The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1866-05-25

Union, are they ever under this measure
to become members of this Union If
they are no, now members will the adop-
tan of this amendment to the eonstitu-
ton make them members 0: his Union
Certainly not. They are no more in tie
Union then or entitled to representation
in congress then than now.
Here then, is another gross incoasis-
tency, showing the purpose and the oIjsc
of this measure. The third section is ad,
united even by tie friends Of the other
two to carry upon It's face The purpose OF
DISTINGUISHING the people Of these eleven
states and preventing them from taking
part IN he representation Of this country
1t is said by the gentleman from Ohio
| that il that section is no, stricken out the
people will come TO the conclusion that
! tnis is a party measure. Sir, have said
no one Can doubt it in the light of tue
4 history Of this committee Il was organ
| lied in party caucus. The resolution
organizing it was brought into the house
by the man selected to do it by that eau
Gus. 1t wss presented 20 the house and
supported solely by the caucus party and
Immediately everything brought into the
house having relation to the misrepresent-
alton OF the southern states in this con
gress was consigned without debate to this
vortex of ruin, OF destruction, and OF dis
union. We have therefore been abe 10
gain no Information from any source OIL
the subject of reconstruction or represents
ation OF those states.
The resolution may have been differently
intended; but from lis face no one can
come to the conclusion that it intended
anything more than that the conmiltee
should be authorized to inquire Into the
fact AS to whether these states were legally
and constitutionalIy entitled to be repre-
scented in either house of congress; and
yet the committee, arrogatng to them
selves all power upon this subject, have
repeatedly reported amendments to the
constitution without giving US one fact or
one reason for it, or any information as TO
when our troubles will be ended and The
Union restored.
The people Of this country. as | re-
marked in the beginning, aye dissatisfied
with that committee. 1t has disappointed
The country. Go to-day, If you dare, and
submit to the people Of the United States
the question whether that committee
should longer be intrusted with this sue
ject, and what do you think the vote
would be! | tell YOU that it would be ten
to one that the committee had disappoint
ed the expectations of the country; that it
should be discharged; that its duties were
ended that it had been failure; that it
had stood IN the way Of restoration and
peace.
tell you further that lie people Of dis
country demaud the present, immediate
restoration of this Union. And you viii
find when the elections come around again,
that they viii speak in thunder tones TO
you politicians. You cannot compromise
with them by surrenderirg principle for
mere expediency, for mere party purposes
You will have to face HE music, for the
people will demand it o. you. They have
struggled long and ardently for the Union;
they have sacrificed lives and treasure for
the Unicn; they have been ardently dovo,
ted to the Union, and they will no, sur
render it for party purposes; they will not
consent to keep the people Of the southern
states in bondage, such as Ireland has suf-
fered so Iorg, for the mere purpose o. re-
tanning party in power.
| do nOt wonder chat the gentleman
from Pennsylvania Mr.. SrEvENsl prophe
sled the time As not being more than three
or four years distant when the people will
place in power men who viii respect the
constitution, who will respect the Union
and the sacrifices that have been made for
It, and who are willing to restore, preserve
and perpetuate that Uuion.
Mr.. Window. VIII the gentleman
from Wisconsin Mr.. EIdredgel yield to
me a moment, for a question?
Mr.. E'dredge. Certainly, for qnes-
ton
Mr.. Window. I desire to ask the gem
tleman, As he has spoken of the demociac y
of his district, whether bis home organ,
tie Fond du Lac Press, represents the
democracy Of the state of Wisconsin.
MIR. Edredge. 1t does not. There is
no paper on earth which represents the
democracy of this country.
Mr., Window. VIII the gentleman al
low NE 70 send to the clerks desk, to have
read, IN extract from that paper!
Mr.. kldredge No, sir
Mr.. Window. VIII the gentleman al
low me to read half dozen lines from his
home organ !
Mr.. Eldredge. No, sir, because have
already said that we do not recognize it or
any other paper as the representative of
the Democratic party. We recognize no
one person as authorized to speak for dem
ocracy. We speak by our acts; we are
for the Union and always have been, and
do no propose to let you prevent restor
alton OF the Union Is we can help it.
Mr., Window. | will ask the gentleman
if he himself considers Jeff. Davis traitor
His home organ says he is not
Mr.. Edredge. You work it in that
way, do you? (Laughter.) Well, | will
say that think he is. so you see, the
organ, as ycu call 1t, and DO not always
agree.
Mr.. Window. do 10. know how that
was.
Mr.. ElITedge. Now will the gentleman
tell me whether he thinks that any one
who seeks to prevent restoration Of the
Union is traitor!
Mr.. Window. In some certain circum