Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-06-10
Getting Bolder.

The Confederates in Congress increase
in boldness as they feel the power which
they hold. Mr.. Brown, senator from
Georgia. and formerly the rebel Governor
of that State. recently made report to
the Senate, in which he aired his rebel
sentiments about the ''late unfortunate
war;" and the armies of the United States
which Invaded the territory of the South
ern States One of the most audacious
acts of these Confederate brigadiers, was
the attack in the House by Wheeler OF
Alabama upon Edwin NJ. Stanton. He
was frequently interrupted but persisted
in his TRADE of abuse upon Stanton.
One of the colloquies which took
place is repoted as follows:
r. wHEELEa-The gentleman from Iowa says
We live 10 day because Stanton among others was
willing that we might live Let me ssk the gentle
man when It that such an idea grew in his rnlnd
and actaated the emotions of his heart! Ana let me
AK him when IL was that he acquired this taste Tor
talking about hanging gentlemen who are now his
fellow members OF Congress? And let me ask MN
further If this desire mas festereo I'D MS heart or
twenty one yefrs?
NR HgPBUgy-Did say anything of the kind?
Mr. NHEELEk-1 gu SAID that owen my HE ~
Mr.. tanton, and that had won a halter?
Mr.. HEPBURx-Hadnt you won 1t?
Mr. WHEELER-No, sir, never won halter.
fought hono'ably and fairly.
Mr. IEP.URS-How do you define treason?
Mr. wHEELEg-No brave soldier who ever met
In battle has since treated me with anything
ever whispered treason" General Grant and the
brave officers and men of his army never spoke OF
"t'eason" to General Lee or his men General sher,
man and his brave officers never talked OF "ueason
10 the III mics they finally overcame.
Mr.. HEPBURS-I ask you how do you define trea
son?
Mr. WHEELER-I deny that any man in this Con-
gress guilty OF treason
Mr.. HEPBURS-Is not levying war against the
United States and altering to Its enemies proper
def alton of treason!
AR. NHEELER-There is no of discussing con
stiiutiona questions now. The terms upon which
the Confederate Army surrendered all that
MR. Fl gPBURN-is that not the definition of trea-
son? Had not you levied war against the United
States? Had not you adhered TO its enemies? Did
you not give them aid and )mfOrt!
Mr.. WHEELER-The gentleman is honorable, and
all honorable men speak the truth, and certainly he
has not made this statement about Mr. stanton with
out good grounds for believing 1t to be truth. Let
me ask him, then, was he one Of those who con-
ferred with Mr.. stanton about putting haters
around the necks of gentlemen who are now his col
leagues this floor? If not, will he kindly give his
authority for his most remarkable assertion? Let
tell him that whether he desired to enact the role
of hangman himself or only desired it enacted,
perchance only desired talking about others enact
ing this role, he will find that neither those who have
been employed to hang their fellow countrymen for
opinion sake or for political ohenses, their coad-
TUTORS their applauders are gorfed in history;
that neither the judge nor the jurors in bloody
cize for political opinions ever remembered ex
sept with detestation.
Mr.. Wheeler's speech created great
sensation. Mr.. KELLEY of Pennsylvania
afterwards made motion to expunge it
from the Congressional Record and sup
ported it in strong speech, but the mat
ter was referred to Committee, where it
will probably be kept by the democratic
majority and wheeler,s speech will re-
main in the Record.
Northern doughfaces dare not oppose
the Confederate brigadiers, and permit
their reasonable talk and abuse of Union
patriots to pass without the rebuke which
it deserves.
Hon. John M. Hill, who was the DEM
ocratic candidate for governor of New
Hampshire, at the last election, expresses
his determination not to be candidate
this year.