Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-02-05
consent to such an arnistice as he pro-

q
but the speaker holds him sternly to hi:
record
The scene grows exciting again, The
orator has already been once or twice in.
terrupted by loud applause from the gal,
lerles, and the Speaker has IL vain endeav-
ored to repress it. Around him are clus
tered as many members as can fiad room.
Almost in front of him is Kentucky's ven
cradle patriot, John J. Crittenden. But
little farther off is that picture of a
equity, grabbed old English Squire of two
centuries ago-Mr. Wicktiffe VallaDdig.
ham himself is in his seat paying the clos
est attention. Horace Maynard moves
about the area before the Clerks desk
with qualification expressed on his face
he makes no efforts to conceal. The Ohio
Democrats look on with scowling faces
They dislike the treatment their champion
is receiving from his colleague. Henry
May looks dipleased. The rest OF the
Border State men are evidently very much
interested n the sayings of this radical
Alter some telling point, VallaDdigham
interrupts with sheer: Perhaps the
gentleman had better volunteer" 1t is an
injudicious attempt, Vallandigham is not
ready at the cut and thrust of quick de
bate, and Bingham is. The gentleman
really consents that | may volunteer.
Loud laughter.l | thank my colleague.
he Is progressing. 1t has not been very
long since he was demanding that nobody
should volunteer!" Applause rings out
spontaneous from the galleries, and the
Speaker subdues it by threatening to clear
them if there is any further disturbance.
Then, with his imperIous air, Bingham
turns upon his colleague. Talk to nae
about volunteering! You, who have
sworn to support the Constitution of the
United States, stand by and see it torn and
rent IN tatters, and deny the right to
maintain it by arms! When violent hands
are laid upon the old flag of the Union,
stained, as it is, all over with the blood of
Its defenders, she'd by their assassins and
mnrderers, you deny the right to uphold
it, and refuse to vote supplies to your cit.
izan soldery. who peril all things earthly
for the majesty of the law and in defense
OF their own Institutions. You talk abont
volunteering" Applause again burst
forth in the galleries, despite the threats
of the Speaker.
With similar force and pungency he
gees on, till his hour is exhausted. More
time Is promptly granted him, and he pro
ceeds, increasing in the powerful elcquence
OF his denunciation, till he closes in eli
max so touchingly beautiful that tears
stand in the eyes of more than one be-
reaved member in she crowd that clusters
still closer around him.
WRIGHT ON vALLANDIGHAM.
The excited Pennsy lvania Democrat
who strove to get the floor before. rises
A fine, portly, slver-haired, forid-faced
gold-spectacled gentleman of the old
school, scarcely past the vigor of his early
manhood yet, though he must be fifty or
illty>five. His appearance plainly betrays
his extraction from the best race that has
gone to the wonderful commingling in our
American blood-the Scotch. Irish; and
his mutton-leg whiskers and bold, frank.
manly way of talking, confirm the be-
trayal. He is the author of the resolutions
on which the debate is taking place. and
speaks of right.
He has other claims to be heard. "He
was President-as 8 true-blue Democrat
whispers IN our ears as he begins-of the
Baltimore National Democratic Conyen-
ton, in which Martin Van Buren,, the
Free Soil Democrat was slaughtered by
the sudden springing of the two-thirds |
rule" and was thus driven to the organi-
cation of vitalized "sectional party. y
But for that" continues our True. blue. !
''but tor sustaining that two-thirds rule by
his decision as President there, we might |
have escaped the origin of these Difficult |
ties. Mr.. Wright does we'll to help allay
them now. Let's see what course he'll
take
The House has the same curiosity with
the True blue. Wright's position is not
very well understood aud a good many
Il publicans expect a repetition of the |
Vallandigham performance.
The delusion is soon dispeled. His |
first words, clear and bold, and flung oct |
in that style the stumpi loves so well,
strike home to the core of the matter. a |
am peace man, but | am not a peace |
man if that peace is to be established upon |
the fragments of a broken aud DESTROYED |
Union. | am peace man, if peace can |
be obtained with rebels who are striking |
a. the vtals of the Republic upon terms
that shall be ali <e honorable to the patri- !
otism and courage OF the North. But. as I
my resolutions say, while the rebellion |
stands In menacing attitude, while their |
guns are directed upon your very capital |
itself, and while they themselves say they |
will make no terms with Us, | am not |
peace man, because under these circum
stances | could not be pace man and |
preserve my own honor and my own |
country"
GOOD, good" exclaimed the excited
Republicans, who instantly begin focking
over to the opposition side, to see the war
in the family. He continues to denounce |
the idea OF Offering proposals of peace to |
armed rebels, and brings out his proposi- |
tons with sledge. hammer force that al
most make you want to start the hip hip |
hurrah at the close of every sentence. The |
Democrats scowl; Vallandigham grows un-
easy, and occasionally interrupts, always |
coming off second best whel, he does SO.
The Border State men give the closest at /
teDtion. The galleries are electrified, and |
now and again defy the Speakers threats,
by bursting out into ringing applause.
"Great God exclaims the member in I
his hearty Pennsylvania way, dis it to be |
supposed that because a campaign has not |
come up to publs expectation, we are to |
lay down our arms and sue of traitors, |
like spanieis, tor peace! AS God lives |
there shall be day of reckoning. The !
man who is on the side of his country and |
on the side of liberty now, his name and |
reputation shall live forever; and that man |
who says, down with your arms, and let |
the enemy prosper and take possession of
your capital shall have reputation and |
memory as Infamous and damnable as that
OF the Cowboys of the Revolution.