Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-02


The North was dotted with graves, tenant
ed with the purest and best men, whose deaths
were caused by the greatest and gultiest re-
bellion that ever appeared in the annals of
the human race. The generosity and magma
nimity of the nation in the hour of victory
was the grandest spectacle of the kind the
world had ever seen. The same spirit pre-
vailed now, and yet the alarm was sounded
that the Republicans of the North seek to re-
vive and intensity the feelings and passions
of the war, and Southern Democrats pretend
to sink the past in the oblivion of kind forget
fulness. The truth of this assertion could be
tested right before our eyes. Twenty seven
States adhered to the Union they sent to
Congress 269 Senators and Representatives
Of this number "a only We're soldiers in the
armies of the Union.
The IL States which were disloyal sent %
Senators and Representatives. OF these, 50
were soldiers in the army of the rebellion,
and at least three more held offices of high
civil trust under the Confederacy, making IS
out of the 93. There were but four Senators
here who fought in the Union Army. Twenty
Senators sat here who fought in the
army of the rebellion, and three more
sit here who held high offices i'll the COnfed-
eracy. In the House there were fifty Union
soldiers from % States, and ca Confed-
crate soldiers from IL States The South is
solid throughout all its borders. There are
only two Republicans here from the South
(Messrs. Bruce and Kellogg and it is whis-
pered that there is an enterprise on foot to
deprive one of them (Mr Kellogg of his seat
The South is manifestly solid. Cannot you
wonder" Mr. Conkling asked, IF the North
should presently become solid? Do you not
see that the doings now in the two houses fill
the country with alarm and distrust as to the
patriotism Of the men from the South For
ty-two Democrats have seats ON this floor, or
40, if yOu count the Senator from Illinois,
and he does not belong to the Democratic
Party, although say that any Democrat who
asks anything more of him is an insatiate
monster. Laughter. Twenty-three is a clear
majority of all, and "a happens to be exactly
the number of Senators III the South and lead
ers in the late rebellion. Forty-two Senators
rule the Senate, % rule the caucus, and
majority rule the Senate, and the caucus
rules the majority. There is the same thing
in the House, where assaults are made on the
Constitution and the executive department
1t is not an assault ON the divine right of
kings, but ON the rights of the people. 1t
would never have been inaugurated without
the action of the 90 Southern Senators here
and the Southern Representatives in the
House. The Northern people know and they
see the leading control of the Democratic
Party is in the hands of the South. By their
fruits 20 shall know them. The gentleman
from Alabama (Mr. Morgan said he preferred
that the Democrats from the North should go
forward in debate. 1t was the scheme of an
experienced politician. He would employ the
Northern leyies as the sappers and miners to
make it look better. 1t was not from cruelty
to make them food for powder that he placed
them in the front of the battle. 1t was thought
better that they should go forward to tunnel
the citadel. Putting the tail in front and the
head in the sand only spoke of the species
and habits of the bird. (I4aughter) We were
told that even this bound the South Per-
haps the man who made this arrangement
builded better than he knew
In conclusion, Mr.. Conkling said that what
the Democrats were now doing would result
to the advantage of the Republican Party but,
considering the welfare of the South, he be-
heved their action was hagrantly unwise and
hurtfully injudicious. II have spoken frank
ly, but with malice toward none. But the
point is this 1t is a partisan political enter
prise. The debate was begun after the ac-
ton of caucus. 1t was raised to fire the
Democratic heart, to sound a blast to the
cohorts of party, to beat the long roll and set
the squadrons in the field The object, it |
was plain to be seen, was to overthrow the |
laws if this could be done"