Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-04-10
Gen. Buffers Speech.

Of last week, and was received with great
enthusiasm. Senator Morgan introduced
him as the most efficient officer in the
United states service" he made an elaborate
speech, defending his rule at New Orleans
aud going in for the most sweeping meas
ures for the future, holding that the South
occupied the atttu de Of foreign enemy
that we should now treat them as such, and
fnhat all States in rebellion should be held
simply as territories, and had come into our
possession as conquest to be admitted into
the Union as States at the. proper time,
same as in the case Of western Virginia.
He also denounced the false neutrality of
England, and declared in favor of non-inter-
course with that country. Nor did he spare
the copperheads. Abiding to himself as a
democrat, he said:
am an old-fashioned Andrew jackson
Democrat of twenty years standing. APP
plause. A voice: The second hero Of
New Orleans" Renewed applause culmi-
mating in three cheers. And so far as
know, have never swerved, so help me
God, from one of his teachings. Great
applause. Up to the time that disunion
took place, l went as far as the farthest in
sustaining the constitutional rights of the
States, however bitter or however distaste-
ful to me were the obligations my fathers
had made for me in the compromises of the
Constitution, and among them it was not
for me TO pick out the sweet from the bit
ter; and fellow Democrats took them all
loud cheers because they were consitu-
tsonal obligations Applause /; and taking
them all, stood by the South and bv South
ern rights under the Constitution until ad-
vanced and looked into the very pit of dis.
union, and not liking the prospect quietly
withdrew. immense applause and langh-
ter. And we were from that hour apart,
and how far apart you can judge when /
tell you that on the 20th December, 1860.
l shook hands on terms of personal friend
ship with Jefferson Davis, and on the 2Stt
December, 1862. had the pleasure of read
ing his proclamation that was to be hanged
al sight. Great applause and laughter. I
And now my friends, if you viii allow noe
~ pass on TOR a moment in this line Of
thought, as we come up to the point of time
when their men laid down their constitution
al obligations. What were my rights and
what were theirs AT that hour thew re-
pudiated the Constitution of the United
States, by solemn vote in solemn convention !:
and not only that but they took arms in
their hands, and undertook by force to rend
from the Government what seemed to them
the falrest portion of the heritage which nv
fathers had given to me as rich legacy to
my children. When they did that, they alb
rosated. abnegated and forfeited every con-
stitutional right, and released me from every
constitutional obligation. Loud cheers.
And when | was thus called upon to say
what should be my action with regard to
Slavery, | was left TO the natural instincts
OF my heart, as prompted by a Christian
education in New England, and dealt with
II accordingly, as | was no longer bound.
Immense applause.
He is opposed to restoring traitors to their
former privileges. Hear him:
And now, my friends, do not know but
l shall use some heresy, but as a Democrat,
as an Andrew jackson Democrat, am not
Tor the Union as it was. Great cheering. |
I" Good !" Good ~ ! say, as Demo-
crat, and an Andrew jackson Democrat. | j
am not for the Union to be again as it was. |
Understand me; l was for the Union as it |
was, because l saw, or thought ! saw, the
troubles IN the future which have burst up-
on US ; but having undergone those troubles. I
having spent all this blood, and this treas
ure, do not mean to go back again and be
cheek by jowl with South Carolina as / was
before, If l can helpit. TCheers. You're
right. Mark me now, let no man misun-
derstand me, and l repeat lest may be
MISUNDERSTANDING are none so slow to
unus' STAND as those who do not want to-
marx me, l say | do not mean to give up
single inch of the soil of South Carolina.
II l had been alive at that time, and had
mad the position, the will and the ability. |
would have dealt with South Carolina as
jackson did, and kept her in the Union at
all hazards, but now she has gone out. and
VIII take care that when she comes in
again she comes In better behaved Tcheers1
thaI she shall no longer be the firebrand of
the Union +; aye, and that she shall enioy
what her people never yet have enioyed,
the blessings of Republican form Of GOV
Applause. And therefore, in
that view. l am not for the reconstruction
OF the Union as it was. Yet | have sn4nt
treasure and blood enough upon it, in con-
junction with my fellow citizens, to make If
ilttie better. Cheers.1 1t was good
enough II 1t had been left alone. The old
house was good enough for me, but as thew
have pulled down all the L part. L propose.
when we build it up, to build it up with all
Inc foreign improvements. PROLONGED
laughter and applause