The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1867-08-21
Speech Of Hon. Win, 4. Robinson.


The following spirited speech, delivered
III tho House Of Representatives during its
late irrcgular session, is copied from the
Congressional GtoJa:
Mr.. Stevens, of Pcnnsylvnnia-I suppose
tho gentleman is referring to Andcrsonvillc?
Mr.. RoGinscn-No, sir, I nm not. Those
who shrek for more blood and suffering
May unfold the CORY record Of .tndcrsonvillc.
That record is terrific enough, and ever to
be condemned. But there may ho exhibit
cd u worse spirit than was manifested at
Andcrsonville. That has been claimed by
the Confclcratcs as military necessity
But there is n spirit Of wrong. a spirit Of
Satan, Il spirit entirely inconsistent with
the spirit Of the age and of all religion,
which, without the roorcxcnsc Of military
or other necessity, shouts for vengeance
and yclls for blood. The present fall cleo
tions arc approaching again must the hor~
rors of AndcrSonvillc be vampcd, rcyarnish-
cd and rchcarsca; committee reports ~
great expense wrung from n suffering rCo-
pic, bo published in huge volumes and
scattered broadcast over the land, TO renew
Tie wcaricl spirit Of revenge. Shc poet
Moore represents Erin sitting on tho banks
OF the loync, her Andcrsorvillc, the very
mention of whose name always rcrcwcd The
spirit Of hell:
when will this end, yc powers OF good?
.$hc weeping asks forever.
Ditt only hears from cut the nocl
The demon answers, "NcYcr!"
Aa,i never shall wc have reconstruction
till reconciliation fans its holy spark into
vivifying Rnmo. Never. whilo men who
should he pleading for forgiveness as they
hope TO he forgiven, crawl around tomb
stones of tho bloody past like another
"Old Mortality" with inccssant mallct and
stcclc,l chiscl deepening tho record of hu-
man fvailty which the winds and rains o.
heaven were mcrciiuly proceeding TO oblit-
crate.
ga canting crew,
So smooth. 60 godly, yet so devilish TOO,
Who, nr."cd At onco with bibles and with
Blood on their hands aud scripture on The
lips;
Tyrans by crcol and torturers by text,
Mako tins life hell in honor Of the next"
Let "bygoncs be bygoncs," if you ever
mean to let us become one people again. If
you mean to keep us forever apart, say so
and be honest. We have fought the South,
with their Johnstons and S:oncwall jack
sons, and they, by our superior numbers
and resources arc at our feet. The prodi-
gal sou nj whom tho gentleman from Penn
sylvania (AIr. Stcvcns) recently snccrcd, has
returned from scenes OF dissipation and
rioipus living. IF you mean to take him
back, do 50, and kill tho fNttcd calf. If
you mean TO maau 10 slay the prodigal son
and keep tho fattcd calr kicking up his iiccls
around the barnyarl, say 50, Do somo.
,Ss4;ng; but do not talk Of reconstruction
while you, arc plotting disunion. If the Sc
ceding wife has returned, take her 10 your
bosom; or if you cannot do this, cast her
from you forever. Do not bo reconstruct
ing her into another and different person,
for that would not be rcconstruction-bu
rather bigamy.
If you wish to live with her, Danish from
beneath your roof. ns yon would q spirit
from hell, every croaking miscrcant who
would sl.riclt into both cars The follics and
crimes which you both committed and
which lcl to your separation. If you
mean I o restore TO The weeping Union its
former children, OH, give her back her darl
ing boy, and not Tho sickly, fairy child with
which you would mack u mothers prayer
Sir, these arc words of truth anil sober
ness. | believe the specdicst way to recon
stIuciion is honest reconciliation un,t 1n,,.
tual forgiveness. stand not here to justi.
fy The South. While sho was in rebellion
she was my enemy; in submission sho be.
comes again my friend. I would not innct
upon hcr ORC single unnecessary humilia.
ton. aep
After quoting Rcy. Mr., Bccchcr's Cevc.
land letter, and commanding it, Mr.. Robin
son Continued:
With this message Mr.. Bcechcr cano
down 10 his people, as Moses descended,
with words Of wisdom from Heaven. But
in his absence tho Aarons of his congrcga-
ton had set up new god, q blatant calf.
lIo found his pulpit in possession Of Cover.
nor Brown,ow aEl y goddess crew, who
wcrc "swingm& round the c,clo after the
President" Amid hc cheers Of his pco
ylc ho hea.l BroHiow, with tho spirit &C