Year: 1862




committee especially detailed for that pur-
pose. And yet the Senator thinks it is deep
iy disgraeeful to do so ! That is his idea OF
tole.atiun towards traitors whom he never
assalls, or speaks word in disparagement
Of.


Now, sir, as / said before. have listened
to this kind of defense of traitors long
enough. What has the Administration done
that this gentleman should rise here In the
Senate and brand them as tyran,s and des-
pots, and inquisitors. and tell us he is go
ing to run parallel between the President
and Secretary of War and the old inquisi-
ton? Why, sir. only think of the perfect
burlesque The President Of the United
States, who neither by word or deed. or
thought, would harm a hair OF any mans
head, who, of all men L know. is the
most reluctant to offend nybody. but who,
as a patriot is anxious to vindicate the
Constitution of the United States and the
Government he is sworn to support--and he
does it with a toleralion and mildness to
wards these traitors that has met with the
ccnsure of many good men, who think he
does not 60 far enough-this mild, equitable
and Just man is to be branded here by a
knight of the Golden Circle with being
grand inquisitor, armed with tyranny,
whose purpose it is to destroy the rights and
property and the lives Of men ! Sir, the
thing is absolutely ridiculous. and would not
become any Senator on this floor unless he
was compelled to do so by joining this new
tangled organization, whose purpose il is.
we are told, TO reconstruct the Democratic
party. believe asked the gentleman
what kind of reconstruction it was to be =
The old Breckenridg ge- Buchanan party south
of Mason and Dixon's line. are to a man.
traitors There are no exceptions. defy
any Senator to rise in his place and tell me
what Buchanan Breckenridge Democrat
south of Mason and Dixon's line is not an
open and avowed traitor. committing overt
acts, and, under the Constitution of the
United States, condemned TO death. Their
Northern sympathizers are but little better;
indeed they are worse-worse because they
are not so bold. There is something in a
bold, courageous man. even in a bad cause,
that seems TO give him little right to toll
Grafton; but your miserable, sneaking hyp-
ocrite, that sympsthizes with him. and yet
has not the courage to commit the crime,
can expec. nothing bat to be despised by
honorable men. Now. these men are going
to reconstruct party. My God, what
party it will be Just think of it: The



with the Breckenridge traitors Of the North.
They will be harmonious just IS far as
their courage will permit them to go togeth-
er. They will not differ on any thing else
but as to the length to which they can car
~ their proceedings.


Bat, sir, there was salt in the old Demo
cratic party. They do no: talk Of recon
structing with the followers of Stephen A.
Douglas. Mr.. Douglas was once a strong
partisan of the Democratic faith. He went
along with Them until he found they were
bent upon the destruction Of the country in
v hich they lived. The moment that Mr..
Douglas ascertsined that this Was their fulI.
deliberate purpose. he came out from among
them Ike an honest man. and became sep
arate, and his honorable followers come
along also. aud they are cooperating most
cordially to-day with the Republican party
every where. The Senator seeks DO recon-
struc.ion with the Douglas party, for how
could they join in any reconstruction! They
would look well coalescing again with the
wretches who have perseeuted their great
and venerable leader TO death. How could
his disciples form . coalition With those
who cruei6ed him; with those seeonstrue-