The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1862-05-29

Sir. the thing is absolutely ridiculous,
and would not become any Senator on
this floor, unless he was compelled to do
so by joining this new.fangIed organi.
zation, whose purpose it is, we are told.
to reconstruct the Democratic party. I
believe I asked the gentleman what kind
Of reconstruction it was TO be. The old
Breckinridge. Buchanan party south
Of Mason and Dixon's line are,to man.
traitors There are no exceptions. |
defy any Senator to rise in this place
and tell me what Buchanan Breckin
ridge Democrat south Of Mason and
Dixon's line is not an open and avow-
cd traitor, committing overt acts, and,
under the Constitution Of the United
States, condemned to death. Their
Northern sympathizers are but little
better; indeed they are worse-worse be.
cause they are not so bold. There is
something in bold, courageous man,
even in bad cause, that seems to give
him little right to toleration; but your
miserable sneaking hypocrite that sym
pathizes with him, and yet has not the
courage to commit the crime, can ex-
pect nothing but to be despisod by hon
orable men. Now, these men are going
to reconstruct a party. My God, what
a party it will be! Just think Of it: the
Southern Buchanan traitors recon
structing with the Breckenridge trait
ors of the Northl They will permit
them to go together. They will not
differ on anything else but as to the
length to which they can carry their
proceedings.
But, sir, there was salt in the old De-
mocratic party. They do not talk Of
reconstruction with the followers of
Stephen A. Douglas. Mr.. DougIas was
once strong partisan of Democratic
faith. He went along with them until
he found they were bent upon treason
and the destruction of the country in
which they lived. The moment Mr..
Douglas found that this was their full,
deliberate purpose, he came out from
among them like an honest man, and
became separate, and his honorable fol-
lowers came along also, and they are
operating most cordially to day with
the Republican party everywhere. The
Senator seeks no reconstruction with
the Douglas party, for how could they
join in any reconstruction? They
would look well in any coalescing again
with the wretches who have persecuted
their great and venerable leader
to death. How would his deciples
form coalition with those who cruciGed
him; with those rcconstructors under
the lead of Mr.. Vallandingham of the
House of Represen tatives?
The Senator talks about things done
in the dark. should like to know
where this meeting was held for recon.
struction and fixing the policy that was
to govern the Democratic party in its
renovating form. 1t was some dark
purlieu, perhaps, of this Capitol-a ct
place for the conspirators who conooc.
ted the idea of rising in their places and
a'soulting the Administration, ao-
cusing it of tyranny, and comparing it
to an inquisition. Every man of that
stamp in the Senate has already risen,
and belched forth his anathemas against
the Administration ofthe country, and
especially against the Secretary of War,
Mr.. Stanton.
What has he done? The Senator
says that he was in the Administration
of Mr.. Buchanan. That is true. When
Mr.. Buchanan's Administration be-
came so corrupt with treachory, when
it became so we'll known that it could
not hold together any longer, when its
rottenness had torn it to pieces and
sunk it beneath contempt, it was a ne,
cessity that they should call an honest
man into their administration man
who went unwillingly; man whose
character has always been above re-
proach; man who, though of Demo
cratic predictions, had retired from
politics; man whose great mind and
clearness of intellect had placed him at
the very head of one of the most hon.
orable professions; man who could
command at his will whatev price he
asked. He did take it upon himself,
at the call of Mr.. Buchanan, to take
part in his Administration So far
from acting with those corrupt traitors
who had broken it down, say hero in
my place, aud speak what is known
to many Senators, if this nation was
saved from utter shipwreck by treach-
cry, Mr.. Stanton, in that Administra-
tion Of Mr.. Buchanan, did more to up.
hold it than any other. Sir, he saved
it from utter shipwreck; he saved your
Constitution from revolution aud ruin.
Is he to be assailed here? Sir, he new
ey sought any office. His pure life,
his great knowledge Of affairs and his
ability, had commended him in these
perilous times as the best man the
President could find to heal the wounds
Of this Republic, aud guide the ship of
State through the terrible storm which
is now upon it. He is an iuquistor!--
Why2
Mr.. President, that man is not quite
honest who thus argues constitutional
questions in this Senate and invo kes
the Constitution in behalf of the rights
of every man precisely as he would 10
times Of peace, where there were isola
ted cases of delinquency aud where il
was safe to bring man to trial, The
man who says it, and would have yor
proceed with these traitors precisely as
you would in times of peace, is endoav
ing to deceive the public. Can yor
prosecute traitor south Of Mason anC
Dixon's line AS the old saying is
you might as we'll try the devil in hell
and summon as jurors his chief angels
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