The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-02-27

40 way to save the government except by force
Of arms. The people believed to-day as he
believed then, when the party Of that Senators
were saying that it vas wrong to coerce the
rebels. Who had the control of the admins
tIation of the government when the rebellion
began? Who had control of the navy yards?
A traitor. A traitor had charge of the CAPT.
tol police. A r-Breckenridge-sat in
that chair. There was some one responsible
fer the war, but it was not him. If he had
had his way, these traitors would not have
gone free from the Capitol. (Applause in.
the galleries.) Take all the men in the re-
bel army, and among them there were no Re-
publicans, and none who ever had any SYM
pathy with him or any Of his party. They
were all democrats or Union men, such as we
had here two years ago. You might go
through all the men crying drown the curren-
cy of the country, and they were all Demo
Gratis. The rebellion commenced long before
the 4th of March, 1861, ip the Charleston
Convention, where the Senator from Illinois
had seat. But this country must not perish,
and would not perish. There had been great
complaints because some traitors had been. ar
rested, and if he had had his way, some Of
them would have been hung. The great dam
ger OF the country was not from the South.
but from traitors North. The seat of the re-
bellion was not'at Richmond, hut among the
copperhead traitors of the North. 5
Mr.. Richardson replied at some length, He
contended that while the Senator from Michi-
gan was bravely writing private letters rebuk-
ing rebellion there was only one man of the
party to which he belonged in the Senate
Judge Douglass who did rebuke the rebel
lion. If any. one was supporting the admin
istration of Buchanan, it was the party now
in power. Where did the present Secretary
of War come from, but fresh from Buchanan's
Cabinet? = t.t a4B,
Mr.. Lane, rep of Kansas asked if he did
not know that Stanton was in favor Of reEev-
ing Fort Sumter?
Mr.. Richardson NO, nor no body else
knows it. The administration has stood apoue
sor for Buchanan's Cabinet by placing all in
power except those in rebellion.
Mr.. Howard, lrep.) Of Michigan felt il his
duty to defend one member Of that CaDii
net. 1t was well known that General Cass
did all he could, made every effort to induce
Buchanan to relieve Fort Sumter.
Mr.. Richardson said he meant the last
members of the Cabinet. He continued al
some length, referring to the course of judge
Douglas and his party as doing all they could
to preserve the Union by compromise for par
ty purposes.
Mr.. Harris wished to call tho attention of
the Senate to the amendment He was op-
posed to it, because he believed it was intend
ed to exterminate the banks. N
Mr.. Clark's amendment was then adopted
yeas %, nays Is.
kc1~ ~
ment as amended. It was adopted-yeas 90.
nays II. st....s
Mr.. Lane, of Kansas, said he wished to
state that, from FIRST to last, MI. Stanton had
advocated the reinfofcement Of the forts of
Charleston harbor, and the maintaining the
authority Of the Government every where
within the Quilted States, and any other state
ment was untrue. 4 /
MIR. Richardson said be did not desire Sena-
tors to make points for him which he did not
make, and all this talk about ,untruth was
foreign to the discussion he had made. And
he desired to say to the Senator from Kansas,
now here in his place, that, while he permit
ted no man to make statements in reference
to him that he had said anything untrue, he
had made no statements in reference to rein-
forcements of troops at Charleston. If they
sought to make foreign issue with him they
could have the issue direct, without seeking
foreign issue. 81 $50.
Mr.. Lane said that the Senator from ILL
nois had said that there was noevidence that
Mr.. Stanton had advocated such reinforce
ments.
Mr.. Fessenden objected to thssdiacussion as
out of order.
Mr.. Lane-I want to say to the Senator
from Maine, that, when any Senator makes q
wrong statement, injurious to any member Of
ethe Cabinet, I will denounce it, even if it be
the Senator from Illinois.
The Chair called the Senator to order. 81
Mr.. Richardson, lin his sest]-And want
to say to the Senator from Kansas or any
other man, that I am responsible for every
thing say here,
Several amendments were rejected, and the
bill was reported to the Senate.
The vote was again taken on the amend
nent taxing bank circulation One per cent.
for two years, and two per cent. thereafter,
instead of the sliding scale proposed by the
House, which was agreed to.
The correspondent of the New York He
raid, speaking of the. great excitement grow
/ ing out of the debate, says:
The seats of Senators Richard son and Lane
are in close proximity, and when Mr.. Rich
ardson sat down, there. was considerable
angry gestieulation between them, and scene
was apprehended.
49, From the Rio Grande. i
The HOUSTON Telegraph gives an extract
from letter dated Brownsville, the 9TH inst.
IL. N ~.