Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-07-05
s p E E c RI
HON BENJAMIN WOOD,
OF NEW yOpE
OF NEW YORK.

IN Inc House Of Representatives May l6, 1862
MR. CHARMAN:-I have hitherto avoided
| troubling this House. Content 10 be a lis.
'ener, without any other participation in its
proceedings than 10 oppose my solemn in
Givdnal negative against measures which
my conscience and my principles would
not approve, have said nothing. Indeed
sir, have not had the heart 10 rise here
| and speak. a glance al this Hall, of itself,
has been enough TO prevent. When | look
around and see one third of the Union un.
represented here, and find myself in body,
pnrpor'ing TO be one branch of the Congress
oil The United States, really in fact but a
ffagmenlary part OF ii, my heart sinks with
in me. 1t appears to be a sectional body
gathering OF the representatives. of sec
lionaI party. With these feelings and with
this spirit. have until now avoided parlici.
paling in DEBATE.
Besides, sir, during the earlier period Of
This session, disaster had accompanied the
efforts oi the Federal arms. felt that the
hour ot defeat was not fiji one in which 10
strive 20 awaken The great soul ofthe North
10 hon9hS OF peace fell that something
was due 10 the sense of modification, some.
Thing 10 the natural desire 10 retrieve the
shame OF discontinue. hoped, TOO, that
when victory should perch upon our ban.
ners, others than myself would seize the
occasion 10 urge a plea in behalf of peace.
able measures and that this gov
ornmenl itself, feeling secure and strong
enough 10 be magnanimous woGld take the
lead and be the pioneer in opening path
Tor the settlement of our difficulties without
further recourse to bloodshed even hoped
that The leaders of the now dominant party,
moved by the sore distress which has Wis
lied our country, would reeni from the
stern rigor OF their doctrine of subiugation,
and, i'll the flush Of triumph, would lean a
little towards a genller policy than that
which they have heretofore champiored
with so much zeal and with SO little for.
bearanGe
| hoped in vain. The triumph came
long train of successes has relieved the
North from its humiliation. The Govern
menl claims now to stand as rock against
which the tempest oiopposilion must waste
itself in futile efforts The parisans of The
ultra war party laugh TO scorn the idea
that any etlectual resistance can be offered
10 The onward march of our Triumphant ar.
mics, and yet no single effort has been
made in these congressional Halls, TO STAY
the efiuson of blood. 1t has been left for
me, powerless as am, 10 speak the first
conclliaory word in behalf oil my country. !
men. And | do it, sir, in the hope that |
others, more capable, will not be 100 much |
engrossed with The lust OF conquest and the
pride OF victory, TO follow my example.
Sir, il is an inefaceable reproach TO those
either deuted or wicked men, who, in The
North, by their unwearied agitation of abo-
lillon schemes, have stirred the embers of |
this strife; it is an eternal reproach to them |
;haI, through victory and deiea. in every
phase OF This unhappy struggle, with the
groans Of their distressed and tortured coua.
try shifting upon their ears, they have
cIung, and still cling, with Implying per-
tinacily and even with ferocily, 10 the doc
trne which has been The germ OF all the
mischief, With The first exulliug shouts of
Federal victories they set mp the echoing
cry OF emancipation With all the ener.