The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-08-05

| hepuDllc Speeuuy lollOW! oHis
sounds partisan, / cannot help it. i
see in the maintenance and continu-
ance of the power of the loyal Union
party, the true glory and perpetuity
of the Republic. I see through the
maintenance of that party the=hrm
establishment of the principles of JUS
tice and universal liberty, the triumph
ofright and the downfall ofwrong.
Now, sir, | take as an illustration
of my position the case Immediately
before us: Samuel Mckee, known
loyalist, devoted to the main tenance
and perpetuity of the Union, who
risked his life. in the suppression of
the rebellion, was elected a member
of the Thirty Congress, by a
majority of 1900; he was defeated as
candidate for member. of the For
tieth Congress by : i 500 majority
How is this to be explained? In the
election of 1866, when he was elected
to, the Thirty ninth Congress, the
rebel element Of Kentucky was dis
franchised by the Loyal Union Legis-
lature which had been elected while
the rebels of Kentucky were In the
rebel army. In 1866 the Legislature
of Kentucky repealed their disfran-
chising law. and flooded the polls of
the Ninth Kentucky District with the
votes of returned rebel soldiers-this
is alleged to be the state of the case !;
do not speak from my own knowl-
edge-and the consequence was that
he was overslaughed by 800 majority.
1t is said that since the disfranchise-
ment of rebels in Missouri. and Ten
nessee, and the acknowledgements of
them in Kentucky. the disfranchised
in the first named States find a cordial
welcome and congenial home in
Kentucky. This may account. for the
extra large majOrities against the
Union party in that State at their
late election. 81 l4
Now, sir, / say for one, and | do
not profess to speak for any one but
myself. that if Samuel Mckee, loyal
man, had received but one loyal vote,
and assuming, which do not say is
the fact, that Mr.. Young received
5000 disloyal votes, he, himself.
having been guilty of giving aid and
encouragement to the rebellion, L, for
one. should vote against the admis-
sior of Mr.. Young and for the admis-
sion of Mr.. Mckee with but one loyal
vote behind him. That is my posi-
ton, gentlemen, and you may make
the most of it. | do not intend to.
speak in such manner that can be
misunderstood upon this question.
1t is, perhaps, the most vital question
that has been brought before Con-
suppression of the rebellion. 1t is
nR ho 70 on1 al
innate triumph of the principles
which were contended for during that
terrible, long and bloody struggle.
If we are to admit the rebel ele-
ment into Congress, what shall we say
for. loyalty? What apology can we
make to the loyal men whom we will
meet when we go home? None what
ever; we have falsified our pledges
and our principles. We must main
tain loyal standard in Congress if
we intend to maintain loyal stand
ard at home. If we desire that our
constituents shall maintain a loyal
standard there, let their representa-
tives maintain loyal standard here.
Thus there will be harmony of feel
ing, thought and action upon these
great and vital questions. If we sus-
tain the cause of loyalty here to-day,
we will find sympathetic throb an
swering our manly and just action
from the loyal hearts North and
South.
The gentleman from New York,
(Mr. Brooks,) informs the House
that we are in the midst of revolu-
ton. Sir, admit it. But the revo-
luton was not inaugurated to-day; it
is of long continuance; revolution
commenced by men disloyal to the
Constitution of the Union; men
whom, as | understand, the gentle
man from New York is willing to see
admitted to seats in this House, pro-
vided they get more votes at the cleo
ton than their opponents, without
reference to the question Of their 10y
atty.
I admit that we are in the midst of
revolution; but | say to the gentle
man from New York it is revolu-
ton in favor of truth, in favor of
justice, in favor of the universal
rights Of mankind. And | say, let
the revolution go on until these grand
principles shall be firmly established
as the fundamental basis of the
American Republic. 4k
The gentleman from New York
complains that we propose to strike
Kentucky out of the Union. Why.
sir, but for the timely action of the
Union party and loyal soldiers that
marched into Kentucky from the
Northern States, Kentucky would
have struck herself out of the Union
years ago. The rebels of Kentucky
did what they could to carry the
State out of the Union; and when
thew failed by reason of the occupa-