The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-03-25

elected no reply from me. Indeed, sir,
what the gentleman thought about my
official action would have given me no
more concern than it would concern me
to know what his thoughts are upon
the question, ''who killed Cock Robin. !"
LLaughter.l
But, sir, the gentleman has shown
the same want of consideration for the
rights of others in the remarks he has
just made by the favor of this House,
as was shown by him when this day he
first assailed my official action without
excuse or provOcation. By what right,
sir, does the gentleman now constitute
himself the Judge, not only of his peer
upon this floor, but the judge of men
who were his peers in the field, men
who stood in the day of battle only
where brave men dare stand, in the
thick darkness of the great conflict,
where the earthquake and the fire led
the charge, and the victory was won
not without suffering and death?
The gentleman denounces me as
having executed an innocent person,
without evidence. have executed no
person, but acted as the advocate of the
United States on the trial of persons
who were charged and convicted of the
ASSASSINATION of Abraham Lincoln.
The gentleman pronounces, with the
assurance of Sir Oracle, that an inno-
cent woman was on that trial convict
ed without sufficient evidence. By
what right does the gentleman thus as
sail me, or the tribunal of true, and
brave and honorable Emen, who found
nounced the Judgment? What does the
gentlemen know of the evidence when
he thus assails the official conduct of
the men who constituted the court?
Does the gentleman hope to condemn
me for the Judgment that was pro-
nounced by the brave men who were
constituted, by the order of your Presi-
dent, a courtto hear and determine that
issue OF life and death upon their oaths
according to the evidence? He cannot,
sir, condemn me for the act OF others,
Whatever he may endeavor. Malice
itself, sir, cannot hold me TO answer for
the Judgment of others. II is due to
Justice to say that the judgment of that
honorable court is not without testi-
mony TO sustain it. Sir, 1 leave this ac-
cuSatlon by saying to the gentleman,
in the words of a man who, though pro-
nounced by cynical poet, the greatest,
wlsest, meaneSt OF mankind, was a
man, the latchet of whose shoes the
gentleman would be unfit to uuloose,
that 1t is the duty OF "good judge to
hear patiently" The gentleman. con-
right, and pronounces Judgment against
me without a hearing.
As the gentleman thus seek to con-
denim me unheard and without war
rant OF law, or color of justice in his
high position as a statesman, would
remind him of another utterance of the
Lord High Chancellor OF England, that
statesmen of greatest depths and COM
pass have been touched with an in
ward sense and knowledge of Deity"
Let those who have witnessed the
gentIeman's bearing in this controver-
sy toward me, and who have heard his
rude and unwarrantablej judgment up
on my official conduct here and else
where, decide whether he has exhibit
ed the character of good Judge, a
great statesman, or gross calumniator.
whether in the discharge of the delicate
trust committed to me on the trial of
those convicted of assassination 1 con-
demned and executed the Innocent, or
even the guilty, with or without evil
dence, leave to the charitable speeches
and just judgment of men, and the re-
corded facts of history.
While offer no apology for my off,
cial conduct on that trial, / beg leave
to say that it was fit that the assassina-
tion of the chosen of the people, in the
capitol of the people and insthe felt
presence of their laws not for his
crimes but for his virtues, should be
investigated, and that swift judgment
should fall upon those guilty of his
and who would not spare his
life, even at the moment when from his
great soul the words went up to our
Father: "Charity toward all,
and malice toward none" When sum-
moned to that stern duty, 1 protested
that was not equal to the task, and
those who summoned mo to its dis
charge know best with what reluctance
l entered upon il. But, sir, upon the
record that has been made L stand
and defy the gentleman's calumny.
Here the fall of the Speakers ham
mer announced the termination OF Mr..
Bfpgham's five minutes.