The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1866-02-08
RESTORATION.
Speech by Var. Eldridgc. Of Wis
cOnsin, i'm The House at wash
tDgten. .san 25. 1856.

~os
The following are extracts from a
speech by Mr.. Eldridgc, of Wisconsin, in
the house Of representatives at Washington,
Jan. %, 1861
We all remember how YOU of the ma
iority cried out against the disloyalty Of
the democratic Chicago convention during
the last presidential campaign, and, also,
the furious denuncation in this house, only
the other day, by the honorable gentleman
from nii::;o, Hdr. Bingham OF the mem
bers of that convention rs "conSpiratOrs,
because they resolved that after four
years the war had failed 10 restore the
unioa" Bitter aud terrible As your denun-
Citations were, with how much more force
do they apply to you who Insist that the
union is not to-day restored ? 1t is not
only after more than four years Of war
but after peace conquered. after full sub
mission Of the insurgents. you declare that
war ha failed to restore the union. Nay,
more, you stand with the sword Of party
power over the very portals Of the union
to resist the resumption by the states Of
their constitutional duties and functions
You resolve not ouly that i: has not. but
that while you haze the power it shall not
be restored Nay. more even than that
you insist that the war has killed the
states, and of necessity destroyed the un-
ion When before was there ever exhibit
ted such faithlesSness. such perfidy, such
utter Il sregard of all promises and prin-
ciples?
1t would seem that any party of men
not absolutely debauchcd OF dead to all
sense Of honsr, IN view Of the record you
have made the pledges you have given the
hopes you have inspired. the sacrifices you
have demanded. the lives that have been
offered up, aud the vast debt YOU have
incurred, oil in the name OF the union, that
you would without further technical hig-
cling over the rehts Of the conqueror,
the doctrines of cstonpcl and forfeiture.
or the result Of conceding belligerent
rights, hasten to fulfill your iplghtcd faith
and the just expectations of a vast najori-
ty of the American people, BY realizing at
once and forever The promised fruits Of
victory in 4 restored ard regenera;el union
Nothing short OF this is fulilmcnt oi
your pledges, nothing less would Justify
the war You have prosecuted. nothing else
would be justice to the conquered or wor-
/ liz Gf The conqucror. On the Sole ground
Of good faith, il there were no other.
demand the constitutions aaion OF all the
states
Bat in the absence Of all pledges given
/ ~ the government in the course Of the
war. claiming nothing on the ground OF
/ its rlighted faith, insist the insureeni
state. are not out OF the union, and that
| they can never get out. except By succe IS
| ful revolution, and none but seceSsiunists
ever dreamed that they could. 1t is tie
greed ofillegal gain, the lust of power, the
love Of dominion. the madcung taste al
blood and the de,irc of vengeance on i;tl
len foe that has maze these new converts
to this doctrine Il finds It's impulse and
its logic III infatuated passloh, in malignant
haste, and would debase reason aud justice
to justify the indulgence.
The honorable gentleman from Penn
sylvania, { dr. Stephens who, | believe
never made any virtue Of love for the
union, and who, during the war, declared
This union never shall, with my consent
ic.restored under the constitution IA ii
is, sets himself to work with his great
learning aud vast research to find among
the musty records Of the past some p'ausi-
bic ground to prevent It's restoration, now
the war is over.