Washington telegraph., 1862-08-13
SPEECH OF Hon. BEN Woop OF \. Y.

speech of the Hon Ben Wood in the u. $
House # Representatives, which for dar-
lug aud eloqueuce, are seldom equaled in
'hat body Of late years. Mr.. Wood does
not of course take the part Of tile South.
but denouuces the war party of tAc North.
Tie is cviiently for peace. The prospect
is held ont of restoring the Union there
by, and he, DO doubt, as would ali 9TH
er northern conservatives would labor
for chat end, and be intensely graiiftd by
such result, if it could be peaceably cf-
fccted. But the party he represents are
evidently for peace on any terms, and
should their counsels prevail so far as to
bring about an arlnistice and negotiations,
peaceful separation would no doubt be
the result.
Sir, 1t Is not my purpose to vent re-
proaches even where | believe them best
deserved. L have risen to enter my pro-
test against the discussion ia this cham
Der ofany anti-savery scheme whatever at
this crisis, and to offer an earnest appeal
to this Congress that its legislation shall
embrace every meaus of securing an i'm
mediate peace. If, as the government
claims, the Confederate cause i hopeless
the leaders of the secession movement
cannot be ignorant Of the (; ct; aud know
ing it, they will be naturally inclined to
lend a willing ear to whatever proper
overtures this government may present.
At some period Of this struggle there
must be negotiation il mrst be resorted
to sooner or later, why not now Z
Is it because pride forbids that we
should be the first to outstreteh the hand
of Cancellation! Heaven forbid that
thousands of human lives, and coun-
try's welfare should depend upon SO false
principle. Is i: because the South has
not been sufficiently unished-humbled
and subdued? Then let US confess that
chastlsement aud vengeance are the OBJ
jects of this war. Is it because the anti
slavery movement has not yet received
sufficient impetus: Ii 50, ~ tell il 70
the armies who have won your victories
|
banner with that device in the vanguard.
and lure those armies on to conquest with
tiff you eau. Your soldiers would
rend the trcacherou, ensign into shreds.
and would march to their homes with the
alacrity that they pushed on with it to
the attic field
What, then, is the cause that with
holds negotiation? You will not parley
with armed treason Bu; you have par
Ieycd with armed IT uson. ii that Dc the
word parleyel fU- tile convenience Of
an exchange of prisoners, ana other pur-
poses to mitigate the grievances Of war.
1t was your duty TO DC 20. Aud shall
you not do so to accomplish all that your
troops are fighting for-thc re onstruc.
ton of the Union
What DO the people care fur such mis-
cradle punctiiiua ia tile hour Of nation
agony? Sir, au honorable peace is n the
grasp Of this Congress without further
bloodshod. This Congress knows that il
is so, and wheu the pct Pic shall realize
that it is only the Infamous dGri4n 10
strengthen the anri->laycry u4oycmcnt
that prevents al ,iiyrt t. obtain that
peace, woe to the chiefs Of the abolition
party in the laud.
But en- ugh of them. Words are
thrown away upon their stubborn fanati
csm appeal with Jcrlgr hope III the
10 'tier feelings hat pervadg humanity. aud
especially pervaIe this august -c,nblaa,e
that should by the nature ol It's sacred
functions, be far removed f ON the mise
rabc ambition of reducing a section nj
our commuu country ID TIL. extreme. and
therefore dangerou. condition vi u.s.
pair.
In The heat IF uur private ,ii,cord, we
seem to nave forgotten hat our great mis-
sion as people /, to repub.Iclnizc The
world, to advance tho principle that men
are capable ofse l.gn,e meet .and IN heck
the progress ot monarchy Sir, We ave
losing ground in the tuIiillmcnt Of that
sacred mission. aud mouarcay has gained
new loothold while we have been weak
ening our >inewa wirh intestine strife
And to what purpose? l. it possible
that gentlemen eau hope 10 reconstruct
the Union by pursuing policy Of unre-
leutiug severity? Can they expect to es-