Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-07-03
SENATOR VOORHEES, ON THE CON.
FEDERATE BRIGADIERS.


about the dangerous person called
the confederate brigadier. Who first
brought him here? Who is response
BILE for the introduction of the CON
tederate brigadier to the theatcr of
national politics. Southern gentlemen
around me on this floor are here be-
cause they thought the county was re-
stored to its normal relations that
the States were rehabilitated under the
Constitution that each State has the
right to select its own representatives
in both branches of Congress, and that
they were not compelled to ask leave
TO come of any set of men from any
part OF the country.
Gentlemen, | welcome you. You
are right i'll being here. You are met
however by party with violent un-
welcome, with abuse and denunciation
hurled as u keynote to party warfare
by the great Senator from New York,
and followed up by all the Senators on
that side of the chamber. Sir, there
is something due to history on this
subject. l. the Confederate soldier
unfit to take part in the affairs of this
government; or is it in fact only the
Confederate soldier who votes the
Democratic ticket to whom you OBJ
iect? l. it the Confederate soldier
per sc, or does the objection to him
only arise when he votes the Demo
cratic ticketg If Confederate sol-
der votes the Republican ticket, and
indorses all the rascality that over
whemed the South rs n deluge during
carpetbagiSm, do you not embrace
him? Tell Inc when you have ever
spewed such one out of your mouths.
Tell me where YOU ever repulsed him
from your warmest and most affection
ate political embrace. None such
have ever been cast out by the Re
publican party. On the contrary, all
such have had seats of dignity and
robes of honor assigned.
1t is but n little while ago since n
Confederate brigadier first took part
in the control of public affairs. lie
was invited to do so by the candidate
of the stalwarts for the next Prcsidcn-
cv, General Grant Grant appointed
Brigadier General Amos |. Akerman,
ofGeorgia, to seat in his cabinet. a
majority of the Republican Senators
sitting here to-day on their oaths voted
to confirm him as the first law officer
of this government. They gave it to
him to construe the Constitution, to
interpret the laws, to render decisions
binding for years and perhaps for all
time. General Grant put into the
hands of Confederate Brigader Cen
eral Amos. L. Akerman the portfolio
of Justice, and Republican Senate
confirmed him and why? not because
he was greatly learned in the law. Nor
did they object when he carried
sword and killed whom he could, un-
der the Confederate flag; he voted the
Republican ticket and that was enough;
it washed away all his sins and made
him clean and pure in their eyes,
though his sins had been as scarlet be-
fore.
Another instance nearer home in
time and place occurs next to my
mind. | know what profound satisfac-
ton will afford to the Senator from
New York mfr. Conklingl when |
pause for n moment to pronounce n
eulogy upon the present administration.
know the appreciation which his
robust intellect has of the patriotic
and comprehensive capacities of the
administration now in power. know,
therefore, he will be grateful to me for
calling attention to the fact that al
though he has arraigned us for the dis
proportion of Confederate brigadiers
in this body to the Union brigadiers
or major generals, yet this favorite
administration of his has confded one
fits very important cabinet portfolios
to another Confederate brigadier, Cen
eral Key, of Tennessee. / have no
word of disparagement for General
Key or General Akerman. ] am not
here to abuse or denounce these men
for changing their politics; they had
n right to do so. ] do say, however,
that Senators on the other side, after
voting to confirm these men for posi-
tions of the very highest public i'm
portance have not the shadow of
right to assail us for welcoming the
Southern Senators who are on this
floor.
General Key drew his sword under
the flag of the South and fought
through the war. lie then came to
the Senate, and while here made a
speech. / refer to it now principally
TO show how much the Senator from
New York has forgiven, to exhibit
that gracious phase of his character
which some do not know of "a we'll as
do, to illustrate that his forbearance
and charity are as broad as the mantle
Tint nnrnra oil uin General Il ev annkn