The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-09-10
SPEECH OF SENATOR BROWN
ING, OF ILLINOIS.


This patriotic Republican United States
Senator, who placed himself, by rising
superior to party, the worthy successor
of Stephen A. Douglas, has made speech
at Quincy, Illinois, the place of his resi-
dence. It was in defense of his course in
the Senate against partisan attacks.
Mr. Browning explained his position
upon the confscation question, and did it
to the satisfaction and approvalof vast
majority of those who heard him. He
said that Congress had no power to con-,
fscate property, and that con6scation was
a humbug. IF the power Of confscation
existed anywhere, it existed in the Presi-
dent, by virtue of his Office as Commando
er-in-chief of our armies. The Consti-
tuition conferred no such power upon Con-
gress, and he had sworn to support the
Constitution. He could not support the
Confscation Bill and the Constitution too,
so he supported the Constitution and op-
posed con6scation. Upon this question
he stood with the President The same
was true upon the question Of arming the
negroes. He was opposed to arming them
and so was the President. He was for the
Union as it was and the Constitution as
it is. In the utterance of these patriotic
sentiments, Mr.. Browning was enthusiast
tically applauded. There were few per-
sons present who did not join in these de-
monstrations Of approval But they were
open, avowed, ultra Abolitionists. Mr.,
Browning denounced the Abolitionists in
unmeasured terms. He denounced the
Abolition leaders in the United States
Senate-naming Sumner, Wilson, and
others-as disloyal, traitors to the coun-
try, wild, deluded, crazy fanatics, who
were bent upon the destruction of the
Government He had no sympathy with
them, and had refused to cooperate with
them, and should continue to do so He,
had marked out his course and should
pursue it. It mattered not that some Of
his old personal and political friends had
turned against him-he was for the Union
as it was and the Constitution as it is, and
upon that platform he intended to stand,
though every friend he had should desert
him, and though every dollars worth of
property that he ownedin the world should
be sacrificed or destroyed. He was in
terrupted by an Abolitionist present, who
charged him with having gone over to the
Democrats. Mr.. Browning responded that
he was ready to go over to the Democrats,
or to any other party, or to act with pa
triotic men to whatever party they might
belong, who were for the Union and the
Constitution. Mr.. B. then asked this
brazen faced Abolitionist if he would be
willing to receive the South back into the
Union, with all their constitutional rights,
| if the rebels would lay down their arms
morrow? As might be expected, the
crazy fanatic replied no-he would notl
he would not be willing to receive the
South back unless they would first abolish
slavery. Mr.. Browning said this was just
as he supposcd-these Abolitionists were
not in favor of the Union and the Consti-
tuition, but would sacrifice both; and bring
the liberties of the people beyond the hope
Of resurrection, if they could but accom-
plish their wicked and traitorous designs.
! Another Abolition fanatic wanted to know
of Mr. b. whether he would vote in favor
Of emancipating the slaves if he believed
such emancipation would put an end tc
the war. "No, sir" said Mr.. B., ST would
mot give such a vote, because l have sworr
to support the Constitution. Under tha
Constitution we have no power to emanci
1pate the slaves" At this point, the Rev
EMr. King, who was in the audience, wa
heard to say that Mr. Browning sis ,
traitor his country" Mr. B. did no
probably hear the remark, as he did no
condescerd to notice itaz MIR. Brownin,
.Ecommented at considerable length upoi
4 the course of certain, Abolition. journals
that have. DEVOTED 80 much of their tim,
and space to denunciations Of our Gener
ais in the field, and SO little Of their spac,
to denunciations of the rebel commanders
} Among these journals were the Chieag'
Tribune aud the Quincy Wing. He wa
particularly severe upon the editors of tn
4 Chicago Tribune He read an articl
from the Tribane,- and denounced il as til
most infamous treason that had appears
in any paper published in the Unite,
States since the war began. OF the edi
tors of the Tribune he had most con
ltemptible opinion. He did not beliey
J them to be loyal, and, if they should tax
an oath to support the Government, b
= would not believe their oath. As to tn
Quincy Wing. he couldn't expect muc
from that source; it was incapable of utter
! ing the truth about him, and had persis,
emily misrepresented his position from tn
beginning. He read some extracts frol
the Whig to show that he had been out
: rageously misrepresented by that pape
f In regard to the war, he was for its vigoi
: Gus, energetic and successful prosecution
He told his Republican friends that the
/ could net hope to bring the war to sue
/ cessful issue if they made it war for th
negro. The Democrats, he said, woul
not cooperate with them in war of ths
: sort. But confne it to its legitimat,
s rightfnl object--let it continue to be, as
Q had been from the beginning, a war for th
Constitution and the Union, and the Demo
crats would work and fight shoulder t
shoulder with the Republicans, indeed, a
: tho M atriokS af VI uhatever Marty xUould nor