Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-02-27

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them. Many of them were taken to
Fort MifRin, and there incarccrated
for IRON twenty 10 fifty days, and
then sent home, without o trial, with
out the presentment Of single charge
against them. When | had sought
the Attorney General of this Com
monwealth, and asked the interven-
lion of law when had called upon
the brave hearted and liberal Senator
from Erie Mr.. LOWRY to aid me in
administering to these victims their
plain right--the law-these men were
taken from the military rule and sent
10 the United States Court at Pitts
burg for trial; but no indictment could
be sustained against them, and thoy
were sent to their homes untried and
unconvicted. You may slander my
people as you choose, but when you
want a stalwart arm, when you want
a brave heart, when you want the
men who can shoot with deadly aim,
then you come to us.
Sir, ] speak warmly, because !
speak feclingly upon this subject. l
have heardtoo much Of such language
as has been uttered here to night |
wish to hear il no more.
Sir, the man who shot the provost
marshal voted for Abraham Lincoln
he lived within three miles ofmy own
town. l know all the facts and cir
cumstances connected with this affair,
and before any court and jury in this
Commonwealth he would not be con-
victed OF a crime higher than man.
slaughter. This officer never showed
his warrant, never produced his au-
thority, and fired first upon the man
who was fleeing from him. These
are the facts of that case. So much
for my defense. at
Let me ask YOU what ayails such
answers as YOU give TO the charges
we bring against you [? We have
CHARGED the man YOU have set as your
idle with crimes, and we have endeav
cred TO prove our charges. | quote
now from the reports OF Congress OF
the proceedings of the United State.
government in 1868.
Mr., Stevens. of Pennsylvania. in
troduced A bill onthe 27t6 of January
for the enlistment of one hundred aDC
| fifty thousand soldiers, persons of col
or of African descent That bill was
passed thew were enlisted. On the
first day OF Nav rebel legislation came
| find il in McPhcrscn's History Of
the Rebellion, On the 9th of Janu,
ary the negroes were authorized "a
be put into the service. They wer,
in The field before the first dav o
Nav. When that day came. | lin,
unon the statute hooks of rebellion
the law for retaliation against tn,
employment of negroes. What wa
the retaliation lfwas that negroe
should not be accounted the equals o
, what men that negro soldier woul'
not be exchanged for white soldier
J for they denied our right to put arm
in their hands.
/ Secretary Stanton said the negro
was the equal of the white man unde
, all circumstances the rebels of tn
South refused to recognize this, an,
you made the white men in Southern
, prisons suffer in consequence. Tha
, is the true history OF this transaction
| That is what you have to answer fol
, Had you accepted their proposals, 40,
exchanged white for white, you woull
not have kept suffering white soldier
in Southern prisons. You would no
} have had ten thousand lives TO &C
, count for. Then you might have sal,
. that Secretary Stanton was not L
blame. The Senator from Bradlor'
! and the Senator from Lawrence ma
, well talk about principle. Here wa
principle with vengence. A princi
> ciple that declared rebels should no
say that negro was [not1 equal TO
5 white man, and vindicated that prir
ciple at the white mans expense. Yo
a inflicted barbaritv. ruthless barbarit,
: ...'... -. a. H. a., I'll, H. /,
uPoh yout "n'.o sV'u'oiS w '''u'e,'
| the principle that negro was tn
Y equal of the white man.
= Principle forsooth, that would thu
4 punish men of your own race. Prir
/ ciplc that would thus entail degri
r dation and suffering upon the me
}, You should protect. Why, Senators
s if this be principle, to what will nc
G principle drive your To what bas
o uses may we not come at last z Til
y Senator from Lawrence Mr.. Browne
F admits in effect that this was the prir
Q ciplc that was everything with b
o party. Mr.. Stanton would not reoo,
= nizc the fact that a white soldier wa
0 better than negro; and he dete