Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-06-07
WHOLE NO. 500.
Letter to the Maryland Union
Men from Speaker COIfaN.


An immense Union meeting was held q. Bilti.
more on the evening of the 18th inst. and the fol-
lowing letter from Speaker Collar read. his
duties having prevented him from accepting an in
vitation to be present and address the meeting
HOUSE OF REPREsEsrATIvKs.l
WASHINGTON, May IL, &C.
| GeHtirmen: Ny heart beats in unison with tho
earnest Union men who will assemble TO light in
BiltmOre to renew together their pledges of de-
votiOt 10 tie great principle, commended both BY
patriotism and duty, that loyal men should govern
preserved Republic, and regre. sincerely that tho
constant pressure on my time prevents my being
with them.
Congress remains firm, united. and infie1ible In
lis adherence TO tn: principle. Not olt in the
, organic alton last December bit also In the pas
sage of the act protecting Union officers from reb-
ell SUITS in placing the civil rights bill by atwo-
thirds vote amongst our national statutes. and in
the adoption OF the irrsverSibe guarantees propo
sed by the Committee Reconstruction, the Un-
ion ranks in the House have been, with scarcely
an exception. unbrOken; and the Justice Of the
cause will keep them united 20 the end.
Ii It's pocj needed any vindicatiOn ]. would DO
found in the abuse of the enemies Of the country
with which il has been hOnored. Every man
conspicuous in the wicked rebellion which threat
cned the nations life dcnounces il. Our enbit'er-
ed enemies who hung ~ deserters Southern Un-
Iounce it Tho Richmond Examiner. which proph-
csied less than woek ago that, though conquered.
"the end is not yet," denounces il. The South.
crn pre- sses which have nominated the military lead
Of the rebellion for the Presidency OF the Un-
ion he drew the sword TO DESTROY, denounce it
The Southern banqueters who honor "tse lost
cause" by drinking 10 it silent and standing, imi-
tating the manner in which patriots honor the
memory OF the Father OF his country, donounce il.
The men who resisted every policy of Mr..
LincOln's Administration. and by speech and plat
form in 1861. declared the war a failure and de-
manded an immediate cessation of hostilitirs. de-
nounce il. And echoing the attacks Of these SO
lately in arms against the Union, the New York
Ne,cs, the Chicago Iimcs .,he Cincinnati Enquirer.
&C.. denounce it. and urge its forcibe expulsion
from these halls as zssously as the rebel army
sought the same Get when they beeasucred the
capital.
Blu. all these dcnunciations fall poiutless and
harmless at il, feet. From them Congress appeals
TO the people. and have no fear of the result.-
When the Country clouled with the gloom of
defeat in 1862 our political advcrsaries were conf
dent of their return to power; but the loyal men
said No, and the good cause triumphej ia the dark
est hou~ OF the war. When at the first session OF
the Thirty Eighth Congress, the constitutional
amendment aboshing slavery failed OF a two thirds
vote-and thi. was in June. 1864. less than two
years asO-Congress adjourned amid the boastngs
oil our opponents that th1 places that knew US then
would KIN Nv US no more thereafter. But, even
with their cry against of 'sn abolition war;
and their appeals whether "white men should be
drafted 10 froe negroes" the loyal people over.
whemed them n, the polls, turned all their prema-
ture rejocings into sorrow. and returned over oao
hun ired ma 1rity TO the House--ihe most sweep
ing victory ever known in our political history
The popular heart is as sound and as true 10 the
right now as it Was then. The policy proposed By
Congress cannot be Justly regarded as extreme or
vindlcive even by those who, having fOrswofn
their country. enscting that all who would It sur
render their birthri ght should be treated as alien
enemies, raising armies 10 on the Union, aid
Signalling their power by the most infamous per-
secutions, Outrages, starvation and murders ever
kRown in a civilized land. now demand what they
claim "their rights" in the most arrogant terms.
Iii s criticised. on the other hand by those who
do not think il goes far enough, Congress can
point 10 the examples OF John Bright and Stuart
Mill ia the British Parliament, who labor with zeal.
not for all that they may desire, but for what 10
attainable.
rejoice that those in Maryland who sustain iss
" ise and judicious registry law. and who believe.
At a time like thi'. in the language OF your call,
"thst none but those who have been cOnst,ntiy
loyal from the beginning should rule in the cum
ellis OF the nation State" stand by Congress SO
nObly; and as they stand by it, and all the difficult
ties of its position. they will share with IL in its
final triumph. The whole country now acquiesoes
in the abolition of slavery, so bitterly fought thro
our sessions Of Congress, in all its preliminary sta
ges So will the country endorse its policy now.
" hich is but fitting and necessary sequence and
eonsummat.on o. that g;eat act. And after syes
30 firmly and SO aithfuy in this hour Of trial for
Justice for loyalty, and for the truest interests Of
The nation. Very truly yours.
SCaUrLna CoLFGx.