The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-02-23

would not let me. Yes these traitors and viii
lians in this Senate (striking his clenched fist on
the desk with blow that made the Senate ring
again) are kill my neghbors' boys now
fighting in the field. dare to say this to these
traitors right here, and am responsible for
what say to any one or all of them. (Cheers)
Let them come on now, right here. | am sixty
hSe years old, and | have made up my mind to
risk my life right here, on this floor, for my
country.
These men sneered at Col. Mack few days
since He is small man. But | am a large
man. | am ready to meet any of them in place
OF Col. Mack. | am large enough for them, and
hold myself ready for them and at any
time. CHEERS from the gaeries.)
Mr.. Speaker, these traitors on this floor
should be provided with hempen collars. They
deserve them. They deserve hanging, | say.
lraisng his voice, and violently striking the
desk) The country would be the better of swing
ing them up. | go for hanging them, and |
dare to tell them SO, right here to their faces.
Traitors should be hung 1t would be the sal
vation of the country TO hang them. (Tremen-
dous cheering.) Mr.. Speaker. beg pardon of
the gentlemen in this Senate who are not trail
tors, but true loyal men, for what | have said.
only intend it and mean it for secessionists at
heart. They are here in this Senate. | see them
gibe, and smirk, and grin Mt a 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 a patriot could
stand this treason any longer? have stood il
long enough. | will stand it no more. (Cheers.)
l denounce these men and their aiders and abet-
tors as rank traitors and secessionists. Hell it
self could not spew out a more traitorous crew
than some of the men that disgrace this Legis-
lature, this State, and this country. For my
self protest against and dcnounce their trea-
sonable acts. will do so ms long as God gives
me breath; and am ready to meet the traitors
themselves here or anywhere and fight them to
Al l.. al. - =
said paid three thousand dollars year
taxes. do not say il to brag of it. 1t is my
duty, yes, Mr.. Speaker, my privilege, to do it.
But some of these traitors here, who work.
ing night and day to put their miserable little
bills through the Legislature, to take the money
out of the pockets of the people, are talking
about high taxes. They are hypocrites as well
as traitors. heard some of them talking about
high taxes in this way who do not pay FIVE dol
lars to the support of the government. de-
nounce them as hypocrites as well as traitors
(Checrs.)
Mr.. Speaker: Excuse me. feel for my coun-
try, in this her hour of danger, from the tips of
my toes to the ends of my hair. That is the
reason speak as do. cannot help it. am
bound to tell these men to their teeth what they
are, and what the people, the true loyal people.
think of them. (Tremendous cheering. The
Speaker raped upon his desk, apparently to
stop IT, but really to add to its volume, for
could see by his flushed cheek and flashing eye
that his heart was with the brave and loyal old
gentleman.)
Mr.. Speaker: | have said my say. l am no
speaker. This is the only speech | have made,
and do not know that it deserves to be called
a speech. | could not sit still any longer and
see these scoundrels and traitors work out their
helsh schemes to destroy the Union. They
have my sentiments; let them one and all max.
the most of them. / am ready to back up all |
say, and repeat il, to meet these traitors in any
manner they may choose from pins point TO
the mouth Of a cannon. Tremendous applause,
during which the old gentleman sat down after,
he had given the desk parting whack. which
sounded loud above the din of cheers and clap
ping of hands.
never before witnessed so much excitement
in an assembly. Mr.. Funk spoke with a force
OF natural eloquence, with conviction and
truthfuness. with a fervor and pathos which
wrought up the galleries and even members on
the floor to the highest pitch of excitement. His
voice was heard in the stores that surround the
square. and the people came fiocking in from all
that packed the hall to its utmost capacity. AZ
ter he had concluded The Republican members
and SPECTATORS rushed up and took him by the
hand to congratulate him. The democrats said
nothing, but evidently felt the castigation they
were receiving most keenly. as might be seen
from their blanched checks and restless and un-
easy glances.