The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-04-03
g1GseeQansous.
EXTRACT,


4 by Hon. b. NJ. RoBERrs, of Waldo County.
Mr.. President: As it has been intimated
that another will reply to the speech of the
Senator from York, shall only alludc to
some positions taken by that Senator 50 ut.
tcrly absurd and untrue that had he not so
often reiterated them, it might seem like
assent il notice were not taken. | think |
but speak the opinion of this Senate, in say.
ing that the course of the Senator from York
through the entire session, has been intensely
partizan, if no harsher term should be mp.
piled. High.minded patriotism, country
above party, has been stranger in his coun'
ellis.
When the Senator takes his printed speech
and places II side by side with the debate of
the singers of the Declaration of Indepen.
dcnce aud founders of this government, |
think he will regret such record, will
blush to leave such u legacy to his children.
Is there not the same need OF patriotic states.
manship as in the days Of the revolution
Is the country in any less peril? :? The resolves
passed by the other branch of the Legislature
in no way refer to party, but to question
of grave moment the freedom of 5000, ,00O
slaves to be used in crushing this great re-
bellion. Instead OF meeting this momcntous
question the Senator has moved an amend.
ment. entirely changing the issue, not expect
ing to carry it as he frankly admits, but
plainly to enable him to make speech for
BuncOmbe, and wallow in the sloughs Of
party-picking up here and there political
scrap from the turbid political waters of the
past ten years. which he has patched into a
quilt to cover himself in the coming election
in York county.
Over and over again he brands the Re
publicans as disunionsts and traitors. How
stands the record? In tho platform on which
Abraham Lincoln was elected, in letters Of
blazing light, stands the words, "Thc Union
it must and shall be preserved" From the
firing of the first rebel gun upon Fort
Sumter, with moro than pride. assert,
that not Republican can bo found who
has not been for quelling tho rebellion and
tho maintenance of tho Union. II erring
at al, and to err is human, II has been
for more vigorous prosecution of tho war.
See its noble array of loyal Governors vieing
with each other, who should do most to raise
troops and equip them for the field Look
Mt the rank and flo OF our armies, two.thirds
Republicans, noble, brave men, but not no.
bier or braver than the other third, who arc
loyal Democrats-just the same. Look at
the sons Of our eminent Republican states
men in the field ! Look on this side and then
on the other. Ono half of the Democratic
party in rebellion against the government.
Who filled our political prisons for the first
year Of the war? Disloyal Democrats from
the North Villainous traitors for whom
the patriotic Senator from York has been
pleading! Men who in any other country,
under any other government. would not
only have been sent to the Bastile, but to
that place "where the wicked cease from
troubling" Where is Vallandinsham,
whom indignant soldiers drove across the
Potomac at tho point of the bayonet, for
treasonous sentiments uttered in public
speech? Whercis Fernando Wood, the great
unhung, who has just been preaching trca-
son. and resistance to the cOnscript law to
tle people of Conneticut2 Where is your
Ingersoll, who proposes to arrest the Presi
dent OF the United States, and hold him as
hostage for some scape gallows who has been
plotting civil war in the North? The Senator
has inYited comparison. He has them. One
word more and am done with his speech.
He asserts that the proclamation has divided
the North-bclore united. Did not that Sen.
ator vote for Dana in 81, placed on plat
form so trcasonous, that the loyal Democrats
bolted and hunted those men all over the
States, branding them as traitors? Had the
proclamation been issued then? Was the
North then united?
The Senator whincs ut the use OF the terms
Copperheads and traitors. have not used
such terms for the session, and do not now.
Let the loyal Democrats come out in their
Conventions and plant themselves squarely
for the government and the unqualified sup.
preston of tho rebellion, and shake off all
those traitorous men who aro hiding them.
selves under Democratic cloaks, or clnging
to theskirts Of their garments, and tho Amer.
lean people, apt to call things their right
names, will apply those cpithets only to that
breed of dogs to whom they belong. And
God have mercy on the breckenridge, Dana
voting Senator from York!
The abuser of Washburn, that indelatiga-
bic loyal Goycrnor-ot General Butler, the
savior of the nations capital, and second
hero of New 0rleans-the slanderer OF Will
lam Ii. Seward, the great American diploma.
tist and consummate statesman-the haters OF
President Lincoln, the sturdy national helms
man, who so bravcly and skillfully has stesrcd
the ship of State between Scylla and Charyb-
dys, that incorruptible Chief Magistrate.
The Senator complains of being called q
traitor. Whether you mean it or not, your
measures are the samo as traitors to the gov.
ernmcut would pursue-the effects precisely
the same. You find fault II General is re.
leiyed from cornmand-traitors do the same.
You alleso vacillation and imbecility in the
administrations do traitors. You prate
about tho generalization Of the army-so
do traitors. You clamor In advance against
a draft-so do traitors. You howl against
the proclamation, prate about an abolition
war-so do traitors. You cannot give u
single reason why black man should be
better treated than white man-no reason
in the.widc world why hc should not dig
trenches, drive teams, incur the dangers OF
battle-no manly reason if he does risk his
life in defence OF the government, why no
should not DO assured Of his freedom in nd
yance-no reason why rebel should bc
screened by your special pleading Of consti-
tutional rights rights forfeited the mo-
ment he renounccd his allegiance to and
made war upon the government. This is
the length and breadth Of the proclamation
l-all there is Of or 10 IL. It says, rebels