Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-03-04
Remarks of Hon. w. j. Allen,


Remarks of Hon. w. J. Allen,
During the discussion on the resolution
introduced into the constitutional conyen-
tion' making inquiry in regard to the truth
ininess OF the charges in the Chicago Tn.
6nne, that n large number Of the members
Of that body were Gisloyal-were members
of the Golden Circle, Judge W. ]. Allen,
the stirling Democrat from Williamson
county made the following remarks;
Mr. President: / hore that the nresr.
Die ard resolution introduced by the dele
gate from Shelby may be adopted. / think
them justitable uuder the surrounding cir.
CONSUMES, and that the reporter for tho
newspaper in question would himself de-
sire their adoption. The Convention owes
1t to itself to have them adopted. and 10
have the investigation made 10 xhicb, ths
preamble ard resolution look. If there h
secessionist in this body. il ought TO be
known ;and we have the right uuoues-
-tionally, upon having the fact made knowo
to expei him- had supposed until within
few days past. that these stacks vers
nnde upon the Convention orly for psrti.
IAN purposes. But. cir, it would seem.
ircr the evidence which hae been placed
beiure us within the past few dsye. that
they are not t. stop there. 1t seems that
we are TO lie pTejudged-that eyery mem.
Der OF this Convention is 10 be placed in a
fa.-e position-and that the work that We
shall submit to the people ie to 20 TO the
polls with the mark Of Cain upon il. So
long as the assaults upon this body shall
look TO mere partizan success-to beneftipe
the Republican or Abolition party-I have
no objection to make.
But, sir, when these assaults look In niacs
ing this Convention as a body is Opposition
to the Constitution and the Union. / think
1t L. time the investigation looked TO bythe
resolution before us, should be instituted.
And 1T there is any evidence to be found
IN the while country against tho LOYALTY of
any member of this Convention, let that
evidence be brought forth. base myself
heard OF many malicious accusations in the
laSt against the men in the country. aeeus-
ing them OF disloyalty but could not put
any confidence III such accusings till the
proof shall be adduced. If any man IN
tins broad land-yes, sir, / would not limit
the inquiry to cur cwn tread prairie State
ii any man, anywhere, can show a scip-
TIA OF evidence against the loyalty Cf one
member If this Convention, let him pro-
dnce 1t. Let the inquiry be made. let the
tact be developed, and let the guilty man
Ice expelled, if there is such a man in tha
Convention. We, sir. in the southern part
of the State, where | reside, at one time.
we're regarded by abolitionists as secession.
lists If man failed TO throw up his can
AMI shout for abolition and the emanejna-
ton OF the slaves, he was regarded as a
secessionist, by men who talked for war.
without intending to fight. And rules vere
prescribed for those who were fana;jcal nm.
on the subject of the war, to test the loyai.
ty Of others. / did not subscribe to these
rules and tests. and few others in INV
neighhorhood acted with me.
did not subscribe to them at any time
or IN any manner, and for that I was
charged with disloyalty-the charge or;o.
mating from 4 short officer at Cairo. Bnt
l found that at the bottom Of the chares
was the fact, that was Democrat. And
a great meny of these charges of disIoyaltv
have been made and grounded upon the
fact, that the men against whom the char
ges were made were Democrats. But. sir.
when the country got into lite deepest trou-
BILE, the Democratic portion of the country
came to its rescue, aud have shed their
blood upen every battle field for the Union
and tho Constitution. | do not say that
the Republicans have not gone into the ser.
vice Of the country, but do say that the
larger portion in the field from the State of
Illinois are Democrats. Yet the Republi-
! cans have been the State House and the
State officers. / repeat, sir, want the
facts about loyalty here ferreted cut. lam
not In favor OF charging people anywhere
with disloyalty without evidence. / want
this whole thing stopped. There has been
too much OF IT, | want no man 10 be NV
censor. or the censor of nv constituents. /
want no man re say because he differs with
me as to the construction of the Con.titu.
ton, and as to the policy of the acts of the
Administrative, that / am therefore dis
| loy'l. | am for my country now and for.
ever. AN Tor tie Union and the Copsti-
tuition. 1 bel0nE to no such organization
as that called i believe, the knights of
/ the Golden Circle" / know of no such or.
/ GanizatiJn myself, nor do l believe anv
member here belongs TO such an organize.
/ ton. But If the proof exists against sny
/ 1T 1T IS true that any man here is disIoy.
all an prepared to march forward in the
/ matter as tor Gs any man. | think. under
thee circumstances, il would be better tn
| ferret out the criminal. and if we have dis
luyal members here, let them be expelled.
and expelled at once. i sn most heartily
for the preamble aud resolution"