East Saginaw courier., 1865-08-30

answered it by moving a reconsidera-
tion. His motion came up on the
18TH when he voted against his own
motion. 1t was carried, however, over
the votes of the Republicans, although
Wigfall voted with them. When it
was up, on the I'd of March, 1861,
the Southern States were nearly all
gone even then it was lost by one
vote only. But on that occasion all
the Democrats were for and the Re-
publicans against it. The truth is,
there was nothing but sneers and
skepticism from the Republicans at
any settlement. They broke down
every propos ton. They took the ele-
ments of Cancellation out of the Peace
Convention before they assembled
Senators Harlan and Chandler were
especially active in preparing that
Congress for failure. If every
Southern man and every Northern
Democrat had voted for this PROPOSE
ton, it would have required some nine
Republicans for the requisite two
thirds. Where were they2 Dream
ing with Mr.. Seward of sixty days
struggle, or arranging for he division
of the patronage of the Administra-
ton. The only Southern Senators
who seemed against any settlement
were Iverson and Wig all: that no
man will challenge if he will refer to
the Globe st part, thirty-fith Con-
gress, p. 27W for the testimony of
Douglas and pugh, and TO Mr. Big
ler's Bucks county speech, September
18th, 1868. The latter knew it to be
true when he said that
"When the struggle was at its
height in Georgia between Robert
Toombs for secession and A. IL. Ste-
phens against it, had those men in the
Committee OF Thirteen, who are now
so blameless in their own estimation,
given us their votes, or even three of
them, Stephens would have defeated
Toonbs, and secession would have
been prostrated. heard Mr.. Toombs
say to Mr. Douglas that the result i'll
Georgia was staked on the action Of
the Committee of Thirteen. If it ac-
eepted the Crittenden proposition,
Stephens would defeat him; if not, he
would carry the State out by 10000
majority. The three votos from the
Republican side would have carried it
any time; but Union and peace in the
balance against the Chicago plat orm
were sure to be found wanting"
If other testimony were wanting, l
would ask suspension of judgment
until those facts, better known to
Southern men, transpire. The inter-
course about to be re-established be-
tween the sections will accumulate the
proof. 1t will also bring to the light
many facts showing that, while Presi-
dent Buchanan was working for the
Peace Conference, while Virginia had
been gained to our side with her ablest
men, there were even then in the Cab
met those who not only encouraged
revolt, but foiled by letter and speech
the efforts of the Unionists at Wash
mgton and Richmond.
Those who sought to counteract the
schemes of secession were themselves
checkmated by men now in authority.
These letters and acts are referred to
in the recent speech of General Blair.
They will be and should be brought
into the sunshine, if only to vindicate
the true Union men Of that dark hour,
and to condemn these who have since
made so much pretention with 50 much
zealotry, coupled with unexampled
cruelty and tyranny.
Whether, therefore, you consult the
public record, or go beyond its vail
and consult those who knew the ele-
ments at work in the committee and
in social life, one leading fact always
stauds stalk and bold before you
that, with the aid of hand ul of Sc
secessionists per sc, the whole Of the
Republicans were as President john
son described Senator Clark, when he
defeated the Crittenden resolution by
his amendment, "acting out their pol
icy" In the light of subsequent
events, that policy was developed; it
was destruction of slavery at the per-
il of war and disunion or "a Sena-
tor Douglas expressed it, disruption
Of the Union, believing it would draw
after it, as an inevitable consequence,
civil war, servile insurrection and
finally the utter determination of sla-
very in all the Southern State"