Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-02-19

tlemen living in Maine and New York
and Massachusetts, during the terrible
ordeal through which we passed TO
proclaim their devotion TO the Union
"a very easy matter. Everybody con.
cured with them. 1t would have re.
quired some courage for my friend
here [Mr. Allison1 In Iowa to have
said that he was not for the Union.
And where il was such an easy matter
to have professed unbounded devotion
10 the Union, | do not think that such
profession has much merit in IT, But
further down where the sun was
warmer and the feelings were more
heated, it required courage when the
test was made for q man to say he was
devoted to the Union. That man is
entitled to some credit, and l do know
there are thousands and tens Of thou.
sands who, under the most trying
ordeal to which human courage was
ever subjected, stood up and pro-
claimed their fidelity 10 the Union TO
the last moment. Yes, SIT, there were
thousands of men throughout the
Southern States who were fearlessly
defending the preservation Of the
Union, and resisting the current that
was against them, when hundreds and
thousands who for years have been
loudly blatant in declaring their devo-
ton to the Union where it was safe to
do so, would not have dared to open
their mouths on that line. Yet these
gentlemen up here are par ercellence
loyal, and those gentlemen down there
who fought against secession until il
became an accomplished fact and sub.
mitted to disunion as they would sub
nit TO the death Of father, from
necessity only, and then IN sorrow and
saduess OF heart, are denounced as dis
loyal because they did what they could
only do in their conscience or fact, go
with their own people when they were
determined to go and did go-these
men are now held up as disloyal, and
Senators in this body arc exerting
their wits and exhausting their patience
and industry to find some little circum-
stance that may taint somebody with
disloyalty for the purpose of defeating
his rights ! As say, this question Of
loyalty has yet to receive definition.
1t has not yet received proper defni.
tion, and cannot be properly defined
until passion shall subside, and sound
reason be fully restored.
know thousand of men who were
ready 10 give everything to prevent the
act Of secession, who were devoted in
their hearts and lives to the preserva.
ton of the Union OF these States; who
felt conscientiously bound under the
teachings of their life time and under
the circumstances that surrounded
them, compelled as they were neces-
sarily, compelled conscientiously, not
by duress, compelled by honest convic-
tions as the result of q policy which
they did not approve, to 20 as they did
go; and, sir, l know that they were
Just as devoted TO the Union as gentle
men who in different climate and on
more convenient occasions could safely
proclaim their loyalty and who are now
denouncing them rs disloyal. 1t is all
wrong, Mr.. President.
This gentleman dare say was q
Union man. l know thousands Of
Union men in the South who were new.
er guilty Of nm act Of infidelity to the
Confederacy and who yet never saw the
hour nor the moment that they would
not have terminated the war on the
basis Of honest reunion. They were
ready at all times To do 1t and theii
sentiments were not concealed, yet
they went with their section. Shal
we say that this is disloyalty, and that
they only were loyal who desired thai
one section should become the conquer
or of another eection Of q common
country Is that what you mean BY
loyalty If you mean by loyalty devo
tion to the Union, desire to preserve
the Union, desire even that the result
of tho conflict on terms honorable Y
both should be the preservation Of thu
Union-if that is the meaning Of loyal
ty, there are thousands and millions il
the South who were loyal and Away
were loyal. But If you mean by 10y
atty desire that one section Of com
mon country should become the con
queror OF another section, 1t will be |
fatality for this country il anybody i
loyal. / am not ashamed TO stand vi
here and say that | believed the great
est possible calamity thatcould happei
to this country was for one section u
become the conqueror of another sec
ton of a common country and ye
the sun has never shone for an hou
when in my heart of hearts the highes
political ambition | ever had was no
TO see the American Union under tn
Constitution preserved, perpetuated
and obeyed forever And yet, sir, tber
never was an hour when / would no
have laid down my life and my a.
rather than have seen one section Of
common country become the conquer
or OF another section Of that same com
nom country, and believe that th
wise men Of this country will yet wax
up TO the fact that the greatest mlsfo'
tune that has ever befallen US anon
our many misfortunes Is the fact this
successful party to a sectional wa
obtained immediate and unchecke
control Of tho whole Government owe
both sections.
SO this talk about loyalty and disloy
atty has no weight whatever with m
! in this case. l vote against this b
from higher and different considers
tons altogether. l say that u the ev