Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-03-12

(Mr. 81 wished to God that when Vallandig-
ham was arrested for violating Burnside's or
der that we had had Alexander the conqueror
and despot at the head of the Government
instead of Abraham Lincoln. Despot as he
was, Alexander did not recognize indirect
high treason Not so with Abraham, the
1sti All, but the Republicans misunderstood
the temper of the Democrats, just as they
misunderstood the South. We cannot give
the exact words of the speaker and
ANYTHING short of that would fail to convey
the insinuations contained in this part of his
remarks, but, as we understood him, the
drift of what he said was to threaten that the
Northern Democrats might at no distant day
follow the example of the South and rise in
instruction.
He next referred to a letter written in 1856
by Theodore Parker to Salmon Z. Chase in
which he predicted that the North would rise
in arms and establish a new Constitution
which he (Parker) declared was written on a
drum-head Theodore Parker pointed out
the clause Of the Constitution which declares
that the General Government shall guarantee
Republican form of Government to the
States, as the clause under which the insti-
tutions of the States might be attacked.
This was treason. And Abraham Lincoln had
adopted that very suggestion of the traitor
Parker in his Amnesty Proclamation. He
(Mr. 81 charged Abraham Lincoln then with
being traitor, after the fact, and both he
and Theodore Parker, were liable to be con-
yicted of treason in the courts of this country.
In conclusion, he said he would read Gen.
McClellan's letter of the 7th of July, 1862,
and declared that he stood by McClellan's
civil and military policy. He went on to de-
nounce the con6scation policy of the Admin
stration. He appealed to members to know
why we could not give up fanaticism, and act
together to sustain the Constitution. He
denounced the filling of all civil offices by
Republicans, under the reasonable pretext
that democrats are not loyal. The war could
not be concluded in thirty years under the
present policy. 1t was constantly strength
ening the rebels. Let us look at things can
didly without partizan feeling. This Govern
ment is based on the consent of the gov
erned. The States must come back of their
own free will, or they will not come at all.
In no other way could the Union be restored.
Will they so come back under the present
policy? 1t was singular fact that 10 day
the North stands condemned by every nation
of Europe except despotic Russia, while the
South has conducted itself in manner to
secure the appreciation of all the rest. Oh,
let us stand by the Constitution, and preserve
our liberties. Let US have the Union if we
can, but, in any event, let US preserve the
Constitution and our liberties.
Mr.. JOHNSON said he desired to correct
one statement of the gentleman. He would
not say that the gentleman had designedly
made a misrepresentation. 1t was in rela-
ton to the action of Gen. Thomas down the
Mississippi. The speaker was then in the
army and heard the address of Gen. Thomas at
Lake Providence Others there present had
heard Gen. Thomas at other points, and told
him that he had made the identical speech at
all places he visited, so far as they could
learn. Now, it was not true that Gen. Thorn
as used any such expression as was attributed
to him by the gentleman who had just spo-
ken. He used no threat in regard to the of
ficers who would not endorse the Presidents
proclamation or policy. What he did say,
was substantially like this:
al have heard that negroes coming inside our
lines frequently illtreated by Federal oficers
that must not be. They must be we'll treated,
kindly received, fed and clothed. Such is the
command of the President, and as his represent
alive will enforce it, and the ink shall not dry
on my pen in Diminishing any officer from the sew
ice, whatever be his rank reported to me as guilty
of lltreating, failing to protect these contra
bands coming inside our lines"
(Applause.)
These remarks were received with hearty
cheers by the 9th Division of the 18th Army
Corps.
1t being o'clock the House adjourned till
II o'clock.
EVENING SESSION.
u O'CLOCK P. NJ.
The joint resolutions introduced by Mr.
STARKS were taken up.
Mr.. BARRY said he had no personal de-
Tense to make. In the discharge of his duty,
he did not care whether men smiled or frown-
ed 1t was his practice to utter his convic-
tions freely and frankly. He should be very
frank tonight, since the gentleman who pre-
ceded him had been so outspoken. For
three long hours we have listened to his
speech full of denunciation of the Admins
tration, and to his taunts to the majority on
this floor for their servility to a tyrant and a
despot. don't think this was in good taste.
don't think it was just don't think, sir,
that it was true. 1t may be that there are
timid and weak kneed men on this floor, men
who have not the courage and manliness to
say what they honestly believe. Many parts
of the speech of the gentleman, and those
most severe and denunciatory, met with
applause on this floor, and felt very sorry,
as thought those same passages would meet
with applause also, if heard in Richmond.
The gentleman assumed that he was loyal
that there was no treason in his heart but
sir, there was a great deal of treason in his
speech. Applause.
The SPEAKER,-0rder,g gentlemen.
/ have been in the South, have talked
with rebels and traitors there, and they talk
ed Just as he talks. But am willing to be-
lieve, because he says so, that he is a loyal
man, and earnest in his support of the Union
/ went into the army as a Democrat. was
Democrat from boyhood upward, and l am
to-day Democrat, if to bear in my heart a
reverence for universal humanity constitutes
a Democrat. When / came back from the
war, my Democratic friends said that talked
as if were crazy. He was crazy, as Gen.
Butler said of Gen. Phelps, crazy about ten
days in advance of the majority. He was
body and soul, through and through, an abo-
litionist. That was what he was.
A word about Gen. Butler. An allusion,
not very kind or complimentary to Gen. But
Ter was made here this afternoon. At New
Orleans he brought order out of confusion
and made it safe, as it had not been for TWEEN
ty years, for any man or woman to walk the
streets of that great, and wicked and licen-
tious city by night or day. He related how
the band of the 4th Wisconsin played
"Picayune Butler has come to town." That
was true now all over the country. Picayune
Butler had come to town in the form of a
more vigorous, determed and manly prosecu-
ton of the war. The Speaker then defended
the famous woman order" denounced by
the gentlemen from Dane, (Mr. Geo. b.
Smithl and declared from his personal