The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1868-01-30
SECRETARY STANTON.
TaE M1NNESOTA LEGISLATCxE IN
HIS AEIESTATEMEST
Remarks Of Hon. J, G. d. Pettiiohn.
OF Pope County.
January 1lst, 1865.

Mr' opeaker: AT the adjournment
OF the House on yesterday the subject
under discussion was the endorsement
Of the action Of our Senators in Con-
gress in restoring the Hon. Edwin NJ.
Stanton as Secretary of War.
did hope, when 1 first introduced
that resolution, that We might as BODY.
give = calm, deliberate expression Of
our approval Of the action, first taken
by the Senate of the United States on
this important question, at this pecu-
liarly critical crisis.
But instead If the calm and del;he,.
ate expression that We desired as re-
sponse to this resolution, it has proven a
perfect bombshell on tie Copper Democ-
racy side of the House.
1t was introduced ut the suggestion
Of a good man, not member of this
House, aud SO confident vas that such
a resolution was opportune and sppro-
pirate at this time that I immedi-
ately wrote it out, and after showing it
to two or three members of the House.
| was encouraged to offer it at once.
But after the above statement, show
ing how deliberate and spontaneous was
our sction upon this subject, We would
call your special attention to the effect
Produced By the falling Of this shell in
their midst.
The gentleman from Stearns first
sounds the keynote Of alarm, by giving
notice Of desire tv debate the question
but the sequel shows still later pro.
gramme Of taeir nidaight caucus. as
signing each his post of honor, and each
bis part to say, IS exhibited in the pro.
ceedings.
On yesterday, when the resolution
was called up BY Mr.. Clark, of Henne-
din, their same faithful leader disclosed
the fact in his argument that their Sec
ond scheme, or scheme No.. 2, offered
BY the gentleman from Ramsey, vas for
them to choke the resolution BY reouir-
ing tvo-thirds vote to take it from
the table, but wiser council prevailed.
Their leader being foiled again, then
resorted to the next step in the pro-
sramme, and called around him his co.,
fe'icrates and united in open war against
the resolution itself:
The honorable gentleman from vi
non. took his position as opposed t, the
resolution, but be came forward With a
trembling and faltering step as bashful
as female baby Of sixteen, bu, said his
part, doubtless, IS agreed upon 10 caucus
bewailing, IS he did, with sad counte-
nance, the distracted, divided aud dan
gcrous condition Of our country, aad as
usual wound up BY extoll'n: and de-
Tending our glorious constitution. And
rs listened to his remarks on this sub
ject l could not refrain from thinking
Of the language Of Andy johnson when
he said, "W1en you Aeu> a man prat-
ing about Me Consultation, spot him
as a traitor" If We should adopt old
Andys s:ntimcnts cn this subject what
\ spotted set would We soon find.
But no sooner is this No. 2 man from
Winona done with his speech, than the
rinsleader from Stearns county arises
in his place again, and in his usual
style Of bitterness Cenounces our great
aud worthy War Minister, aud soeer.
ingly asks, "What has Mr. Stanton
done?"
In the protest signel BY the gentle
men on the other side Of the House. he
is charged with ex:ravasauce in the
conduct Of the var Office. It is = we'll
known fact that the system Of re,reuch-
ment nov successfully carried forward
BY Grant Vas iaaugurated BY Stanton
himseH, before his removal.
He Is charged with cruelty to our
soldiers BY refusing to exchange them
while prisoasrs of War. The committee
On The Coodac. Of the War have demon
s.rassd 70 the world that it il tho rebel
t;Smni.sioner Of Exchange Who vas re.
sponsible for this brutality-a. parallel
Of which cannot be found in the records
Of the civilized world.
Stanton demanded that every soldier,
whether white or black, should be
treated - prisoner Of var. That course
pursued bJ him was endorsed by the
people, and any other would have been
the basest cruelty and cowardice to our
black soldiers who, by tho fortunes of
war, we're thrown into the hands Of the
rebels.
"What has Stanton done !''e
We answer: Look over tho history
Of tho trials through which We have
Just passed, and see who twas, that
| al thro7gh the darkest hours Of this
c:uel rebellion stood at ths head Of the
.,tWar Dspartm.nt-It Ms E. N. STAN
fton.
Who planned, controlled -and guided,
. Until treason, blightsd and crushsd, hy
4 hslplsss and bleeding S ths rs q
4 s.-az go Q 80 -