Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-03-04
CLEARFIELD Pa WEDNESDAY MARCH 4 1863

| to their traitorous faces. Traitors should be
hung. 1t would be the salvation of the coun-
try to hang them. For that reason must re-
joice at it. Tremendous cheering.I
Mr. Speaker, beg pardon of the gentlemen
in this Senate who are not traitors, but true
loyal men, for what I have said. l only in
tend ii and mean it for secessionists at heart.
They are here in this Senate. see them
gibe, and smirk and grin at a true Union man!
Must defy them +? l stand here ready for
them and dare them to come on. (Great
cheering What man with the heart of pa
triot could stand this treason any longer?
have stood it long enough. 1 will stand it no
more. [CheeRs.l denounce these men and
their aiders and abettors as rank traitors and
Secessionists. He'll itself could not spew out
more traitorous crew than some of the men
that disgrace this Legislature, this State and
this country. For myself l protest against
and denounce their reasonable acts. l have
voted against their measures l will do so to
the end. l will denounce them as long as
! God gives me breath and am ready to meet
the traitors themselves here or anywhere, and
fight them to the death. Prolonged cheers
and shouts.
said paid three Thousand dollars year
taxes. do not say it to brag of it. 1t is my
duty. yes, Mr.. Speaker, my privilege. to do it,.
But some of these traitors here who are work
ing night and day to put their miserable little
bills and claims through the Legislature to
take money out of the pockets of the people,
are talking about high taxes. They are hyp-
ocrites as well as traitors. l heard some of
them talking about high taxes in this way who
do not pay five dollars to the support of the
Government. L denounce them as hvpocrites
as we'll as traitors. [Cheers.1
The reason they pretend to be afraid of high
taxes is that they do not want to vote money
for the relief of the soldiers. They want to
embarrass the. Government and stop the war
They want to aid the seoessionsts to conquer
our boys in the field. They care nothi.g a
bout high ta3es They are picayune men,
anyhow, and pay no taxes at all, and never
did. and never hope or expect to. This is an
excuse of traitors. [Cheers.]
Mr. Speaker Excuse me. 1 feel for my
country, in this her hour of danger, from the
tips of my toes to the ends of my hair That
is the reason 1 speak as do! l cannot he 10
1t. L am bound to tell these men to their
teeth what they are, and what the people, the
trne loyal people, think of them. ITremen-
dous cheering. The Speaker raped upon his
desk, apparently to stop it, but really to add
to its volume, for could see by his flushed
cheek and flashing eye that h is heart was with
the brave and loyal old gentleman
Mr.. Speaker, have said my say. am no
speaker. This is the only speech have made.
and do not know that it deserves to be CAL
led speech. could not sit still any longer
and see these scoundreis and traitors work
out their hellish schemes to DESTROY the u
Mon. They have my sentiments let them
one and all make the most of them. I am
ready to back up all say, and repeat it, to
meet these traitors in any manner they may
choose, from apin's point to the mouth of
a cannon. Tremendous applause, during
which the old gentleman sat down, after be
had given the desk parting whack, which
sounded loud above the din of cheers and
clapping of hands.
l never before witnessed so much excite
ment in an assembly. Mr.. Funk spoke with
a force of natural eloquence, with a convic-
tion and truthfulness, with fervor and pa
thos which wrought up the galleries and even
members on the floor 10 the highest pitch of
excitement. His voice was heard in the stores
that surround the square, and the people came
hocking in from all quarters. In five min
utes he had an audience that packed the hall
to its utmost capacity. After he had conclu-
ded, the Republican members and spectators
rushed mp and took him by the hand to con-
gratulate him. The Democrats said moth ing
but evidently felt the castigation they were
receiving most keenly, as might be seen from
their blanched cheeks and restless and uneasy
glances.''