Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-05-14
Chandler and Hill.

Senator Hill of Georgia let loose on
Saturday his pent-up feelings in regard to
some of the republican speeches of last
week. In the midst of his speech he men
toned letter written by Senator Chan
dler of Michigan in 1861. in which the lat
ter spoke of little blood-etting being
necessary to save the Union and from
this Hill went on to assert that had it not
been for the republican party there would
have been no secession and no war. This
reused the lion hearted Senator from
ing interesting remarks
Mr.. Chandler said that this was the third
time since 1861 that alusion had been made
to a letter written by him to the Governor of
Michigan. 1t first appeared in Detroit
newspaper. The letter was private one.
and no copy was retained by him. Senator
Powell brought copy of the newspaper to
him, and asked if the letter as printed was
correct. Mr. Chandlertod him h. didn't know,
having kept no copy. Senator Powell then
said, if it was a correct copy, he wished to
make use of it. Mr.. Chandler told him that
use of it he pleased so to-day the letter, if
not originally his, is his by adoption. Mr.
Chandler then described the circumstances
under which the letter was written. He had
been in the Senate four years listening to
reasonable utterances. The daily and hour
ly threat was, do this or we will destroy the
Union There was treason in the
White House, in the Cabinet, in the
Senate and House bold, outspokcn,
and rampant. The threat was made on the
floor of the Senate in his presence by a Sen
ator from Texas "You may give us "A blank
sheet of paper and let us fill it up As we
please, and then We will not live with
you" Treason was applaudcd in the Senate
galleries, talked on the streets. and dis
cussed in private circles. There was
treason in the departments, traitors in the
White House, traitors in these galleries. trai-
tors everywhere. The flag Of the rebellion
had been raised. The Union was already
dissolved. The rebel Government of Alaba-
ma was established. Upon what basis could
negotiations have been made or a peace con
vention called with rampant rebellion
staring us in the face. 1t was no time
TO negotiate. The time for that had
passed. We had offered everything in the
way of negotiation and COMPROMISE
and every prGtitr had been Indignantly
refused. This the situation when that
letter was written. After Mr.. Powell had
made his assault upon him in the Senate. Mr..
Chandler instantly responded. relating the
facts as he now related them, and said hc
stood by the letter he stood bv it now.
What was there in it, and what is there in il
now! Michigan was known to be in favor OF
the constitution, the Union, and the enforce.
ment of the laws, even TO the letting of blood
If need be, and that is all there was and is in
the letter Let the most be made of it,
And the Senator from Georgia saws. con
timed Mr.. Chandler. that didn't shed any
blood. How much blood did he shed Will
somebody inform us of the exact ouantitv.''
MIR. Hill-The difference between Ms was
that ! was not IN favor of shedding anybody :
blood.
Mr.. Chandler-Nor !, except TO punish
treason and traitors. Continuing Mr.. Chan
dler said the Senator from Georgia was moi
the man TO talk about other men saving their
own blood. He took care to put his blood in
Fort Lafayette, where il was out of the way
OF both rebel and Union bullets. He. INF.
Chandler then, as now, was in favor Of the
government of the United States, and alb.
horred the idea Of State sovereignty. and was
then, as now, prepared even to shed blood 10
save the government. But the Senator from
Georgia was, as he testified before a corlmit.
e.e;.x & MSS vx.cesss5niss. "1Ys would like 10
know what that meant he could not under
stand il. The Senator from Georgia thought
the South had right to be solid, but solid
North would destroy the Union. The South
was no more solid to-day than in 1857. and