The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1867-01-29
Remarks of Hon. John S. Mann,

Mr. Speaker, if my voice will permit,
desire to sag few words in support of this
resolution.
Aad first, do not understand The appeal
made by the gentleman from Fayette, OF
that the offering of this resolution is any
1Gscourtesy to the other side Of the House.
1 think the majority of this House, repre-
senting a majority Of the voters Of Penn
syIvanfa, have the right, and it is their
duty, to express their o. inion of the man
who have been so notorious as this man,
Edgar Cowan. The gentlemen in the mi
norlty have an opportunity for their own
vindlcatjon by putting themselves on rec
ord against any such resolution.
l hold that it is not only the right, but
it is the duty, of the people Of this State,
and the Representatives in this Hall, TO de
nounce Edgar Cowan upon every proper
occasion. His name having been sent to
the Senate of the United States for con
firmation of his appointment-as Minister to
Austria, this becomes proper and tlung
time for the Legislature Of Pennsylvania
TO rebuke him for his inso!ent defiance Of
the wishes Of the people Of this State. For
ak years this man has stood in the balls Of
the Senate Of the United States, insolentjy
,defying the people who elected him. The
people of Pennsylvania, on every occasion
when they had opportunity to speak, re-
g esLed aud instructed him to pursue the
course he pledged himself to pursue if elec~
tel, and yet, constantly, insoIenty and de-
family, this man has stood there scoruiug
the appeals Of the people who raised him
to his present position. Why, sir there
was no man who assisted in his election, no
man who said and felt when he wa, elected
that it was as Il representative Of freedom,
of justice and Of humanity, but was pain
fully convinced, after Edgar Cowan had
risen IL has place in tie United States Sen
ate, that he had committed an outrage Oh
the people Of Pennsylvania l listened to
him for two weeks in the spring of 1862,
and, duriug that eutne time, he never rose
to utter a sentiment that he did not insult
the people of PENNSYLVANIA Now, when
the people Of this State have an opportun-
dty to speak of him as he deserves, that It
rs not acting courteous Y to the minority is
"a strange proposition to me. lam not able
no understand such logic and such reason
ing.
| intend to treat every gentleman on this
floor who differs from me courteouslv, prop
'erly and gentlemanly. All intercourse be-
tween members upon this floor ought to be,
upon all occasions, gentIemanly and courte-
ous. But when it comes to speaking of men
who have acted as this man Cowan has act
ed, we would be recreant to our trust if we
did not speak OF them as they deserved,
apd as this resolution speaks.
1t is asked, to what has he been trai-
tor? He has been traitor to the highest
princip'es that man can pledge himself
to support.
He took the place of David Wilmot-.
he took it from "A Legislature that accepted
the position of David Wilmot as a true DO
sltion. He knew, when he took his seat in
the National Halls, that every man who
voted for him expected that he would walk
in the footsteps of David WiIniot. If he
did not intend so to do, he obtained his
seat under false pretenses. | say he com
united a greater crime, morally speaking,
III thus obtaining that seat, than any man
who IS convicted in the court Of common
sessions. Gentlemen say he had right to
change his opinions. So he had as an in
dividuaI. | honor a man anywhere and
everywhere, acting for himself who stands
up and says he is convinced he has been
acting wrongfuIy heretofore, and changes
his course. | do not care fiom which side
he changes, if he satisfies me, from the rea-
SON that he gives of the honesty in his
change # sentiments. / know him when
he acts for himself But when he acts as
1he representative of a people / say he has
no right to change against the men who
invested him with his representative char
'acter, no more than an agent, or a proxy
who has received a power Of attorney to
do a certain thing, has the right to Go
otherwise. No more. This alIusion that
was made here to gentlemen who have
changed their sentiments is not to the point
The question is not whether Mr. Cowan
had a right to change his -entments; but,
having changed, hal he the right to hold
the position he acquired from the people
of ofPennsylvania, ayowing other sentiments?
That is the point, and upon that point, if
the gentleman from Fayette Mr., BOYLE
has any regard for his party in its former
position, he will have nothing more to say
of the denuucation Of Edgar Cowan.
1t was not long ago, when, if a Senator
presumed to differ with the Legis' ature Of
Pennsylvania, even upon the question Of a
chartar bank, he was called upon to resign;
and the gcnt.eman's party We're loudest III
demanding that he should resign. Ifthat
was wrong, what is the crime of Edgar
Cowan where the GREAT questions of