The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-01-03
A Rising Statesman.

in the lower House of Congress, IS un-
doultedlv the Hon. CHARLES A. ELDRIDGe
of Wisconsin and the speech delivered by
that gentleman last Tuesday on IHAD. STE
VEINS eonfscation biz deserves to be con-
sidered the best plea for the Uuion and the
Constitution, pure and simple WHICH mas
been delivered that in body since the retire
ment of VALLANDTGHAM.
Our readers will remember MI. ED
RIDGE as the member who put poor STOKES
through such course of sprouts the first
day of the session, and who, IN the pro-
cess thereof, paid some warm and glow
ing regards to gallant old Tennessee, !"
which he defended with the zeal of an own
son.
We thank him for his unsolicited but
timely championship. 1t was gallantly and
handsomely DONE And the South, as well
as justice, will thank him for the mastery
manner with which he stripped the sophis-
try Of Mr. STEVENS and the eoquence with
which he plead the cause of peace. We
find his speech reported in the last number
Of the Congressional Globe. The force of
the argument is only cqualled by that of
the language, which is terse, yet opulent
and rich in figure, at the same time that it
presents us a direct and concise picture OF
the broad and healthy ideas that lie at
It's base and give it its vast strength and
muscle
Mr.. ELDRIDGE started out with the sim
pie proposition, unencumbered by needless
verbiage, that it is time the Union were
restored. 1t is time the people were enjoy
ing the fruits of the victory won in its
name and on its behalf 1t is time the ma
tion, on whose account, in whose interest,
and by whose power and valor the battle
was fought, should be SLOWED to rest to
repose, to recuperate. The bloody and
terrible war of more than four years dura-
ton ending almost three years ago. The
helish passions it engendered, the veng-
eance it evoked, should have ended with
the war PernTcious passion, vangeful
pliances Of war, are incompatible with
peace. More than two and half years
ago every army of the Confederate surren-
dered, and every Confederate soldier gave
up his arms and sued for peace. Since
that day no war weapon has been raised,
no armed man has lifted hi. finger against
the national authority but all, without
exception, submit themselves to the Con-
sttution and laws of the United States, and
have or are ready to renew their allegiance
to them. These werc the terms demanded
from the beginning of the war to the end,
these were the terms of surrender Why,
then, is not the Union, the object of the
war, restored? Why is not the oppressive
foot Of the conquerer taken off the bowed
neck of the conquered, and the future
liberty, prosperity, happiness and unity
of the Republic re established and as
sured I?
To the answer Of these questions Mr..
ELDRIDGE, in reviewing the confscation
bill, devotes himself, and he certainly
places the responsibility where it belongs
with uncommon cIearncss, decribing the
record Of the last two years as record
Of cruel despotisms, Of wick ed usupations,
of violated law, of broken faith, Of unfuf-
fled promises, OF rights disregarded, of con-
stitutions oyerthrown, and of civil liberty
trampled under foot-and all in the interest
of mere party"
This for example:
The restoration of our county to its
ceased, been al all times and wholly in
the hands and power of the Republican
party. 1t alone is responsible for all that
has been done and all that has been left.
undone. 1t elected the President and it
elected the majority of Congress 1t has
agreed with both the President and Con-
gress. Since the majority of the party be-
gan to differ with the President it has
had no defined policy of restoration Con
gross has not dared to commit itself to any
terms upon which the Confederate States
may be permitted representation. 1t seems
TO be afraid the terms might be accepted,
and se0rns tinaiity. 1t spends its time in
angry contentious with the President, and
in devising schemes For opposing him and
deluding the people. 1t will be happy, in
deed, for the country, if, while Repub
llcan Congress is wrangling with Repub-
lican President, and seeking to defeat his
policy of restoration for party ends alone,
the golden opportunity, yea the last oppor-
tunity for restoring the Union and saving
constitutional government shall not have
passed forever. ifit does not it will not be-
owing to the wisdom, forbearance or gener.
osity Of this Congress. 1t has met every
submission Of the Confederates, every over.
ture Of more onerous ezactions. More
cruel and cxhorbiant demands are made
whenever it is believed they can be inforced.
Its stern, unrelcnting power alone is the
measure by which their humilihing and
expressions are TO be determined, And
now it is proposed by the veteran leader of
the majority, Dir. Stevens, of Pennsylvan-
ia, by bill which he introduced in this
House on the Goth day of March last,
to ccnfscate their property by act of Con.
gress."
There is an immense amount of pictur-
eque, suggestive and vigorous truth in
this. The argument that follows is equal. |
L. af II