Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-06-28
The STANDARD.
SPEECH OF BENJAMIN WOOD,
ON THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY,

Notwithstanding its length, we give to our readers
the following speech delivered hy Hon, Ben Wood,
of New York, in the House Of the Lincoln CeagFrSS
recently He was neutrality-suspicious. of the New
York NeUs, which was suppressed by lSneSln BE-
cause it stood boldly for the rights N the Ssash at
der the Constitution, and opposed the war Glaa the
Southern States His spirit IS sill 0aHSNAen-
Soon after he delivered the speech charges wesH rsN
ferred against him ef alSlayslty. and We eNlN>t
to hear Of his being in Fort t4SfaSetse>
Mr., Chairman, | have hitherto sNeS,Sed nNae''"S
this House. CaREcat 70 be N>teSses> "si"SS' any
other participation nit& pNoseeNssS taaa tc 'rP,S'
my solemn individual negative SSssA>S mSSS"''>
which my ceaSeaense and NY nStaSseSSS weSS" NOT
approve. hare SAIL H>tSsa%$, tSSS<NI SUI "S>e
not had the hssrs - r&se Seye And speak, glance
at this Hall q ltSesS has ken enough to prevent.
Whea lsS sraasss saa sex eSse third OF the Union
Onrppressassl here ssa 6Nd nyscH in body,
thossA pssrsarSes u he 0ae branch Of the Congress
nj the CaSsSS SsSStS really in fact but ragmentary
part Il 1t pas heart SaSs within me- II sppearS to
ke sceSloSsat Sesy-A gathering OF the representa-
tIreS eta sectional party With these feelings anu
with this SrSrsS have until now avoided partcipa-
naS in debate,
Besides sir, during the earlier period of this ses
sion, disaster had accompanied the efforts OF the
Federal arms felt that The hour of defeat VAS not
4 lit one in which to strive to awaken the great soul
Of the North to thoughts of peace; felt that some
thing was due to the sense OF nortficatlon, some,
thing to the natural desire to retrieve the shame OF
discontinue hoped, too that when victory should
perch upon our banners, others than myself would
seize the occasion to urge plea in behalf OF peacea
BILE measures; and that this government itself, feel
ing secure and strong enough to be maSnanlmouS
would take the lead and lie the pioneer in opening
path for the settlement of our difficulties without
II, hAyNa thnf
the leaders Of the now dominant party, moved by
the sore distress which has visited our country,
would reent from the stern rigor of their doctrine
of subGgation, and in the fiush-of triumph would
lean little towards genter policy than that which
they have hitherto championed With SO much zeal
and with so little forbearance.
hoped in vain. The triumph came; along train
of success has relieved the North from its humiia
ton. The government claims now to stand as
rock against which the tempest of opposition must
waste itself in futile efforts. The partisans of the
ultra party laugh to scorn theTdea that any ct,
fectual resistance can be offered to the onward
march Of our triumphant armies, and yet no single
effort has been made in these Congressional Halls
to stay the effuSon of blood it has been lett for
me, powerless as am, to speak the first conclato-
~ word in behalf of my suffering cOuntrymen-
And do it. sir in the hope that others, more capa-
be, will not be too much cngroSsed with the lust OF
conquest and the pride Of victory to follow my OK
ample.
Sir, it is an inefaceable reproach to those either
deuded or wicked men who, in the North, by their
unWearied agitation of abolition schemes have stir
req the emberS OF this strife; it is an eternal re-
proach TO them that, through defeat and victory,
throughout every phase of this unhappy struggle,
with the groans of their distressed and tortured
country shifting upon their ears they have chung,
and still cling with Implying pertinacity, and even
with ferocity, to the doctrine which has been the
germ of all the mischief With the first exultlng
shouts of Federal victories they set up the echoing
cry of emancipation With all the energy of finati-
cism with all the subtle andintrgueS of Schcm
ing demagogueS, with all the appliances of cunning,
intellect and patronage at their command, even at
this eventful crisis, when every American brain
should be at work to bring about fair and honora-
BILE peace, they have no thong int, no hope no duty
but 20 propagate their creed, extending Its intu
ence into every nook and Granny Of tic land, aud
poisoning the atmosphere OF these sacred halls with
its intermlna6le discussion Openly and in secret
by the agency of the press, the pulpit, and the po-
ltical rostum ii the camp, in the city, and IN the
open field, they spreading the cOntagion; they
nnoculating the country with this moral pestl-
lence which has already brought US where we are,
at the very brink of the grave of our nationality.
Sir to these apostles of abOltiOnSm will be traced
hereafter whatever of evil has befaen may belail
our country. They arc building its sepulchre with
the bones of their slaughtered cUuntrymen. do
believe there are gentlemen within my vision now
whose sworn purpose whose first desire, paramount
even to the preservation of Rcpublicanism is
cpation. They and their disciples first threw the
apple of dscord. They first applied the torch, and
more busy than ever with throwing fresh
fuel to the flame. Should history trace, which
God forbid the record of this country's ruin that
page will seem the strangest to those that which
shall tell of the madness and wckedneSS of the arch
fanatics Of aboltionsm In the dark recesSes Of the
temple of infamy, the goomieSt inches will bear the
inscription of their Names
Sir, l counsel none but moral interference with
the work of these miSchie-makerS. ] would not
have even fanaticsm deprived Of the right of free
speech nor would |, in any emergency, advocate
the slightest infringement by the government upon
the liberty of the press Let them SOW the seeds of
their infamous doctrine broadcast over the land
Whatever may be the danger, will not counte-
nance the greater danger of establishing Dictator
ship over the thoughts of my countrymen.
But if the abominable theme must be brought in
to the council chambers of the nation, for the sake
OF decency, If not of justice let it he at more sem
Slole time Ii there remains one Union man at the
South, let US remember that he is unrepreSentetl
here that the subject of slavery particularly con-
Germs him, and that it is ungenerouS and unjust if
not cowardly to take advantage of his absence of
representation to push forward measures in regard
to the local institutions of his sectiOn-measures
against which, were he present, he would give. his
earnest opposition. 1t will quench whatever re-
mains of Union feeling in the South, if it has not
already done so. 1t will destroy the last hope of
reconstruction of the Union on friendly basis 1t
Will prove what has already been so often intimated
that the first idea Of the dominant party in the North
Is active and unwavering antagonism to slavery and
hxed purpose to legsate it out of the land at all
hazards. Is it with that theory advanced that we
are TO conquer peace? Sir, we are fingng away
the last chances of reconciliation as recklessly
madmen cast Their treasures into the sea- The az
itation of the subject has been the country bane at
every period OF its history; its discussion at this
crisis is desperate self destruction.
Is it while the magazine is beneath us and about
us, bursting with the agencies of ruin, that we must
choose to sport with the flaming torch OF the incen.
diary? Sir, until beloved country shall be
saved, the word emancipation should, by com
mon consent be banshed from the language OF de
bate IN this assemblage. 1t is a spell which has
wrought enough already of desolation. 1t is hell