The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-12-11
Northern Traitors.

In his able speech before the Massachu-
sets Republican State Convention, held at
Worcester, Hon. Henry Wilson dealt the
following telling blow at Northern Traitors
in general, and Franklin Pierce in partcu-
lar:
"They arraign tho Government for arbi.
trary arrests. Who has been arrested in
Massachusetts,? No one - many ought to
bc. cloud applause.) Docs not that apos.
tatc. Franklin Pierce, tread the soil of New
England? Z? (Vociierous applausc.) Does not
that man who told JEFF. Davis before Novem-
Der, 1859, that if an army was sent into the
South for subjugation it would have battle
to fight on the Northern soil with doubtful
results. 60 free here in New. England? Does
not that man, who, in January, 1860, when
Democratic traitors wero pacing the halls Of
Congress. like Gagged tigers. ready to spring
at the life of the nation, wrote to Jefferson
Davis that if it came to blows the battle
was not to be on Mason and Dixon's line
merely, but was to bo here on the soil OF
New England, continue to insult the patriot
ism of the people? Did not these words of
treason encourage Jefferson Davis and his
traitor compeers TO raise the standard OF re-
volt against the country? (Applause.)-
Does not this Government, this reviled Ad.
minstration, permit that traitor to walk
free here in tho sunlight OF our own New
England? Does not the Government allow
these men of Massachusetts, to slandcr it as
much as they please? Who has harmed
them? Who? And yet the Government is
arraigned for making few arrests of men
who are plotting against the life of their ma
ton say to you, gcntlem IN, here TO day,
what have said on the floor Of tho Con-
gress of the United States, and il God gives
Inc liberty mean to say it again. (applause,)
that the Government is to be blamed less for
making the arrests than for not making more
of them. (Renewod applause. III had
the power, | would take these men who are
plotting against the life Of the nation, when
ever they are OF consequence enough to do
So, and would hold them in the gripe OF
American patriotism, until they ceased to DO
dangerous to the country, when | would
fling the worthless things away. daughter
and cheers They arraign the Government
for arbitrary arrests; for arres.ing Valan.
digham, who, in the language of Commo-
dOre Maury, in the London Times, lis watch
ing over the border and, il elected, he
means to put the State of Ohio against the
Administration of the Nation. Ii was an
objectionable crime to arrest him and send
him to his friends, (laughter,) away down
in Dixie!' Gentlemen. our fathers arrested
Tories in the Revolution. Washington ar
rested the Valandighams of his day; he
tried them, shut them up in prisons, and
respectable, conservative Tories didn't like it,
and no doubt pissed resolutions against it,
Have you ever heard anybody denounce
Washington and the patriots of the Revolu.
ton for arresting the Tories OF their day :?
After the rebellion shall have been crushed,
you cannot find men bold enough to arraisn
the Government of the United States for
arrcsting these men who are plotting treason
against tho country. The patriotism of the
nation will blast, wither and consume the
men who should arraign the Government for
putting their hands upon plotting traitors"