The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-09-27


S'Ite Treasurer .frOm the LegfStdtuF6 md
tie plaeing of 1t IN the hands of the people,
VIII unquestionably then be adopted.
ACCEPTS A DIPLOMATIC MISSION.
In the summer of 1858 Nh Buckalew re-
signed his position as State Senator and
Commissioner to revise the criminal code
for the purpose of accepting the appoint
ment of United States Minister resident to
the Republic of Ecuador. Here, asin Par
aguay, he discharged his delicate duties
with prudence and fidelity. The climate
of the country proving favorable to his
health and that of his family. he remained
three years. and returning to his ountry
i'll 1861, he found his countrymen armed
and arIning for the suppression of the great
rebellion.
CHOSEN UNITED STATES SENATOR.
On the 18th of January, 1868, Mr.. Buck
alew was elected to the United States SEN
ate for the term of six years from the 4th
of March following. An insignificant man
is in pitiable position, and shows very
badly by comparison, in this the most tai
cntcd and august assembly of the nation.
But the new member from Pennsylvania
soon won the respect of his brother Sena-
tors, and the party in his State which OPP
posed his election, equally with the party
that elevated him to that high position,
felt grateful for the honor which his repu-
tuition there reflected upon their grand old
Commonwealth. In the Senate Mir. Buck
alew served on the most important commit
tCc@. among others that of Foreign Rela-
tions, and was chairman of the special com
mittce ON representative reform, whose re-
port Of March ,, 1869, contained suggestions
of the deepest interest, and was extensively
circulated through the country for the pub
lie information.
WAR RECORD IN THE SENATE.
the country was deep i'll the struggle for
the preservation of the Federal Union.
As democrat he could not sympathize
with all the measures and aims of the ad-
miuiStratiOn then i'll power. But on the
question of putting down by force the force
that had alTayed itself against the author
ity Of the ballot he never heSitated mo-
ment and was as decided and earnest as
the most ardent Republican to be found in
the halls OF Congress or in the front of the
battle. Shortly after his election to the
Senate he defined his position ON the sub
uct of war in the following words
That rebellion was against the laws of
the United States, and put the whole body
of them at defiance. Although it asserted
for itself legal ground Of justification, it
is most manifest that it was Iaw!ess and
unauthorized. The COMPACT of the Union
being without limitation of time, must be
held, as intended by its authors, to be per
Ietual and the provision contained in It
for its own amendment provides The only
lawful mode to which its obligation can be
limited orchangcd. Considering secession
as a breach of the public law, and in view
of the immense interests put in peril by it,
this State c0ncured i'll measures Of hJstil-
ity against the South. But this was done
to vindicate the broken law, and to secure
the object for which the government of
the United States was originally founded,
and for no purpose of conquest or Oppres-
sion. Upon this ground we must Justify
our conduct, and submit it without apprc-
hension Of censure to the Judgment OF
future tnneS.''
And again. III a speech delivered in the
Senate at the close of the war, as follows
''Returling from. foreign country ateI
the commencement of the war. when it
was in full progress, and when no human
power could avert the storm which fell
upon Us, | found myself, as did most of the
citizens of our country, absolutely con-
trolcd by the circumstances which sur
rounded US and which pressed us forward
upon course OF conduct which we could
not avoid. Thought then, and think now,
that there was but one thing to do. We
were engaged III contest which was, as
it has often been described. contest OF
life and death, and there was nothing t.
be done except to fight it ont to fight on,
to promote or assist the collision of forces
which were then arrayed against each
other until some ultimate results should be
reached
AS a member of the minority in this
chamber, | gave my vote for those meas
ures of the majority which directly point
ed to the use of the force Of this Govern
ment to Subjugatc the insurreCtiOn which
raised its head against us. | was opposed
to the political policy Of that majority, and
have continued to entertain and evince
that opposition down to this time in a re-
spectacle and proper manner. But upon
the question Of prosecuting the war to 4
conclusion | never had any difficulty;
never had any hesitation.
! SUPPLIES.
In accordance with these views Mr..
[ Buckalew GtI0Ocdted and rated for the fol
lowing measures that were to furnish the
''Si1tetoS Of 10 r::''
April IA, 1864 bin to meet deficiency il
the war department, S9!, ,5O4, O40 +; and fol
the naval service, -, I35, 800.
April %, bill appropriating to the sup
port of the army, S529, 3a3, S91 90. This
bin WAS strongly opposed i'll the House,
and it became necessary to order com
mittee of conference. The Senate ap
pointed T. O. Howe, l.. NJ. Morrill, and
ChurIss II. Buckaletr, and the House Thad-
deus Stevens and Thomas L. Davis. The
difficulty arose mainly from the clrcum
stance that the house thought the Senate
provision for the pay of c0tored troops aou.
too liberal. The report of the conference
committee, signed dy -Hr. Buehaseto, was
adopted. 1t may be found in the Globe,
page 2,S45. Frequently thenceforward,
when alluding to this matter, Ihaddeus
Stevens was accustomed to say some very
strong things in praise of the manliness
and magnanimity of Senator Buckalew
for agreeing to pay 50 liberany the colored
soldiers whom he had employed.
May 2l, 1864, bill appropriating to differ
! ent branches of the naval service, s106, 1872.
9S7 90.
February II, 1865, bill appropriating tc
the navy, S121, 4S6,928 80.
February Is, 1865, bill making appro
priations for the support Of the army
| $554, 519, ,527 10.
These five money bills amounted tC