New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1862-03-07


similarly situated and affected in his polite
al and personal relations by this unnatural
war. that could but remark it. The former,
with Il fairness and candor that touched my
heart. dill me the Justice 70 say that he had
seen nothing in MY past life that rendered ME
obnoxious to the charge Of contributing in
/ the least degree to the dcplorable condition
of affairs row upon us. 1.-THE honorable SEN
ator rom Virginia had known my course
here. as some others know It, hA wnlll have
done me justice in adding, that the blood Of
no one man attaches to my skirts in this strife
[ have had but one countcrsIgn since have
, been on duty here, and that has been, peace,
lp@acc. peace way, ncVer-neYcr-tor any
real "r Imaginary grievance.
! But how different was the tone and manner
Of the Senator from Tennessee. Causes of
complaint know he has: and syr,pathiZe
with him in Affections. and would that had
/ the power to lift the load Of sorrow that is
bowling him and thousands and tens otthouS-
andS Of others similarly situated to the earth.
! Point me to the road that leads to peace the
restoration Of the Union. making US one'Goy-
ernment with one Har. not star etiaced,
and will travel it with YOU as lone Us there
/ is e,eam ol light 70 guide me on such
/ path aud. forgetting aul forgiving would
, even consent to take rs a travelling comran-
! ion. with all his here>ies, unpleasant as it
woul! be- the Senator from Massachusetts,.
! Sr, the Senator from Tennessee has done me
! great injustice. Smartinr under the blows
! inflicted by the conduct of those he called "a
] close corporation; when here he points to my
personal and party associations with them
! forgetting, ut the same time. his own--and
undertakes to hold ne responsible for ali that
/ was said and done then. and has happened
since History. facts living witnesses, repcI
/ these unfoundel absurd accusations.
! The honorable Senator from Maryland,
| mir. KENNEDY. moved by a sense OF Justice
and love of truth, indicates history in his
late sneech on some Of these points. He we'll
recco.lects thc appea made b. himself, my
self and other Senators. some Of whom are
still here. to southern Senators to remain,
gave to the incoming Administration n fair
trial and seek y remedy for oil wrongs inside,
pot outside otthc Union. If. sir | had been
privy to any such purposes as have since re-
suited in torcible resistance 70 the Govern
ment Of the United States, why did JON
with the henorahle Senator from Maryland
and others in demonstrating against TINS SUI
I cidal step? TIE Senator from Tennessee
cannot believe. he knoHrS, that had no part
! or lotin any movement having tor its object
the disruption oftheSe States. have been rs
open in nv opposition to secession, and as
determined in the support OF peace measures
"a any man living.
/ The honorable Senator from Virginia. III
! the remarks have alluded to. ma yester-
day, asked me to explain the concluding par
agraph ina letter wrote to Mr.. Fitch in
September last In doing 50 must preface
/ Whist have to sa, with the single remark
that deem it due 10th to Kim and myself.
! # he thinks my position an equiv"cal one.1
t, answer but | beg It will rot be construed
a an effort On my part to influence the vote
! Of the honorable Senator. As much Sratlti-
cation as it would afford me to have the
weight Of his name Us a Senator and distin-
sui>hcd member Of his profession, | cannot
consent TO be placed in the false position of
seeking votes By any change or modification
Of my opinions for the time being, and |
know that the honorable Senator would not
have me do it. snid on a former occasion,
that as far as pl9nciplcS ale concerned, my
opnio are fixed In the execution OF de-
tails connected with the administration of
general governmental affairs have always
endeayored to conform my action to the poll
CIV Of those in charge II the Government and
!
opposition So. under this ADMINISTRATION.
when differed have said so in becoming
manner. trust. and left those who have the
power to assume the responsibility of exercis-
ins it,
! have ever been opposed to the principle
! of coercion. believed in the language Of
the present Secretary Of State used OF: the
! 10th of April last, that this federal republic
can system of ours, of all forms OF govern
ment. is the most untitled for such n labor"
Coercion was war and in the language of
! the late Senator from Illinois. war was dis
! union. Earnest in these opinions, | joined
others in urgent appeals to the late Admins
tration to withdraw our forces from Fort
Sumter, and make our differences the sub
ect Of peaceful arbitrament. And sir, down
| to the day this letter is dated, and even down
! to the 3rd of March. the day the Presid Mt
| lett the executive mansion. ! believed this
wonld he done and | had every reason to
think so from the course of those who alone
! had the power to do it.
/ But when hostilities commenced at Fort
Sumter. an entire new feature presented it.
self. This act. followed by the proclamation
OF the President was war and while my
opinions as to the policy otresortlag to coer-
cion, even then, as remedy IN the first
place. remained unchanged and while
differed entirely with the line of policy pur-
sued by the late as we'll as the present Adj
mnistration, in the conduct Of affairs at
Charleston, never hesitated as to my duty
toward nv own Government, and what was
to sustain it. as have done, in all that rea-
! ted to itseiforts to defend the remaining States
! from invasion. and in all It's efforts to enforce
obedience to the laws Of the United States
within Constitutional limits within the
States.
One remark, and am done. This outrage
upon the right representation Of a sovereign
Stare is the volunteer Offering of partisan pro-
scription, and intended as q condemn alton of
my political opinions, and as a consequence Of
my endorsement Of the platform of principles
which has SO lately been declared by the