The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-11-02
MATT CARPENTER.
a Perfect Ovation to Wisconsin's Great
est Orator.

Hon. Matt H. Carpenter spoke in
Turner Hall last evening to the largest
number of people ever gathered within
Its walls upon any occasion. AS early
as half past six the seats began to be
filed by ladies who knew hat to find
sitting room at all required their pres
ence there at an early hour, and long
before Mr.. Carpenter appeared upon the
stage there was scarcely standing room
In the hall, while later in the evening
many were compelled to turn back at
the door, there being no room for them
inside.
MIR. Carpenters speech was brilliant
beyond description, and frequently in
terrupted by the loudest applause.
After the discussion of various topics
he proceeded to show how the Demo
Gratis, by their vote against the adoption
OF the thirteenth amendment, abolishing
slavery by their unanimous opposition
to the fourteenth amendment. providing,
among other things, that the United
States shall not assume or pay any debt
or obligation incurred in aid of insurrec-
ton or rebellion against the United
States, Or any claim for loss or emanci-
patton of slaves-showing conclusively
by their votes they acre in favor of such
payment by their unanimous effort to
defeat the adoption of the fifteenth
amendment which gave to the negro the
right to vote-he showed that the Dem
ocratic party virtually declared its belief
that the damages incurred by the South
by reason of the war, were just claims
and should be paid. He proved that, to
be consistent with their declarations as
shown by their votes, the Democratic
party mast consider those claims Just,
and as Mr.. Tilden had declared it be his
opinion that to send Union troops into
the South was trespass, he was bound
by his acts and declarations to maintain
the validity of their claims for damage.
That was one of the principal points
made by Mr.. Carpenter, and he main
tanned his assertions by so many logical
deductions that it seemed there was no
galnsaying it. He reviewed MI Tilden's
letter declaring that if elected he would
oppose the passage of any bill to pay the
rebel war debt or for slaves emancipated,
saying that no one proposed to pay such
claims !; and in regard to tho claims for
damage, sustained by disloyal men, he
showed how easy it would be for Dem
ocratic House, now in the conCrol of the
Southern members, to pass the bill, ol-
ready introduced, to bring suit for such
State and make the oath of the claimant,
verified by one other man, all the evil
dence Of loyalty necessary-opening the
way to an endless number of claims the
only thing required to secure payment
being the oaths of two men. What
would Mr.. Tilden have to say or Go
about cases in the District Courts of the
various States to oppose their payment
Mr.. Carpenter did Tot blame the
Democrats for voting as they did upon
those great questions if it was their sin
eere belief That the 18th, 18th and 18TH
amendmentswer measures which should
be opposed and defeated; and if they
still thought them wrong, he urged them
to be honest and vote for MIR. Tilden as
the leader of the party which had always
and empha5ically declared itself opposed
to the principles finding an expression
in those articles.
His speech was attentively listened to
by one of the most intelligent audiences
ever assembled in Manitowoc, and if his
Democratic hearers were not past re-
demption, it cannot fail of having great
influence for good in this campaign.