Year: 1864

Sir mean no dsrespect to the Senator making this STATE


meDt, Mr. LANE. OF Indiana for know the kindness


his heart but such expressions have become


that they can have weight, when uttered by
| Senator. ptt


Take my ewn State From the commencement OF hes
unfortunate troubles 10 which brother is found srraye


against brother has there been any attempt in that State
BY any political organization, or even BY . mob, b.
two united toeethef TO violate any law Of th
Government, to give any d encouragement by act
deed 10 those who revolt against the Government


defy that Senator any other Senator hs floor
show where any attempt has been made by any political
organization D that Stale to tear down hs fabric &c ths
once proud and glorious Union No such effort has been
made aud yet sir, the party IN power finding before the
last special election 10 that State that they could send
Represe natve Ia the other branch Of Congress fellow
formerly living 10 ueiRhborng State to that in which
Senator resides, clothed with little military brief author
ity published order that citizen o that State should
be- allowed to voto unless ha would taks such
hs anghtness should prescribe The brave hero Of the
bOodstained battle field of Vienna the hero Of military
operations railroad sar, nakex bis will th. supreme
law OF sovereign State and says TO the majority of the
legal voters You shall not vote at the election n your
State for Representative in Congress- though you have
every quail fcaton prescribed the Constitution and laws
unless you become humble servant Of the military hero
Of the blood sained field Of Vienna" And SIR to
his order what does he do He sends bis military forces
to every election poll in the State he has them stationed
there bis order posted up his at the polls dverssd
beforehand what they do and sovereign State be-
COMES p ytng in the hands Of epaulatei officer who
mas meyer illustrated h devotion to the goOd OF bis country
by great heroic achievements but who clothed with
ittls brsf authority has played such fantastic tricks
before high Heaven" il they have not made angels
weep have made good citizens mourn


And NJ the previous election in my State l. had to
vote under crossed bayonets soldiers stationed at
the polls aud at of the voting places at that election
pe4csabs citizeas were assaulted by your s0dery Al
Of the votiug places the judges ot the election who
declined to take the vote of uanaturazed foreigner
who, according 10 the constitution aud laws Of State
had not right to vote. threatened that il they did
take that the ballot box should be broken; and
the vote taken. This whole subject has been nves
tgated by commtee Of the Legislature Of State
aud If the gentean will take the trouble TO look through
the pages OF their report he will find nnumerabe instances
of such unlawfnl acts r


The senator says there has been interference except
where there have been rebels rebel sympathzers Mr.
President Is it not somewhat singular, somewhat strange
that the entire members OF one political party in Of
the States Of this Union should all be rebels rebel gym
psihzers patriot to be found in their midst person
who loves his country cherses the institutions of that
country to bs found within that political organization
and that all the Patriots all tho gentlemen who cherish
foness for the institutions OF their fathers ouad 10
be members of the opposite political 0rganizationi


But the Senator aud others may say, "You could have
bad the privilege of voting you had eone forward and
taken The oath prescribed by this military oicer Not
So sr Ii every member Of the political organization
which belong, aud to which proud belong, had
gone aud offered deposit his vote and ID himself
willing to take that prescribed OATH still tho desgn the
purpose for which that military sent TO polls


ing carry the election this they would
nut have alowed-I justified saying that they
uIo wed sufficient uunber the members that
party u vote Ia eteat their cherished object Why do
say soi say sir, because it had practical test 1T
tn. last election refer TO fact capable Of the
ceae-t proof that Of the hundreds 10 the conn'y
which lve and at Of tho voting places the oppo
sitn not knowing that the members of he Democratic
party did not Intend o vote but supposi0g that they would
offer their votes they arrived the ground had
numbers Of them arrested.


proud to say sir that the majority of the legal
voters of my State not choosing Ia have any conflict with
the national authorities choosing rather to be dsran
ch sed than 10 have their soil stained with blood g.





not pesceabe, awabidng citizens, refraned from
yong aud throughout the whole State there but
twelve fourteen votes cast for the Democratic cand
date But suppose, sir, they could have had right 20
vote suppose they had been allowed TO vote by taking
oath prescribed, what right has any military officer
State not revolt. State where there has been
att mpt at revolution in a state where political
eauizaon has ayowed any hosty 10 the Un,cn to
step in and say You, You, the proud citizen Of State
and of the United States shall bold from your right of
voting for member to represent you Congress- Gas
the election BEFORE for members represent you ia
your State Legislature you shall have right to
vote if you do my bidding snd swear to what shall dic
tate to you Sir, did not vote at the last election in
my Slate. aud would never vote again II had to vote
either the military. r. Admbist stratio0, any
might dictate. When the exercise OF the right OF
suags TO be eee not wisb to 60 through the
mockery OF attempting TO exercise ~


But. sir will give tho Ssnst0r from Indiana another
proof OF interference About week before the election
recently held Maryland, psssed through two of the
lower counties of the fret Congressional district OF that
State and was in the town where resides the honorab
Mr. Cr field who during the last Congress Represented
his district D the House OF and who this
last fall Candidate for reelection believe that he
was the regular nominee of what called the Union
party bur another ndidste--and shall cay nothing
agaust that gentleman certainly for have unkind
feelings toward hmwas brought out in opposition, wbose
views it supposed accorded with those Of the
Administration, although Mr. Crheld when repre- enting
his dsr ct Congress, universally conceded be
perfectly loyal anJ good Union But, sir the day
of the election ia bis district the military placed
believe, at every poll in those counties, and gentemen
denied the privilege Of voting. Mr. Crsfeld
HIMSELF unless he would take oath prescribed by the
military authorities because it desirable to elect
another gentleman in his place The Senator from Indiaoa
may say that this interference by tho military but
il he will take up the papers published at the time and
read the evidence disclosed ia that case he w od that
the citizen went to for Mr. CrisHrd ia that dis
trc when be offered to take the OATH that not
sufficient without his beng questioned by military officer
who stood NJ the polls 10 know whether bis political views
aud epDons accorded with those OF that ocer, acting
suppose according to instructions which he had received


that be not nterrrence il that be not unjust lnerer
eBce, know hot what would be Interference, pre-
sume, not confined 10 bodily sezog hold of man and
dragging him from the polls Any act of intimidation any
restraint placed the tree exercise OF the right of su
frage, il an interference.


In conclusion, will suggest in all kindness that in dis
cssrg questions ths sort ID is kind to say the
lesst al m admit that there Tor honest difference
OF opinioo between member, of the different political
stons than to clam for the possession OF all
the spirit Of patriotism, and all the love Of country and
10 attribute the members Of all other political organza
tions contrary feeiogs and motives.


Mr. LANE, of Indians ssid: L under.tood my distin-
lushej friend fom Delaware to speak Of certain order
issued by military commander. He did not name any
one. but suppnse we all know he alluded to l}eneral