Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-03-20
Scene I'm the Illinois Legislature
SPEECH OF A BRAVE OLD PATRror-HIs TERRIFIC
PnILLlPIC AGAINST TRAITORS.

| crEECH Of a BRAVE OLD PATRLOr-HI6 TERRIFI
PnILLlPIC AGAINST TRAITORS.
The Springfield (Il.) correspondent of tn
Chicago Tribune, under date of Februar
l4th, writes as follows:
A great sensation was created by q speecl
by Mr.. Funk, one of the richest farmers il
the State, man who pays over three thou
sand dollars per annum taxes towards tn
support Of the Government The lobby anc
gallery were crowded with spectators. Mr.
Funk rose to object to some triAing rcsolu
tisns, which were being introduced by tn,
Democrats to kill time and stave off yot,
upon the appropriation for the support o
the State government. He said:
Mr.. Speaker, can sit in my seat no Longer
and see such boy play going on, These mer
are trifling with the best interests of thu
country. They should have asses ears st
set off their heads, or they are traitors anG
secessionsts at heart
say that there are traitors and secession
lists at heart in this Senate. Their actions
prove it. Their speeches prove it. Theil
gibes and laughter, and cheers here nightly
when their speakers get up to denounce the
war and the Administration, prove it.
! can sit here no longer and not tell these
trai!or what think of them. And while SC
telling them, am responsible myself for what
say. | stand upon my own bottom. am
ready to meet any man on this floor, in any
manner, from pins point to the mouth of a
cannon, upon this charge against these trai
tors. TREMENDOUS applause from the CALLER.
| les. am an old man Of sixty-ive, came
to Illinois poor boy, have made little
something for myself and family. l pay
three thousand dollars year taxes. l am
willing to pay six thousand, aye, twelve
thousand, [great cheering, the old gentleman
striking the desk with blow that would
knock down bullock, and causing the ink
stand to fly 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 ap.
plause, which the Speaker could not control
Mr.. Speaker, you must please excuse me.
| could not sit longer in my seat ard calmly
listen to these traitors. My heart, that feels
for my poor country, would not let me. MY
heart, that cries ont for the lives of our brave
volunteers in the field, that these traitors at
home are destroying by thousands, would net
let me. Ny heart, that bleeds for the widows
and orphans at home, would not let me. Yes,
these traitors and villains in this Senate
striking his clenched fist on the desk with a
blow that made the Senate ring again. are
killing my neighbors' boys now in the field
dare to say this to these ira tors right here,
and I am responsible for what say to any
one or all of them. lCheers. Let then,
come on now, 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
MIR. Funk's seat is near the lobby railing
and crowd collected around him, evidently
with the intention of protecting him from
violence, if necessary. The last announce
ment was received with great cheering, and
saw many an eye fash and many a counte-
nance grow radiant with the light of defiance.
These men sneered at Col. Mack few days
since. He is small man. But am large
man. am ready to meet any of them in
place of Col. Mack. l am large enough foi
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 hempea collars
They deserve them. They deserve banging
[ say, [rais!ng his voice and violently striking
the desk,] the country would be better OIL
swinging them up. 60 for hanging them
and l dare te them so right here to theil
traltorous faces. Traitors should be hung
1t would be the salvation of the country tc
hang them. For that reason l must rejoice
at it. Tremendous cheering.] Mr.. Speaker
| beg pardon of the gentlemen IN the Senate
who are not traitors, but true loyal men, fol
what have said. only intend it and mean
it for secessionists at heart. They are here
in the Senate. see them gibe aud smirk
and grin at the true Union man. Must
defy them. stand here ready for them, and
dare them to come on. Great cheering.
What man with the heart of patriot could
stand this treason any longer. have stoou
it long enough.
I will stand it no more [Cheers.]
denounce these men and their aiders and
abetterS as rank traitors and secessionists
He'll itself could not spew out more traitor.
| Gus crew than soune of the men that disgrace
this Legislature, this State, and this country
For myself, protest against and denounce
their reasonable acts. | have voted against
tn .ir measures; will do so to the end.
will denounce them as long as God gives mt
breath !; and am ready to meet the traitors
themselves here or anywhere, and fight then
to the death Prolonged cheers and shouts.
| said paid three thousand dollars yea,
taxes. l do not say it to brag of it. 1t is
my duty-yes, Mr.. Speaker, my privilege te
do it. But some of these traitors here, who
are working night and day to put their mis-
cradle little bills and claims through the
Legislature, to take money out of the pockets
of the people, are talking about high taxes
They are hypocrites as well as traitors
Cheers The reason they pretend to be
afraid of high taxes is that they do not wan
to vote money for tho relief of the soldiers
They want to embarrass the Government anc
stop the war. They want to aid the seces
sonists to conquer our boys in the field
They care about high taxes! They are pic
ayune men anyhow, and pay no taxes at all
and never did, and never hope or expect to
This is an excuse Of traitors. [Cheers.
| Mr.. Speaker, excuse me. l feel for my
country, in this, her hour Of danger, from
the tips of ny toes to the ends of my hair
That is the reason speak as do. 1 canno
help it. l am bound to tell these men Il
their teeth what they are, and what the peo
PIE, the true loyal people, think of them
Tremendous cheering. The Speaker raped
upon his desk, apparently to stop it, bu
.really to add to its volume, for I could see BY
his flushed cheek and flashing eye that hi
heart was with the brave and loyal old gen
tleman. $3.50 ae
Mr.. Speaker, 1 have said my say; am n,
speaker. This is the only speech have made
and do not know that it deserves to b.
called speech. could not sit still an,
longer and see these scoundrcls and traitor
work out their hellish schemes to destroy tn
Union. They have my sentiments; let then
one and all make the most of them. an
ready to back up all say, and, 1 repeat i,
to meet these traitors in any manner the,
may choose, from a pins point to the moutl
of cannon. Tremendous applause, durin,
II o.,ll l. 1