the liberties Of the people beyond the hope of
resurrection, if they could but accomplish
their wicked and traitorous designs.
Another Abolition fanatic wanted to know
of Mr.. B. whether he would vote in favor of
emancipatirg the slaves if he believed such
emancipation would put an end to the war
"No, Sir" said Mr.. B., 81 would not give
such q vote, because have sworn to support
the Constitution under that Constitution
we have no power to emancipate the slaves" )"
At this point the Rev. Mr.. King, who was in
the audience, was heard to say that Mr.. B. is
"a traitor to his country" Mr. Browning
did not probably hear the remark, as he did
net condescend to notice it.
Mr.. B. commented at considerable length
upon the course of certain Abolition journals
that have devoted so much of their time and
space to denunciations Of our Generals in the
field, and SO little of their space to denuncia-
tions Of the rebel commanders. Among these
journals were the Chicago Tribune and the
Quincy Wing. He was particularly severe
upon the editors of the Chicago Tribune. He
read an article from the Tribune, and de-
nounced it as the most infamous treason that
had appeared in any paper published in the
United States since the war begun. OF the
editors of the Tribune he had most con-
temptible opinion. He did not believe them
to be loyal, and if they should take an cath
to support the Government he would not be-
leve their oath.
In regard to the war, he was for its vigol-
Gus, energetic, and successful prosecution
He told his Republican friends that they
could not hope to bring the war to success
full issue if they made it war for the negro.
The Democrats, he said, would not cooperate
in war of that sort, but confns it to its le-
gitimate, rightful object-let it continue to
be, as it has been from the beginning, war
for the Constitution and the Union, and the
Democrats would work and fight shoulder to
shoulder with the Republicans-indeed, all
the patriots, Of whatever party, would work
together.
Mr. Browning throughout was listened to
with good attention and with great interest.
During his speech he was frequently inter
= rupted with the enthusiastic applause Of his