The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-06-15
The Real Question ut Issue.

We are sorry to See that there is one
IN while newspaper that calls itself rc
publican, that seems to so far forget til,
secession spirit of SIX years ago in tn,
halls of congress, as to affect to considcl
the radical members of to-day as un u~
and severe upon the rebels who 80 lately
did their best to destroy this country
There are men and newspapers that ar,
called respectable, here in New England,
who have ten words of denunciation fol
Thaddeus Stevens to one for jeff. Davis
and who are more bitter to-day against
Charles Summer than Robert t. Lee.
There is something particularly malicious
and wicked in the continued attacks. by
men OF the loyal party, upon the unSwcry-
inc, liberty-loying and traitor-hating men
who now represent us in congress The
spite thus expended upon the iirmcsl
friends OF the country can but rebound up
ON the heads Of these malicious deflmer>.
In speech delivered in the house
May 10th, on the admission of represent
talivcs from rebel states, Hon. Thadlcu.
Stevens thus puts the case and does am
one say his demands are unjust
Sir, they tell us, hear several Gentle
men say, that these men should be admit
ted as equal brethren. Let not these
friends of secession sing to me their siren
song OF peace and good will until they
can stop my cars to the screams and
groans OF the DYING victims al Memphis.
| hold in my hand an elaborate account
from man whom | know to be Of the
highest responsibility in the country, cv-
cry word of which believe. This ac-
count of that foul transaction only reach
ell me last night. 1t is more horrible in
atrocitv. although not to the same extent
than the massacre at jamaica. Tell lnc
Tennessee or any other state is loyal Of
whom such things are proved.
/ regret that the true men of these
states cannot be brought iii, bat they can
not be brought III with rebel constituencies
behind them. They would mi>rcpre~ent
their states Therefore can never aaree
to let them in under the present state o.
affairs, Let us have probation; Let IL
be sure that something more than nlcr,
Willingness 10 come III has been ielt bv
them. !.
/ Now, sir, for my part am willing
they shall come in when they are ready.
DO not, | pray you, admit those who have
slaughtered half a million of our country
men, until their clothes are dried, an,
until they are reclad. do not wish to
sit side by side with men whose garments
smell OF the blood of my kindred. Gen
tlemen seem to forget the scenes that were
enacted here nearly twenty years ago.
/ Many OF You were not here But nv
friend from Ohio (Mr. Gartield) ought to
have kept up his reading enough to have
been familiar with the history of those
days. when the linen that YOU propose to
admit occupied the other side of the
house when the mighty Ioomb>, with
his shaggy locks, headed a gang who,
with shouts of defiance on this floor, rem
dered this a hell of LEGISLATION.
All, sir. it was but six years ago when
they were here, just before they went out
to Join the armies of Catalina. lust before
they left this hall Those of Won who
We're here then will remember the scene
III which every southern member. cpronr-
aged by their allies. came forth in one
yelling body, because speech for free
dom was made here: when weapons were
drawn, and the rutiian keitt's pistol
and the brutal Barksdales bowie knife
cleaned before our eyes. Would YOU
have .lheSe same men back again so soon
to re-enac: those scenes ? Wait until |
am gone pray you. 1t will be but a
short time for my colleague to wat. |
hope he will no, put us to that test