Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1866-05-18

johnson has met, even at the hands of
his own party. And where, in ancient
or modern days, did man bear HIM
self with better pluck and determination ?
His oft-repeated declaration" | can
take no backward step"-comes from
lips as firm as those which used to pro-
nounce the tremendous q No. by the
Eternal p and plainly tells the conspi-
rators Of Congress, and all their furious
allies, that they have to deal with man
who is equal to whatever emergency
their treason may bring upon the country.
Sir, use the word treason, meaning to
apply it in its worst sense. For that
they are aiming to destroy the govern
ment organized by our fathers is no
longer a matter of doubt in any circle of
ordinary intelligence. The man who
denies it is wanting in either sense or
truth. (Applause.) But, Mr.. President,
who are the men now engaged in over
throwing this government 7. What is
their character What have been their
antecedents? do not speak of the mass
of the Republican members of Congress,
for they appear to have no public record
known among gentlemen they seem to
have been tract distributors, mesmeric
lecturers, colporteurs or spiritual me-
diums. (Laughter.) If they were even
as respectable as that, we are permitted
to rejoice that they have not always been
as disreputable as they now are. But,
sir, the leaders are known. Their re-
cord stands out as distinct and infamous
as that of Satan, who, if we may believe
Milton, got up seditien in heaven not
altogether unlike the one which these
old malcontents are now waging against
the Constitution Of our country. Who,
then, are the leaders of this Congressional
sedition They are tiamri1ii of traitors
like that famous coalition of three who
conspired against the liberty of Rome.
Our triamgiri embraces Stevens, Wade
and Sumner, and as for the rest of the
conspirators, they appear to be the tools
and satalites of these. Now, sir, who
are these leaders of the Congressional
war upon the President, and upon the
Constitution of the United States? Are
they men of character and honor Have
they been generally respected by the
people of the United States (No, no y
Are they the men that should be natur
ally entrusted with the honor of nation,
and the liberties of the people ? Let US
draw portrait of these men singly
that we may the better judge of them in
their associated character. Who is Thad
! Stevens? Has his character been chat
of man of honor, a statesman and a
patriot? Sir, as a man, we hate to speak
of him. A man who, in the midst of a
refined and intelligent population of
Pennsylvania, is not ashamed to have
shared, for years, his roof and his heart
With negro wench, is not to have his
name mentioned, except on compulsion,
in the company of gentlemen. Cap
plause) Socially, he is a worthy com
panion of negroes, and not fit for the
society of white people What is he as
a statesman Who can name ono act OF
his public life that is above the level of
a maligant demagogue The first time
we ever saw his name in the public
print, was an account of his having
Jumped from a two-story window in
Harrisburg, to save himself from beat
ing, by the enraged populace, for some
official villainy. That was good many
years ago, and if he has since performed
any public feat more worthy of the
| dignity and character of statesman, it
has not reached the public print. Then,
sir, what has been his character for
patriotism Has not bis very name
been synonymous with sedition and trea-
son ? Did he not few years ago ex-
claim on the floor of Congress, " The
Union as It was and the Constitution as
it is-God forbid it," Did he not say,
:" Whenever ] hear a man begin to
pirate about the Constitution, / know
that | am in the presence of a rebel. 7"
That, sir, is the patriotism of this man:
He holds every man who loves, and
would preserve the Constitution of his
country, "rebel" For seeking to
restore the Union and to preserve the
Constitution, President johnson is called
a susurper" and "despot," by this
vile old traitor of more than thirty years
standing! Babbling hypocrite wretch,
ed, hackneyed reviler of your country
chronic traitor to every public and private
virtue When shall merciful death re-
lieve the land of a presence which has
been calamity and shame from the
/ first hour of yonr public life (! Silence,
a miscreant Then, sir, who is Ben
jamin Wade, the next person in this
+ fr;;,,n,,,erote of traitors? What is his re-
cord? Has he borne reputation for
patriotism among bis countrymeni What
has been his public character 1t is
but few years since member of Com
gross from his own State denounced him
publicly, on the floor Of Congress, as
"faIsi6er, calumniator and coward. "
and to this day be has not dared do
otherwise than to crouch beneath this
public charge. A branded coward and
falsifer, he now assails the President,
because he possesses those high attributes
Of patriotism and courage which must