The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1866-02-09
RESTORATION.
Speech Of Mr. Eldridge, of Wisconsin,
in the House at Washington,
January Is, 1866.


The following are extracts from aspeech
by hlr. ELDRlDGE. OF Pond du Lac, in the
House Of Representatives at Washington.
Jan. IS 1866:
We all remember how you CT tie
majority cried out agajrsl the disioy atty of
the Democratic Chicago convention dunn.
the last presidential campaign, and, also,
the furious decentralization in this house,
only the other day, bv the honorable
gentleman from Ohio, (Mr. Bingham,) OF
tbs members of thai convention AS con
spiratols. becaIse they resolved "thsI
after four years the war had failed TO
restore the union Bitter and terrible
as your denunciatious were, with how
mnch more force do they apply to you
wLo insist that the union is not to-da,
restored 1t is not ouly after more than
four years of war. but after peace conquer
ed, after full Submission Of the Insurgents,
you declare that war has faited 10 restore
the union. Nay, more. you stand with
the sword of party power over the very
portals of the union 20 resist the resunp,
ton Of The s;ates Of their constitutional
duties and functions 1on resolve nor
only that it has not, but that while yeu
have the power i. sha!! not be restored.
Nay, more even than that, YOU in,H thar
the war has killed the states, and of
necessity DESTROY ed tie union. " hen
before pas there ever exhibited such
failhies>ness, such pelfdy, such u,,et
disregard Of all promises and principles I?
IL would seem that any parry OF men
not absolutely debaucheG or dead to all
sense Of honor, ip view Of tie record you
have made, tie pledges you have given,
the hopes you have inspired, the sacrifices
you have demanded, the lives that have
neen offered up, ard the vast debt You
have incurred, sI in The name Of the
union, that YOU would without further
technical higgliug over the rights Of the
conqueror, the doctrines of esteppel and
fortei ure. or the result Of ccncedipg
heiigerenls rights, hasten 10 fulfil! Your
Fjghled fsith sad the just ext eclatiohs Of
vast majority Of tie American people,
by Geatlzlnc q, o"co and to;ese' the prou.-
r>el fruits q victory n restored, and -
generated union. Nothing short Of this
is a fnlliiment of your pledges, nothing
'ess "uu.a a>Dlty lie Wal you hsye lio-
-crt-d. th:ng ei-e vcnld be Justice 4"
the c"LqueIed or woJ thy Of ths cnr1uerc@
On tte sole GROUND of good faith, il
there were no Other, | demand the con
stiuriona union Of all the states.
But in tie absence of al Pledges given
by the government in the course OF the
war. claiming nothing On the ground Of
its pii4hted faith, insist the iusurgen>
states are not out Of the union and that
they can never gel out. except Ly success
tul revolution, and none but secesslousts
ever dreamed that they coud. 1t is the
greed Of illegal gain, The lust Of pow er, The
love Of dominion the mAGdeuing taste OF
blood and the desire OF vengeance upon a
fallen foe ,ha, has made these rev con
verts to this doctrine. Ii finds it's iupui>
and its logic iG iuura ieH pa.~inu. III ins
lynant haste. aud would deba,e reason
ana justice TO justly the indulgence.
The honorable gentleman tFom Penn
sylyania. (Mr Stevens) who, | bolieve
never made any virtue Of love fer ths
union. AID who. during the war. Gee aI,d,
" !lis nu,ou never shall. with my consent,
he restored under tie constitution as ii Is, -
sets himself o work with his great 'eatu
ing ana vast research 10 iiud amol e The
mus;v records Ct the past some plausible
ground 10 prevent It's restoration, now tbs
al is over.