The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-03-30
DAMAGING TO JACORHyYSN.

Senate.
DAMAGING TO JACOBHyISN.
Passages in the speech of Governor
Sprague on Friday cast a great food of
light upon the dark, and we might almost
say "bloody" ground of Radical arbt-
rarincss, persecution, and proscriptive,
ness in Congress in late years, How
could anything of good proceed from
such pestilential source in politics :?
Can there he change for the better even
now, when there has been an infusion
of new elements, through men fresh
from the people? Is there to be no 9TH
er thought in politics but ''rebel," rebel"
and tho constant devising by dema-
gogucs of new forms of chains and
slavery upon the people of the South !?
No sooner does that people seek to mol.
lify Radical hate and rage by accepting,
at great sacrifice of feeling, some harsh
condition imposed upon them, than a
new and still more gross one is invented
in the seething cauldron of "fanatical
hell broth, boil, and bubble?" The
whoop and yell of ''rebel'' by malignant,
empty, and venal partisans drown all
thought about ameiorating the condition
of the people by devising methods of re
lieving the laboring masses from the
grinding burdens of taxation that we
have so often recited, and which are OBJ
vious enough to congressman though
they seem to be coldly and cruelty in
different to them. Touching the spirit
ofparty malevolence that has existed,
Mr.. Sprague held the following remark
able language:
"Heis bold man who attempts to
assert himself on this floor at any time
contrary to the prejudices or the general
opinion of the majority. or preponder
ating proportion of this. X
"When l listened to the arguments
that were urged upon this body by the
Senator from Michigan, Mr.. Howard,
when he made use of the expression,
"where thrift may follow fawning," it
made an impression on my mind that
stands with me to-day. If this body
needs such correction as these words
admit, it is a body that ought not tc
have the charge of the distribution OF
the honors, the emoluments, and the pre-.
negatives of Office.
81, for one, in looking back upon the
past history of this country-and the
people, whatever philosophers may say
will come to the same c6nclusion-have
come to believe that your acar has moi
been ron for the liberties of any class c1
people; yow icar that you hare Just par
italy concluded has had no high rirtu,
ous principle at the bottom of it. 1t has
had simple contentious for poper
for place, and for occupation, com
mencing here in this body, and per-
meatiag throughout the country.
"For six years, for myself, l would
rather have stormed a triple line OF
presented bayonets or park of artill
cry in full play than to have stood OF
this floor and advocated any ideas that
| might have had. In fact, advocating
those ideas, commencing at the beginning
l should have lost them, from the indif
ference, from the inattention, and from
the contempt received by one not etiuca
ted to familiarity with debate and the
confidence of the floor. 1t is not only
in my o,cn person that have witnessed
this inquisitorial policy. There are those
around me who have not yet recovered
from the stings of the influence of the
majority of this body for standing mp as
they were determined to do for their duty
as they understood it"
What is said by Governor Sprague as
to peril in battles comes with no bad
grace, because he went to Manassas tc
fight, and did fight, while Others in Con
gress, that are the most relentless foes
of the South. and who went to the point
in question to witness the flight Of the
rebels, not only turned their backs upor
the banquet that was spread for them
but stopped not in the order of theil
going, and rode pell nell over every
body and everything in their stampede
for Washington.
The last sentence above quoted m
doubtedly refers to the party proscrip
ton of such Senators as Messrs. Fess
enden, Trumbull, and Grimes, for theil
course upon the impeachment infamy
For that, these gentlemen are proscrib
ed at party beck from Cabinet positions
that they would honor for their ability
and public purity. For that, Mr.. Fes
senden was defeated for the position O
President pro tenn. of the Senate. Fol
that, fierce and lying camgaigns have
been set on foot in Maine, Iowa, and Ill
inois, to PROSTATE at home the Senators
referred to. For that, Mr.. Fowler, O
Tennessee, is in reality honored by ex
clusion from Radical caucuses. The likt
prescription would be extended to al
Senators we have named, even to Mr.
Sprague, if it were not an adventure re
plcte with peril to party.