Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-03-06
A REmARKABLE Speech.
Bold DeaunciatiOn of Ooppcrheads ~ the LQinoi'
Legisldtve--He teils Mem what he Thinks q
them and their Treason

REMARKABLE SPEECH.
Bold Decentralization of Ooppcrheads IN the Minois
Legisloture--He tells them what he Thinks Of
them and their Treason.
On the last day Of the Illinois Legislature, Mr..
Funk Senator from Mclean county, delivered
a speech, which is thus described and reported
bv the Springfield correspondence the Chicago
Tribune:
rnE oRKAT SPEECH OF THE sEssIoS-THE TRAITORS
LAsHED AND DEFIED TO THEIR TETTH.
A great sensation was,caused by speech de-
livered by Mr.. Funk, one Of the richest farmers
Of the State, man who pays over $1,000 per
annum in taxes toward the support Of the Gov
ernment The lobby and gallery were crowded
with spectators. Mr.. Funk rose to object TO
trihing resolutions which were being introduced
by the Democrats to kill time, and stave off
vote upon the appropriations for the support of
| the State Government He said:
Mr. Speaker: | can sit in my seat no longer
and see such boys play going on. These men
are tritiing with the best interests Of the coun-
| try. They should have asses ears to set off
their heads for they are Secessionists and trait
ors at heart gt
| say that there are traitors and Secessionists
at heart in this Senate. Their actions prove it.
Theirspeeches prove it, Their gibes and laugh
ter and cheers here nightly, when their speakers
get up in this hall and denounce the war and
the Administration, prove it. Haj.u Boz aI
can sit there no longer and not tell these trait
Ors what think Of them. And while so telling
them, am responsible myself for what say.
stand upon my own bottom. l am ready to
meet any man on this floor, in any manner, from
pins point to the mouth of the cannon, upon
this charge against these traitors ITremend-
GUS applause from the galleries.1 / am an old
man of 65. came to Illinois a poor boy /
have made little something for myself and fam
lily. pay $4,000 a year in taxes. am will
ing to pay $4,000, aye $4,000, Ggreat cheering,
the old gentleman bringing down his fist upon
his desk with blow that would knock down
bullock and causing the inkstand to bounce
half dozen inches in the air,J aye, am willing
to pay my whole fortune, aud then give my life
to save my country from these traitors that are
seeking to destroy it. Tremendous cheers
and applause, which the Speaker could not sub
due.
Mr.. Speaker, you must please excuse me.
could not sit longer in my seat and calmly listen
to these traitors My heart, that feels for my
poor country, would not let me. My heart, that
cries out for the lives ofour brave volunteers in
the field, that these traitors at home are destroy
ing by thousands would not let me. My heart
that bleeds for the widows and orphans at home,
would not letme. Yes, these villains and trait
ors and Secessionists in the Senate Tstriking his
clenched fist on the desk with blow that made
the house ring again1 are killing my neighbors
boys now fighting in the field dare TO tell
this TO those traitors, TO their faces, and that
am responsible for what l say to one or all of
them. [Cheers.1 Letthem come on right here
am sixty five years old, and have made up
my mind 10 risk my life right here, on this floor,
for my country. Mr. Funk stood near the lob
by railing, his desk being one of the row imme-
dlately in front of it. A crowd, as he proceed
ed, collected around him, evidently with the in
tention of protecting him from violence, If nee
essary. The last announcement was received
with great cheering and l saw many an eve
FASH and many ceuntenance grow radiant with
the light of defiance.] aaiaa
These men sneered at Col. Mack, day ortwo
ago. He is little man; but | am a large man.
l am ready to meet any one of them, in place of
Col. Mack. am large enough for them, and /
hold myself ready for them now, and at any
time. GCheers.] boz 7ga o,trH ie-en'
Mr.. Speaker, these traitors on this floor should
be provided with heinpen collars. They deserve
them. They deserve hanging / say. Raising
his voice and violently hitting the desk. The
country would be better off to swing them up.
i 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 country to hang them. For that reason i
would rejoice at it. [Tremendous cheering,]
Mr.. Speaker, / beg pardon of the gentlemen
in the Senate who are not traitors, but true, 10y
al men, for what have said. only intend it
and mean it for Secessionists at heart. They
are here in this Senate. / see them joke, and
smrk, and grin at a true Union man. But
defy them. / stand here ready for them, and
dare them to come on. Great cheering. J.
What man with the heart Of a patriot could
stand this treason any longerf have stood it
long enough. withstand it no more. TOheers. l
l denounce these men and their aiders and abet-
tors as rank traitors and Secessonists. He'll it.
self could not spew out more 'traitOrous crew
than some of the men who disgrace this Legisla-
ture, this State, and this country. For myself
protest against and denounce their reasonable
acts. / have voted against their measures /
will do so to the end. / will denounce them as
long as God gives mc breath. And am ready
to meet the traitors themselves, here or any
where, and fight them to the death. Prolonged
cheers and Shouts. lis
said paid $4,000 year taxes. / do not
say it 70 brag of it. II is my duty-yes, Mr..
Speaker, my privilege to doit But some of the
traitors here who are working night and day to
get their miserable little bills and claims through
the Legislature, to take money out of the pock-
cts Of the people, are talking abouth high taxes
They are hypocrites, as well as traitors,
heard some Of them talking about high taxes in
this way, who do not pay five dollars to support
the Government. / denounce them as hypo-
critics as well as traitors. ICheers.]
The reason that they pretend to be afraid OF
high taxes is that they do not want to vote mon
/
TO embarrass the Government and stop the war.
They want to aid the secessonsts to conquer
our boys in the field. They care about taxes?
They are picayune men anyhow. They pay no
taxes at ALL and never did, and never hope to,
unless they can manage to plumber the Gov
eminent CCheers.l This is an excuse of
traitors. r. 1'i 'a7 na'
tHere the Speaker called for order in the gall
leries. y r.t ls
Mr., Speaker: Excuse me, feel for my coun-
try in this hef hour Of danger; feel for her
from the tips ofmy toes to the ends of my hair
That is the reason that speak as ] do. l cam
not help it. am bound to tell these men to
their teeth what they are, and what the people,
the true loyal people, sink ofthem. (Tremend-
Gus cheering. The Speaker raped upon the
desk in unison with the applause, apparently TO
stop It, but really to add 10 its volume, for |
could see by his flushed cheek and flashing eye
that his heart was with the brave and loyal old
gentleman.) "f ittb
Mr.. Speaker: have said my say. am no
speaker This is the only speech have made.
| And do not know that Il deserves to be called
a speech ] could not sit still any longer and
see these scoundrels and traitors work out their
selfish schemes 60 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 may chose, from pins
point 10 the mouth Of cannon" Tremendous
applause during which the old gentleman sat
down, after he had given the desk parting
whaek, which sounded loud above the din of
cheers and clapping of hands.)
| II nev.r Witnessed 40 much excitement in my