The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-02-27
A REMARKABLE SPEECH.
Bold DenunciatiOn Of COpperheads
in the Illinois Leg tie tells
Them what ne Thinks of the Men
and their Treason.

: ture, Mr. Funk, a Senator from Mclean
county, delivered speech, which is thus
described and reported by the Springfield
| correspondent of the Chicago Tribune:
, THE GREAT SPEECH OF THE sEssIoN-rHE
TRAITORS LAsHED AND DEFIED TO THEIR
TEETH.
A great sensation was caused by speech
, delivered By Mr.. Funk, one of the richest
farmers of the State, q lnau who pays over
$4,000 per annum in taxes toward the sup
port OF the Government. The lobby and
gallery were crowded with spectators. Mr..
Funk rose to object TO tritling resolutions
which were being introduced by the Dem
ocrats to kill time. and stave Oft a vote upon
the appropriations for the support of the
State Government. He said:
"Mr. Speaker: / can sit in my seat no
longer aud see such boys play going on
These men are triflrg with the best inter-
ests of the country They should have
asses ears to set off their heads, or they
are secessionists and traitors at heart.
IL say that there are traitors and seces-
sionists at heart in this Senate. Their ac-
tions prove it. Their speeches prove it,
Their gibes and laughter and cheers here
nightly, when their speakers get up in this
Hall and denounce the war aud the Admin
istration. proveit.
| "I can sit here no losger and not tell
these traitors what think Of them. And
while So telling them | am responsible my
self for what say. l stand upon my own
bottom. l sm ready TO meet any man on
this floor, in any manner, from pins point
to the mouth of a cannon, upon this charge
agajns. these traitors. Tremendous ap-
plausa from the galleries. l am an old
man of 65. l came to Illinois poor boy.
l have made little something for myself
and family. pay $4,000 a'year in taxes.
l am willing to pay $4,000. aye $4,000.
[great cheering, the old gentleman bringing
down his fist upon his desk with blow
that would knock down bullock, and caus-
ing the inkstsnd to bounce a half dozen
inches in the air, aye, am willing to pay
my whole fortune. and 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 subdue.
"Mr. Speaker, you must please excuse
me, 1 could not sit longer in my seat. and
calmly listen to these traitors NJ heart,
that feels for my poor country, would not
let me. My heart, that cries out fbr the
lives of our brave volunteers in tho field,
that these traitors at home are Destroying
by thousands, would not let me. Mf heart
that bleeds for the widows ard orphsns at
home, would not let me. Yes, these vii.
lains and traitors and Secessioniss id this
Senate [striking his clenched fist on the desk
with blow that made the house ring again
are killing my neighbours boys now fighting
in the field. | dare to tell this to those
traitors. to their faces, and that am re-
On hat II, e
them. [Cheers. Let them come on right
here. am sixty five years old, and have
made up my mind to risk my life right here,
on this floor, for my country. Mr.. Funk
stood near the lobby railing. his desk being
one of the row Immediately in front of it,
A crowd, as he proceeded, collected around
him. evidently with the intention of protec.
ting him from violence, if necessary. The
last announcement was received with great
cheering and saw many an eye fash. and
many a countenance grow radiant with the
light of defiance
"These men sneered at Col. Mack, a dav
or two ago. He is little man but am
a large man. l am ready to meet any of
them. in place of Col. Mack l am large
enough for them, and hold myself ready
for them now, and at any time. Cheers
from the galleries.
Mr.. Speaker. these traitors on this floor
should be provided with hempen collars
They deserve them. They deserve them.
They deserve hanging. l say. Raieing his
voice and violently striking the desk. The
country would be better off to swing them
up. so for hanging them, and l dare to
tell them SO, right here. to their traitors
faces. Traitors should be hung 1t would
be the salvation of the country to hang
them. For that reason l would rejoice at
it. Tremendous cheering
"Mr. Speaker, beg pardon of the gem
tlemen in the Senate who are not traitors,
but true. loyal men. for what have said.
| only intend it and mean it for Secession
lists at heart. They are here in this Senate.
I see them joke, and sinirk, and grin at
true Union man. Bu, l defy them. I stand
here ready for them, and dare them to come
on. lGreat cheering. What man with
the heart of patriot could stand this trea-
son any longer! have stood it long enough.
will stand it no more. TCheers.l | de.
noupce these men and their aders and abat
tors rs rank traitors and Secessionists,-
Hen itself could not spew out more trail
torous crew than some OF the men who dis.
grace this Legislature. this State and this
country. For myself, protest against and
denounce their reasonable acts I have
voted against their measures will do so
to the end. l will denounce them as lono
as God gives me breath. Aud I am ready
to meet the traitors themselves, here or auv.
where. aud fight them to the death. IPro.
longed cheers and shouts
Il said paid three thousand dollars a
year taxes. 1 do not say it 10 brag of it.
II is my duty. yes, Mr.. Speaker. NV privil-
ege to do 1t. But some OF the traitors here
who are working night aud 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 about hich
taxes. They are hypocrites, as well As ,ra-
tors heard some of them talking about
high taxes in this way, who do not nav FIVE
dollars 70 support the Government. De.
nounce them as hypocriies as well as ,r.i.
tors Cheers
The reeson that they pretend to be
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