Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-03-05

ton. These measures are war measures-mesa-
Ures which it must be plain to every man who
loves his country, are purely military in their
character It not till this had ragged arly
two years. that these measures were adopted-tiu
this war had fingered because of rebels in she army
and rebels in the public offices. If we unite in
the determin alton to put down this rebellion, the
will cease in less than sixty days. But it re-
quiIes the whole influence of the whole people of
the loyal states to put an immediate stop to this
war. 1t is not emancipation, nor confscation that
is the object of this How does soldier 70 to
work to destroy his ensmys Does he not cut off
his supplies where he can, to weaken him OF
the confscation act and the emancipation
proclamation became war measures. So far as
these acts be carried out, they will prove to be
of the utmost benefit, but to carry them out the
administration will need the united support of the
people of this country The complaint against this
war and the opposition to itat home, are affordng
who get up these complaints and make this opposi-
ton, are doing more injury to the Union cause,
than all the traitors in the rebel srmy.
Jef Davis and his government we'll know that they
have large sympsthizing party at the North, and
they believe that they will in time be aided by this
party in accomplishing division of this Union. 1t
is for my interest and for your interest," and for the
interest Of every man in this nation, that this
bellion should be put down. 1 would rather that
every negro in the Southern States should be bot
and paid tor at the highest price, than that any
portion of this nation should be permanently dis
severed. My blood chills within me to hear any
man favor dismemberment of any portion of this
Union. 1t is reasonable to contemplate such an
act desired direct vote upon these resolutions
because wish to know how far they meet the APP
probation of this body. look upon them ruin
Gus In their tendency. If they embodied the sem
uments of the loyal people of these States, we
should be in subsection to the rebel government in
less than sixty days. If We are in favor of dis
memberment, if We are in favor Of yielding to our
enemies, if we are in favor of bowling down to the
men making war upon the constitution and the
government, want to know who among US is.
am glad to hear the gentleman from Iilwau-
kee express himself as he does But he is still in
error in some respects. He does not say that he
fully endorses the confscation act, or the proca-
nation OF emancipation. For my part, would
take the last niger, the last mule and the last
dollar, frem rebel, whoever he be, to put down
this re beIlion.
Mr.. BARRON. (Rep.) believe there are PROPOSE
tons which are 100 outrageous, if not too absurd,
to receive the attention Of this body. These
lutions are among such propositions. They ought
not to be discussed by this Legislature, by the
Legislature OF any loyal State. All wish to say
in regard to them at the present time is that if
my Pc litica history had been like that of the gen.
tleman from Milwaukee, l should, OF course,
come in here to oppose these resolutions. l be.
lieve the Breckenridge men supported Mr.. Breckin-
| ridge from the best of motives Such men as
Dickinson and Butler wished to preserve the Union.
They failed in the sacrifices they made, and they
DO not wish to make any more. Now, sir, look
upon the men, who, like the gentleman from Mil
waukee (Mr Sharpstein), supported Van Buren, in
1S4S, the Buffalo platform, and who while in the
Legislature some years since refused to rescnd the
Democratic resolutions of ls49, being peculiarly
open to the objection of having alarmed the South,
and having thereby brought on this war. think
such men did more to bring dissolution Of the
Union than all the Breckenridge men in exist enee.
The votes that We gave in the North in 1S4S con-
trlbuted very much to satisfy the South that they
could not extend slavery any farther.
find no fault whatever with the proclamation
of the President and if did, loyal citizen Of
| the Union, should feel myself compelled to sub
NIT to the views of the President and his constitu-
| gentlemen who really loyal should deem it
their duty to oppose the OF this Administration
for putting down the rebellion, because these
and orders do not agree with their previous notions
| Of military policy. ..-
Mr.. WALWOKTH, Rep.) 1t is not my intention
to detain the House long upon these resolutions,
but lnasmuch as they are intended to operate upon
the public mind Interior design to show that
large portion Of che people of this State in favor
of peace, believe it to be duty to expose the
design of those offering these and press
| ing them upon our attention.
The opposition to this war is not which
stands alone by itself. Look at the of the
olution. Do We not see there men combining to-
gether to oppose that war, which We now consider
the most noble effort for liberty undertaken by
man Did not these men unite with savages to
crush this effort The tories have passed away but
| they have made their record. They remember
| ed only to be hated. As come down to the war
Of 1872, we find that on the Oath day of December.
pose the war. They denounced every measure of
the Administration, and denounced the Administra-
ton. They, too, have made their record. By that
record they made their political graves deep that
they will never be resurrected And sir, coming down
to the present war we find an address issued in the
| city of Milwaukee denouncing the abolition of
slavery in the District of Columbia and den ouncing
various acts of the present Administration and the
Administration ITSELF This ADDRESS was opposed by
the NEST patriotic men in the Democratic party
but IL passed the convention to whom 1t was pre-
sented. Have net record in 1868 of deposition
this and is not that record the journal of
this House, that fftyseven votes were given for Z.
G.. Ryan tor United States Senator2 Here is
another record that will stand. This record will
come back to plague its authors when least they
want to havet.
Are the people of Wisconsin to get upon thu cir
knees to give the rebels opportunity to resusc-
| tate their exhausted means tor carrying ON the
war These resolutions bear the same relation to
the history of this that the resolutions of the
Hartford Convention did to the war of 1872
was glad to hear the sentiments uttered by the
| gentleman from Milwaukee (Mr. Sharpstein.1 lie
is one of the war Democrats, and cordially well
come him into the ranks of the supporters of this
Union. He occupies noble position, and every
Democrat occupying the position of loyal and
true man to the Government we cordially welcome
as fellow helper in the great work of saving the
government and the Constitution. We do not stop
| to ask what their antecedents are.
In tits vote which is pending, We are to make
permanent record. We are to say to the people,
We are to say decidedly, either that in favor
of conquertng peace, or that we in favor of
respite. The friends of these resolutions ask
ing us to stop all war measures merely because
emancipation proclamation has gone forth, which
is only necessary war measure, and
confscation act has been passed. Do we stop to
ask what is constitutional, when man attempts
to destroy our property lives, do defend
ourselves as men shouid2 Certainly, We do the
latter.
Mr.. sHARPsTEIN. rise to reply, not to any,
thing said of my course outside of the Legislature,
but as the gentleman from Polk (Mr. Barron) has
said something of my course on a former occasion
In the Legislature, l rise to correct him. Ten
years ago was in the Senate. Resolutions were
introduced resembling the resolutions of 1S49. The
Democrats went into caucus On the resolutions to
rescind, Such men as Charles Dunn, Henry L.
Palmer, and others of that class. in that can
Gus, and opposed meddling with the resolutions of
a former Legislature. was then young man,
and unable to overcome the influence Of these
gentlemen, although favored the resembling as
we'll as could. did not live in Kenosha county
till 1S49 an can assure gentlemen that my rec
ord made in tbs campaign OF 164S, has never been
falsfed.
Mr.. sANBoRN. Oem.) most cordially agree
with every gentleman, whether In this House OF
preservation of the Union. know never utter
ed sen timent in my life, in contradiction to this
statement: never will till every hope, till the
By this time ought to profit by experience.-
1t is not all our duty just to shut our eyes and
close our ears. We have some veritabls facts
contend with, something more than mere war for
ideas. Some men may think that an idea
can operate the battle field, but what
We now need most is action, and correct action
Men may differ in regard to matters of public poll.
cy. The gentleman from Milwaukee (hr. Sharp
Eten) is honest in his opinion that his views are
just. The gentleman from Polk (Mr. Barron) and
| the gentleman from Richlsnd (Mr. Wa!worth) may
think their views are just. also say Repeal and
Recede We ask the administration to Repeal and
Recede They show no symptoms in that direction.
It that nothing can influence them to recede.
the true policy. This is the question that have
deal with. We have been wading in blood, wading
in trouble for two years more. We all of US have
give our united support to the Union. We pledged
vet