Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-02-27
From tie Springfield Cor. Chicago Journal.
A MODEL SPEECH IN THE ILLINOIS
=re----s-ta lIE4slSLATURE.~

lover $4,000 per annum taxes towards TIT
support Of the Government. The lobby ant
ga lery were crowded with spectators, Mr.
Funk rose to object to tritling resolution.
which were introduced by the Democrats t.
kill time, and stavc of vote upon the mp
preparations for the support of State Govern
mcnt He said: rsz7sz7gzsaas.ssa-z
Mr.. SPEAKER: II can sit IN my seat nc
longer and see such boys play going on
These men are trifing with the interest Of
the country. They should have asses ears
to set off their heads, for they are secession
lists and traitors Mt heart
/ say that there arc traitors and secession
lists Mt heart in this Senate Their actions
prove it. Their speeches prove it. Their
giles and laughter and cheers here nightly,
when their speakers get up in this hall and
denounce the war and the Administration
prove il.
| can sit here no longer and not tell these
traitors what think Of them. And while
so 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
traitors. Tremendous applause from the
galleries am an old man Of sixty five
! came to Illinois poor boy. have made a
little something for ,sysclf and family. pay
$4,000 year in taxes. lam willing to pay
] $4,000, aye Sl2 600, Tgreat cheering, the old
gentleman bringing down his fist upon his
desk, with a blow that would knock down a
bullock, and causing the ink stand to bounce
half q dozen inches in the all, aye am
willing to pay my whole fortune. and then
give my life to save mr. country from these
| traitors that are seeking TO destroy it. Ire
,neadons cheers and applause, which the
Speaker could not subluc.l '...
| Mr. Speaker. you must please excuse me-
| could not sit longer in my seat, and calmly
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
not let mo. Yes. these villains and traitors
and secessionists in this Senate [striking his
clenched fist on the desk with a blow that
made the house ring again. are killing my
neigEbors' boys, now fighting in the field. |
dare to tell this to these traitors, to their IA
ces, and that I am responsible for what say
to one or all Of them. Cheers Let them
come on. right here. am sixty-fve years
old. and have made I'M 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 oft. crowd, As he rerccived, col
lected around him. evidently with the inten-
ton Of protecting him from violence if nee
essary. The last announcement was received
with great cheering, and saw many an eye
fash. and many countenance grow radiant
with the light Of defiance
These men sreered at Col Mack, dav or
two ago He is n little man hut a large
man.. / am ready TO meet any Of them. in
place Of Col. Mnck. I am large enough for
them. and hold mvs"lf:: ready for them now
and at any time. Cheers from the CALLER
les. #.., q. . ID -... ...r... ~. .r9
Mr.. Speaker. these traitors on this floor
should he provided with hcmpcn collars
They deserve them They deserve hanging.
king the dcsk) Tho country would he bet
ter off to swing them up: go FOR hanging
them. and dare to tell them so, right here
hung. It would be the salvation Of tn"
country t, hang them. For this reason I
would rejoice at it. Tremendous cheering
Mr.. Speaker. I beg pardon OF the gentle.
man in the Senate who nrc not traitors. hu'
intend il and mean it for secessionists at
heart. They are here in this Senate see
them joke and smrk and grin at true I'm
ion man. But defy them md dare them
to come on. Great cheering What man
with the heart ola patriot conld stand this
treason anv longer? I have stood it long
| enough. Twill stand il no mere. Cheers I
| I denonncc these men and their aids and
abettors as rank traitors and seccssionsts-
| Hell itself conlG not spew out n more traitor
Gus crew than some Of the men who disgrace
this Legislature, this State and this country
For myself, protest against and dcnonnce
! their reasonable acts. have voted against
their measures I will DO so to the end. I
will dcnouncc them as long as God will give
me breath And am ready to meet the
traitors themselves here or anywhere, and
fight them to the death. prolonged cheers
and shouts. ."
I sad I paid three thousand dollars a year
taxes. do not say it to brag oft. 1t is
mr. duty. yes, Mr.. Speaker, my privilege to
do it. But some of these traitors here, who
are working night and day to get their mis-.
cradle little bills through the Legislature, to
take money out Of the pockets of the people,
are talking about high taxes. They are hyp-
ocritcs, as well as traitors heard some of
tn: IN talking atolt Ugh taxes in this way,
who do not pay five dollars to support the
Govcrnn ent denounce them hypocrites
as well as traitors. (Chcers.) -.
The reason that they pretend to be afraid
Of high taxes is that they do not want to vote
MONEY for the relief Of the soldiers. They
want also to embarrass the Government and
stop the war. They want to aid the seees-
sonists to conquer. our boys in the field
Taey care about taxes! They are picayune
men anyhow. They pay no taxes at all, and
never did, and never hope to, unless they
can manage to plumber the Government
o., (Cheers.) This is an excuse Of traitors.
Mr.. Speaker; Excuse me. feel for my
country in this her hour of danger; feel 70,
her from the tips of my toes to the ends Of
my hair. That is the reason that | speak
as do cannot help it. am bound tc
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 the desk in unison with
tho applause, apparently to stop it, but real
" 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 man.
Mr.. Speaker: | have said my say. | an