Weekly Trinity journal., 1863-03-21
WEEKLY TRINITY JOURNAL:
---a,,,noIs Far mer.

- ,ho g Copperheads," "n' "9i
S.otoa IN all their attempts TO hin"'. 'ne prog
- ..s =, tbe war, and to o M ,ne s ual'ors % OF 'ne
ress OF Tue , W." Tnnr is or Of the richest farmers
South c" M He re- to object to triaing reso-
in the state i being introduced by some
lutions' Which .Sers to kill time and stave off a
Democratic appropriations for the support Of
vote upon Government. Mr.. Funk said:
the s.Speaker, can sit in my seat no longer
See such by play going on. These men are
.hing with the best interests of the county
rhey should have asses ears 10 set off their
heads, or they are traitors and Secessionists at
heart i say that there are traitors and Seces-
sionsts at heart in this Senate. Their actions
prove it. Their speeches prove it, Their gibes
and laughter and cheers here nightly, when their
speakers get up to denounce the war and the
Administration, prove it, | can sit here no
longer and not tell these traitors what think OF
them. And while so telling them, am response
be myself, for what say. l stand upon my
own bottom. / am ready TO meet any man on
this floor in any manner, from pins point to
the mouth of cannon, upon this charge against
these traitors. Tremendous applause from the
galleresl / am an old man of sixty five.
came TO Illinois a poor boy. / have made lit
lie, something for myself and family. | pay
three thousand dollars a year in taxes. l am
willing 10 pay six thousand, aye twelve thou
eand-Igreat cheering, the old gentleman strik'
ing the desk with blow that would KNOCK down
II bullock and causing the inkstand tofy IN the
air]-aye, am willing to pay my whole Ioi tune
and then give my life to save my country from
these traitors that are seeking to destroy it
Tremendous applause, which the Speaker could
not control] Mr.. Speaker you must please eX
cuse me. | could not sit longer 10 my seat and
calmly listen to these traitors. My heart, thas
feels for my poor country would not let me. MY
heart, that cries out for the lives OF our brave
volunteers in the field, that these traitors at home
are destroying by thousands, would not let me.
Yes, these traitors and villains in the Senate
[striking his cenched fist on the desk with blow
that made the Senate ring again] are killing my
neighbors boys, now fighting in the field. dare
TO say this to these traitors right here, and am
responsible for what | say to any one or all OF
them. [Cheers.l Let them come on now, right
here. i am sixty five years old, and have made
up my mind to risk my life right here, on this
floor for my country. Mr.. Funk's seat is near
the lobby railing, aud crowd collected around
him, evidently with the intention of protecting
him from violence, if necessary. The last an
nouncement was received with great cheering,
and | saw many an eye flash and many a cOun'
ienance grow radiant with the light Of defiance ]
These men sneered at Colonel Mack few days
since. He is q small man. But am a large
man. am ready to meet any of them in place
of Colonel Mack. / am large enough for them,
aud hold myself ready for them now and at any
time [Cheers from the galleries. Mr.. Speaker,
these traitors on this floor should be provided
with hempen collars They deserve them They
deserve hanging, | say (raising his voice and
violently striking the desk), the country would
be the better of swinging them up. | go for
hanging them, and dare to tell them so, right
here, 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-
joce at it. Tremendous eheering.] Mr.. Speaker,
] beg pardon of the gentlemen in this Senate
who are not traitors, but true, loyal men, for
what have said. / only intend it and mean it
for Secessionists at heart They are here in this
Senate. | see them gibe, aud smirk and grin at
a true Union man. Must defy them 7 | stand
here ready for them and dare them to come on
[Great cheering1 What man with the heart Of {
patriot could stand this treason any longer?
have stood it long enough. | will stand it nc
more. TCheersl | denOunce these men as their
aiders and abettors, as rank traitors and Seces-
tionists. He'll itself could not spew ont a more
trait0rous crew than some of the men that dis
grace this Legislature, this State, and this cOun-
Try. For myself protest against and denounce
their reasonable acts. have voted against their
measures | will do so to the end. / will de-
nOunce 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.
TProloaged cheers and shouts | said | paid
three thousand dollars a year taxes. do not
say it to brag of it. it is my duty-yes, Mr..
Speaker, my privilege to do it. But some of
these traitors here who are working 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 hypocrites as well as trait
ors | heard some of them talking about high
taxes in this way who do not pay five dollars TO
the support of the Government ! denounce
them as hypocrtes as well as traitors. [Cheers.]
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 Secessionists to conquer our boys in
the field. They care about high taxes They
are picayune men any how, and pay no taxes at
all, aud never did, and never hope or expect to-
This is an excuse of traitors. Cheers.] Mr.
Speaker, excuse me. | feel for my county, in
this her hour of danger, from the tips of my toes
TO the ends of my hair. That is the reason
speak as do | cannot help it, ! am bound to
tell these men TO their teeth what they are, and
what the people, the true loyal people, think of
them. Tremendous cheering.l The Speaker
raped on his desk, apparently to stop it, but
really to add to its volume, for could see by his
flushed cheek and flashing eye that his 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 called speech,
could not sit still any longer and see these
scoundrels and traitors work out their helish
schemes to destroy the Union. They have my
sentiments let them one and all make the most
of them. | am ready to back up all | say, and
repeat it, to meet these traitors in any manner
they choose, from pins point to the mouth of
cannon" Tremendous applause, during which
the old gentleman sat down, after he had given
the desk parting whack, which sounded loud
above the din of cheers and clapping of hands
| never before witnessed so much excitement
in an assembly. Funk spoke with a force of ma
tural eloquence, with a conviction and truthful.
ness, with fervor and pathos, which wrought up
the galleries, and even members ON the floor, to
the highest pitch of excitement His voice was
heard in the stores that surrounded the square,
and the people came focking in from all quar-
tiers. In five minutes he had an audience that
packed the ball to its utmost capacity. After he
had concluded the Republican members and spec
tators rushed up and took him by the hand to
congratulate him. The Democrats said nothing,
but evidently felt the castgaton they were re-
CelVlnO knpnlU n1iuhf bo fron fba;,