The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-02-04

paper organ of the called republican party
took the high ground that the so uthern States
had the right TO break up the Union if they
pleased, and could not justly be opposed
But though they "drew much people after
them," and gave great encouragement to the
nsurrectionary movement no man who was at
once honest, intelligent, and true to the coun-
try, failed to the wisdom of the Presidents
views The President elect endorsed them
fully on his way to the capital, as he did after
wards by his official action. From all quarters
addresses and petitions came up, which show ed
the popular appreciation of them. Even the
Massa chusetts Legislature e. without one dissent
ing voice IN its more numerous branch, and by
al overwhelming ma jority i'll the other house,
passed solemn resolution approving them in
the strongest language, and offering to aid in
CARRYING them out. But everything depended
on Congress, and what did Congress do?-
Both houses were completely in the hands of
shallow partisans, who were either TOO stupid
to know their duty, or too dishonest to perform
il. The men OF most ability and integrity
whom republican constituents had sent there
such men, for instance, as Charles Francis
Adams-were heard but not needed. The
President, thoroughly informed on the whole
subj Gct, communicated all the facts in special
message, told Congress that the powers con
fded to him were wholly inadequate TO the oc-
casion, demonstrated the absolute necessity OF
further legislation, anC implOred them not to
IL.
increasing with every moment of delay.
To all this they we're as deaf as adders. They
could be reached by no appeal to their hearts
or consCieuces. They neither adopted the
ecutive recommendation, nor gave a reason
for refusing. ii any measure having the least
tendency either to restore peace or prepare tor
war got so far to be proposed. il was uni
iormly strsng ed. The issues of life and de2 tn
TO the nation hung upon their action, and they
would not lift finger to save it. No legIsla
tive body, since the beginning of the world,
ever behaved in great crisis with such scan
dalous disregard of its duty.
But If there were no statesmen among the
managers of that Congress, there were plenty
Of demagogues +; if they were Indifferent to the
fate OF the nation, they wore intensely alive to
the interests of their faction if the regular
committees slept supinely OH the great public
questions submitted to them, the secret com
nittee, spawned by caucus, went growing
about with activity as incessant as it was steal
thy and malignant. You could not gainSay
the views which the administration took of
their own duty yours, deny the wisdom
of the recommendations they made; but you
cOulj, and did, answer them with a storm OF
personal Cetraction. The air was filed with
taisehood the atmosphere was saturated with
slander the voice Of truth was drowned IN the
loud roar of foaming calumny." This cru
Sade conducted with m Ich vlgor and
success. that some members of the adminslra-
trltiOn " ere pursued into private life by the
rage Of the partisan mob, and thousands of the
wsrthest men in the land were actually i'm
prisoned and prosecuted almost TO DEATH for
nothing worse than expressing u friendly opin-
ion of Them. The messages of the President
will stand forever a monument to the wisdom
foresight, and honest patriotism of tie execu-
tive administration, while history will proclaim
through all time the dishonor of that Congress
which could answer such appeals with nothing
but yituperation aud insult.
1t WAS at such a juncure that Mr.. Stanton
was appointed to take u high and most conf
dental place in the administration. His Ian
gunge gowed with gratitude, his words spoke
all the fervor of personal devotion to his chiet
and his colleagues he gave his thorough ap-
proval to the measures which they thought ne
cessary TO preserve the unity of the nation in
the bonds of peace Yet you inform US that
be did Immediately put himself in communica-
tlon with the opposition ; sought out you and
Others whom he had Eever kROwn before, and
sought you solely because you were enemies oil
the administration offered himself as your
spy, and did act for you in the capacity of II
false delator; went skulking about at midnight
to aid you in defeating the me asures which
with he pretended to support; for gathered
with your secret committee, and gave you as
sistance in carrying on your personal warfare
against his beneiactors nay, worse than all
that, he helped you trnmp up charge of trea
son against one of his colleagues-a charge
which he knew to be ta!se-a charge for which
If it had been true, that trusting friend might
lawfully, and would desery ediy, have beer
hanged by the neck until he was dead. Oh
it was too foul it was base beyond the lowest
reach of comparison. If your story be un
founded--if Stanton after all was I true and
honorable man-how will you answer in the
Judgment day for this horrible outrage on his
memory and on the feelings OF his friends
If thou dost slander HIM and torture Us,
NnVa r.Pay plnr oh. al
On horrors head horrors accumula:e;
For nothing canst thou TO d4mnaton add
Deeper thau that.
CONCLUSION NEXT WEEK