North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-04-18

Resolution should Congress enact a law IN
accordance with its spirit? Will it not
be precisely what you, gentlemen, forced
US to vote against, when you attempted
usurpation !? The soldier will be paid in
coin or its equivalent; that is to say, bis
wages will be increased by the difference
between gold and greenbacks. If gold at
the end ofany month is sixty per cent.
above greenbacks, the common soldier will
receive twenty dollars and eighty cents,
instead of thirteen dollars, for his months
services. If you were honest in your
proposition to increase his pay, how can
you object? When he entered the SER
vice, his pay was thirteen dollars per
month in gold, for then gold was not above
par, The resolution simply proposes to
keep our blighted faith with the most mer
itorious of all public servants with him
who defends our homes and iresides.-
Tell me, gentlemen, were you honest or
dishonest in your proposition! You shall
not evade an answer by calling me disloy-
al. The word has no terrors for me-
Three years ago you paid the foreign mln-
lister and the private soldier in gold.-
Why, to-day, do you continue to pay him
wbo is oasking and revelling in the smiles
of loyalty ,sand refuse it I'd him who, amid
IT, > roar of cannon and storm of bullets,
is battling in your defense? Answer me
if you dare. We will not be deferred
from making the inquiry by threats or de-
nunciations. We on this side of the
Chamber claim for ourselves as much lin
and devotion to the government founded
upon the Constitution as you claim to pos
sess. We do not impugn your motives !;
you shall not ours. We are not to be
cajoled or intimidated here or elsewhere
We are your peers and equals here and ev.
cry place. We know our rights and will
maintain them. We will stand by the
Constitution and Union of these States,
and we tell you, aye, we charge it upon
you, that you arc the on y men who would
destroy both.
Charges are constantly made against US
of a want of fidelity to the government,
Of sympathy with treason, and of aiding
the rebellion. We defy you to make
them good. This matter had better be
understood and settled here and now. 1t
is true that we are not the slaves Of any
administration. You shall not set the
blacks free and enslave white men. We
know no government which is not based
upon the Constitution, and we will neither
obey nor be "IoyaE" to any other. Is my
language sufficiently precise? is it clear !
| do not wish to be misunderstood. L am
not "LoyaP' to any administration | am
ever so to true government, founded upon
and acting in accordance with the Consti-
tuition, of which it is the mere creature and
exponent. More than this you nor any
living man can demand of any one. To
do SO is to make yourselves masters and
those of whom you make the demand
slares. We wish you to fully understand
that you shall never exercise any such
power over US. The history of the past
should teach You that the race to which
we belong may possibly be exterminated,
bit neUer enStdUed.
Senator Clymer and every other Demo
crat voted for this resolution, and the dis
union Senators voted to kill it by amend
ing it, and having a majority, Effected its
amendment, and thus defeated the origin
al proposition.