1g
klpeech of ED, Sharpe, 4,
/ogee House Q f Repraentatives o oritqpioa/u1 ) ,
vie the Bal for the Adjadfcatwii
Qf giiitartf Dam,ages •
bELFirERED FEA4kkIYI.kIIX-24,1*1.
ltri,„__Spoinza.-: On last' Wediesday the
- courtesy of this Hods& assigned this evening
for the. QinsidertitiOn of this hill: . „JOB not
ek e y_pgrposeto waste precioifs_time;or to treS,
upon the patience of this House, by ma
ing a, tiresome political harangue'. I have
-ettid.front-the - first, an&l repeat it again,that
there are lid politics in this bill, and that
there ought to be none in its discussion.--
When' the gentleman from Washington
ClitV introduced' his: resolution
matruet ion to the select committee to 'wlichn ,
tbis:bill had 'been com'initted, I was induced
remorks,bdcaese I at thelitrie
believed that the resolution contained j.,
verrt attitelt upon the'loyalty of my' ecititii
entii,'--,Sinee that time -the gentleman'` ; has
disavowed-all , such intention; I am bmind
tci; see -It his disavoWal for truth, and I do
.ao;Crie'erriii.lif'' On last night the gentlemen
- fiOni-Daiiphin (Mr Annr-stan) Made a'poSi
title ,4ind direct accusation of. disloyalty
against Seinee, of my constituents. I hope to
haVe.nn opportunity, on some. future occas-,
ion '
. to answer the gentleman.. Ent- I Will
not limier:take to do so to-night, ,because 4
have matters of far more importance entreat
ed to my:charge for this evening.
Mr. Speaker, it may • be proper for the to
iso,y,, whilst standing on the threstiold•of this
debate, that I have no pecuniary interest
whatever in the'passage of this hill. -Should
I be •betrayed; in, the heat of discussion, into
what *o.y-deem • unusual zeal in its support,
I -trust that my earnestness may be charged
' to the account of that nobler impulse irf . the
litartayhichprompts the representative; un
der alt - circumstances Consistent with his du
ties-to the State' at large, to 'maintain the
rights 'of his consfituents. I dq,confess to a
_ deep, intense and abiding interest in the fate
of this bill. Nor is there a single gentleman
upon this floor who Would be surprised at
this, could he walk with me through the
beaUtifut valley of the Cumberland and
eg
online for himself the blighting ravagei corn-
Mitted by 'an insolent foe flushed with sue
ecos.;-and .still to be read npon the ground, in
desolated farms, prostrated fences and ruined
fdreitS? Would that you had- an -opportun
ity-to mingle with my constituents, and to'
• rear the,sad, tale of the husbandman, stripp
ed,hy ruthless hands of all his stock, depriv
ed-of the means of livelihood, and turned
orer,-with his family, to the cruel -tyranny
of ,poverty. Would that you all could hear
the touching story of the:fond-mother, how
the rebels came in their pride and power,
- ansid - rove . a:way the favorite horse of her
- boy---'whe was far away from' home
ea and:kindred—in the land of the strangepand
enirnies, fighting for the imperilled Consti
tution; -with his eye fixed even in death upon
. the flag of his country., Would that yeivall
-eonld listen :to the still more pathetic tale of
the widow Who has given all her household
• ,serdtires 'offerings upon the altar of patriot
' isme e -husband and sons—and now by the
fortunes of war 1 ecome a.bankrupt not only
in' heart, bilt,alse in r property ; a husband
less, childless,- penniless female,•'dependent
-uponn, the bitter bread of charity. The fate
of this bill may, indeed, be of little cons&
quenee! to many upon this floor :They can
return to 'their homes where the tread of
• armed, legions have never left their foot
_prints of -,blood, and where the hum of hon.
est inAnstry has never been drovined .by"-the
roar of , cannon or the -roll of ratisketry
• Having that they have done a wise thing in
• -voting against this bill,- 'What matters - it to
them? ' These things are but history to
them—not lining truths. But to me iliey
are stern realities. _Even here, in thii
ewe, methinks I hear these tales of suffer
• ing And see those 'Welching spectieles Yes,
- even:new - I-hear the Macedonian cry of my
,sonstittients, calling- to 'all the. loyal - and*
true-,hearted, sons of Pennsylvania,' eCOme
ever - and help its !" These, scenes, like
'f , lrMaqUO's ghost," will not down. at me
,They need no magician's wand local!
thein lap before -my ,mind's,eye ; they are
there always-living, stubbern a stern_
reali
tie. - „lar. Speaker, isit.surprising that I am
earnest in this cause? Would-it. not rather
be amazing if I were: not ?- Could - any, heart
less ;cold andlard tharindamant, -listen with
• stolidity , . and indifferende to the .ioice of dur
ty,effhich ‘Tleads like angels,. trumpet
toiagned,7' amainst the- selfish parsimony
which contemptuously refuse- the
measure of this relief ?
But the success of this bill needs no stir! •
port_from-that morbid sympathy Which is
ever- prone to weep at the tale of suffe
It stands fairly and Squarely upon the holed
fo:tiprtatton. of its own intrinsic merit.
- trust'this measure ' with eonildeneg to the
calm,zsober,unbiased judgment of this Heuse._
I inviike: not in its behalf those tender,
thzins which overflow'the flood-gates of the
heart, whenever the fountain has. been !tart
' .ed by the hand of violence and outrage.-.--;
BiltTalso,.on the 'other hand, deprecatothat
blind' and' unreasoning prejudice which
,WtaldCOndemn my 'cause beforeit is -heard.
Every, prinCipte of State duty, every prinei
pleonf right and justice demand,• in impera
tive tones, the passage of this bill.
Will the House indulge me whilst-I strive
in inTown-fe,eble way to,prove this ? A fair
understanding of the act wilt prove synon
ymous' with its passage.
A brief history of the origin of these claims
rot daniages may become necessary at this
point.
ScareWhad the last sounds of ' the born -
a bardment of Fort Sumter died upOn the air
--hardly had the pulsations of the national
heart recovered from the shock of the, deep
' mouthed cannon of treason, ere Harper's
Ferry and all the country onthat side of
the POtoniae were seized by the Virginia
troops..., They-kept up, - for a considerable
length of-time,a menacing attitude towards
the Suite of Pnnsylvania.. There were no
forces upon our borders, to repel the threat
ened, invasion, and no natural 'obstructions,
except the narrow Potomac, to prevent their
penetration into the Cumberland. Valley, and
the burning of this capital.- At this Junet
' tire it was deemed advisable by the military
authorities of the Government,. to concen
torte the Opposing force at Chambersburg.
• _The-Seventh, Eighth, - and Tenth' regiments
of three months' • Pennsylvania volunteers
-were ordered to that place. They took Irv
- session of the farni of a loyal citizen,' - being
'contiguous to that boroithaind occupied the
same as a military camp •for the period of
about two months. In the month of June,
1861, the GovernMent determined to increase
the force on the border to a corps number
ing about twenty-five thdusand muskets,
with the view of pushing them down the
valley of Virginia, under the - command of
General Patterson. This augmented force
spread their enbauipmentaover large tracts
of the most fertile- land in Franklin county,
whilst the crops were beginning to whiten
for the harveSt, •and remained in the emu
- pa - 97 thereof for, abouLthree weeks,. It re
quires no, fancy to conoeive:how giceat would
be the -injury to crops, fences and timber at
g - •
the bands of so largka force of then raw and
undisciplined*ldiedt. - These troops were,
Fs t ie service of the Unk States:'' :Bat he
.stOpi hate as-yet been taken by the General
cievernment,_or by : the Legislature of
sylVenia,,for the_ inljatifeation and payment
ofiliajlamagei initiated - bk . - Ahem upon the
citizens of this Commonwealth. It is trde
that Governor Curtin appointed two very
competent citizens Of_ Franklin county to
make assessments of these damages. The
commissioners se appointed have done their
work-Welli-and have made of their-la
horsto the. Executive. Rotinesmoch as
their appointment by the Goi('rtior was un
authorized by law, and no,-legislation has
ever been-had to Validate their 4 reports,: and
no appropriation has ever beeitoimide to pay
theelanns -adjudicated by them; - their labors
have ended solely in faith, notin -fruition.
In September,,,lB62.4he rebel General Long: I
Street's corps toalk possession of Hagerstown,
in the State of Maryland:. and all the tend
tory-intervening, betwen it and the limits of
Pennsylvania. A universal panic seized' u pon
' the Whole country. The heart of the North
stood still,as if paralyzed 'With sudden friglft.
The Geverner, - with - eel - amendable' zeal and
earnesehess, Soiinded.the alarm 'bell, which
strueltai s_ympathetie, chord in every heart.
His proclamation calling upon the citizens,of
Pennsylvania to come up to help of th 4 Gov . -
eritment against the -mighty,- to shoulder the
knapsack and musketi and marching to the
border,- there, upon the ,confines of their nit- .
tive State, to, receive upon the points of their,
bayonets theitisurgent hordes that were rev
elling in the intoxicatiiin of victory of the
.second fatal Bull Run, sped over the mount
ain, through valleys and across streams, like
the ominous symbol borne by the fleet-tooted
Highlander in days of yore, known and rec
ogrrized by all the clans, as the bloody signal
of their chieftain - Which summoned them to
the harvest Of death. "With the same heroic
ilevotiim with which the clansman was want
to answer:the fatal summons of -his ; chief,
did the true hearted and sturdy sons - of this
-grand old Commonivealth•answer - the call of
their Executive. The voice of ditty had scarce
Is, ceased t . ospeakebefore-thonsznidsanswered
it„iinperson. The farmer left his plough in
the furrow, the merchant -forsook his mer
chandise, the, laWyer forgot his cause, the
minister turned hiS back upon his pulpit, and '
the artisan rushed front his shop, and all with
one common purpose and firm resolve march
ed
forward toward the fog, keeping step
,to '
the music 'Orthe Unicn. The earth, like a
prolific mother, seemed to have brought forth
in-ii single night, innumerable legions of rir-'
wed men. Transportation could not convey
them to'the borders as fast as they desired
to go, -, Thousands of- them were quartered
upon the farms and in the buildin„gs of citi
zens of Pennaylvatita.- This large force. thus
suddenly put: into - the field, could not, by
any:possible exertions of the. military au
thorities of the State, be adequately provided
with tents, rations and other necessaries for
their eoraflrt. They had a good" right to
i_make themselves comfortable, and I hope
may be pardoned fOr saying that they ex
blunted all the resources within their reach,
to attain-this desirable consummation. We
were glad to see them there- and we do , ' not
comillain against , them tow, because they
left a record behind them of their presence,
which can he read to this
,day upon our
fartrts; building :end forests. j In addition-to
this inilitialfereTe:the - Governer ordered the
"Anderson TrOop" to the border, which was
, at that time lying,in barracks at Carliste.-
Thile, could not be spared to mount these'
troops in the regular way. It was of the
highest importance that they should - be- pit
into the saddle, as scouts; without delay ;• and
no other alternative remained but to impress.
the necessary number-of- horses, with their.
.accoutrements, for immediate service. After
the exigencies cif the occasion had passed
away, many of these horses were returned to
their owners, in nver,y had condition, and
others were never returned • at all. These
horses were taken out of the plows of our far
=mers in the fields, and out of their wagons on
the public highway,. yet so high is the stan
dard loyalty_ armig toy constituents, that
not only did loyalty_ among
murmur against this
ad of oppression, but they indeed acquiesced
in it with alacrity and chee:fulness. These
clai zits have also, been adjudicated and assess
ed by two very intelligent citizens of Frank
lin county, acting under the appointment of
the Governor. This appointment was also,
at the time it was made, authorized by. law,
and consequently nothing has been done to
wards the - Teri - pent of these damages. In
October; 1861, the rebel General Stuart„with
a cavalry force numbering about two thous
and sabres, passed through parts of the coun
ties of Adams and - Franklin, destroying con
siderable:property, and taking with them
large numbers of horses. - At: the last session
of the Legislature an act was passed, approv
ed on the 22d day of April, 1863, which pro
vided that the,ciairt ,of common pleas of
Dauphin county - should appoint three appr:ii
seni, who, after being sworn. should proceed
to examine and ascertain the losses and dam
ages Sustainedby citizens of , this Common-,,
wealth, by reason of the occupancy of and
trespass upon - their lands . by any part, of the
militia, force which was called into active ser
vice in September. A. D. 1862, for the .pur
pose of defending the southern border of the,
States; -also, to examine and _ascertain the
loser and damages Sustained by the citizens
of this State, by reason -of the impressment
of their:horses, wagons, teams, forage - and
other property. into the service of -the -
ted States for the use of the Anderson -caval
ry, in the month of -September, 1882 . ;, arid'
also tin; losSes and damages sustained - by cit . -
izens on the southern border of the State,
by reason of the rebel raid under General
Stuart, on the tenth and eleventh days of Oc
- tuber, 1862. - The appraisers Were OW 're
quired te make report of their assessments of
losses and damages, together, With the teStl=
moray taken by them, -to the court. it -was
made the duty of the court to review these
reports, and authority was given to approve,
or set them mirk°, in whUle or in, part: - in
-pursuance. of this act of .Assembly the court.
of common plena of _Dauphin county appoint
ed General Worral; .indge Hiester and , Mr.
Weidle, three intelligent and upright gen
tlemen of this county, who have so far' dis
charged their duties as to have ascertained all
= the hisses and - damages occasioned by the.
Stuart raid,-and the court is now - in posses:
slim of their reports. Since the passage' of
the , act of the 22d day. of April, 1863, it has
become a part.of the history of this war, that
General Lee, with his Whole army,,has rove
d'ed the State, causing immense loss to the
, citizens of the border , counties, in crops,
grain, forage, horses„ cattle and other -prop
erty: That again the loyal and devoted sons
of this Commonwealth rushed to the border.
to defend, from the contaminating, touch of
. the vandal hordes that , sacred soil Whibh
William Penn had dedieated to peace and
good will toward all men, more than -a cen
' Wry ago. Again our citizens ,suffered the
ravages of a - badly - provided and poorly fed
body of undisciplined troops. Tltos also Well
known that considerable 'damage ,was done,
to the property of citizens of - Allegheny coun
ty, and of other counties„-by the erection of
defensive works
-by our troops, and in . vizi ,
our other ways, during. the excitementof last
- Summer. The - bill now before the House
ill IN Stanklin riclusitorg, ~filaitl) 9, 1864.
simply propOseo*eilli4e the powers of the
commissioners sp as - .*enable them to ascer
taiirana',*ss.eis igdainageat occasioned by the
enea , lyandsby our:own - troops, State and na- -
donut, within the' limits of this Common
wealth, Since the.coannencement of the war.,
- Thils,,thidwhich wrisarriade local and special
relief by the act of 22d of-:April, 1863, has
baell changed; by the present act into a re-'
dress as-broad as the boundaries of the State
herself.. This is ; eminently right and -prop-:
er..:Thia act also contemplates that - lhesipa
pratiaers,shall.make their-report to
-the-court
of common pleas of Dauphin county, and the
same duty is laid upinathe court to' rea4eiv
these'rcports, and dispose of them in such a
manner as to-the paint may seem right and
just, . The.consmissioners are -also required
oadminister oaths, and to reduce the teati
many- of cliiimania and witnesses to writing,
and return the seine to 'thecourt. This
bill-alsol reposes to give .the commissionera
the right, ii they think proper- to do so, to
adept the 'assessments heretofore made by
the appiaiseas appointed by the Goveraor,
1 and to return-them to the court as part
,Of
their report, with-the same duty of
_review
imposed-upon the court as in the other cases.
The bill also requires the, ;attorney General
of. the Commonwealth todeptite an attorney
for each eounty to which- its previsions may
apply, to appear before the board of commis
sioners as'eounselfor the State. Eaclaclaini
-ant is also required to file, with hia , claira, an
affidavit setting forth, in specific fertni, that
he has never borne arms against ,the United
States or the State of Pennsylvania . ; that he
hasaieVer given - aid; information ''oe'enceur
agement to those in armed hOstilit - ksto the
Goverament ;. that he has -never discouraged
enlistments in .the armies of the United
States ; - and that he - will - support the Consti
tution of the United States and of the State
of Pennsylvania, and bear,trua faitliand. al
legianee to the samea; and behave himself
as a loyaheitizen thereof. When these dam- ,
ages shad have been finally-adjudictited,- the
bill provides that the State of Pennsylvania
shall issue coupon certificates of indebtedness
to the claimants; bearing fiveper cent= in
terest per annum, -payable semisannually, at
the State Treasury, redeemable - in - 'twenty
years or sooner,- at the option of the: State,
and that an additional taxof, one quarter, of
a mill shall be hild on all property now taka-
Ide for State purposes, and the fund 'arising
therefrom Atilt be appropriated solely to the
redemption of these certitleates.•: , -
Such, Mr. Speake rs is -a brief and cursory nar
rative of this origin - of these claims, and such
a rough and hasty sketch of the measiii - Vbfre- -
dress proposed by the bill..ls there Any . gentle
man upon this floor, whose heart prompts him
to ash nie, why do your Constituents come here
asking for reliefl I answer him, in their name,
(fors' am only authorized, to speak for, them,)
because they ,have a right to do it. The - first
and highest duty of a State is protectioa to her
citizens in life, liberty and property. 'Protec
tion is the price of - allegienceasindallegience is
the duty thatfollows protection. Where one
of these duties dies, the other flies with its=
They are reciprocal; - co-extensive and co-ordin
ate obligations. They can no more 'be sepera
ted from each ether and live, than can the soul
d
and body be severed and' life reinain.—
In a state of nature, man uad an inallianable
right to consult Ida own safety, Welfare and in
terest, in his Own way, and in obedience to no
restraints, except his own unchained violations.
The :result of this was ,that might made right.
The strong oppressed the weak,. .No man was
safe in his life a liberty or property,,so long as
there ilved a stronger than he, who might de
prive hint Of these inestimable blessings. A
universal feeling of insecuritsareigned through
out the earth. -The want -of a:power that could
retrain the strong arm Of the opfasessatr, shield'
the weak, help the helpless and a wee , the un
tutured volitions. of the - natural man, was uni
versally felt and sicknowled. - It was at once
discovered that this power could only be found
and lodged in au aggregation of individuals:—
Mankind was not long in learning that an ag
gregation of individuals cannot exist without
governments and that as all could not be govern
ore there must necessarily be ;Celan whose duty
it N'ILEc. to govern, and a class whose lot it was
to Iso governed, and whose duty it was to obey.
Starting with these things in view, men agreed
to form a government and to surrender to their
rulers a part of that unlicensed freedom-Which
thel had enjoyed in a state air- nature, in con
sideration of the security they expected-to pos
seis,as the fruit of . the government. This sve
believe to be the true origirSof all human - goy- -
erunieuts and from these promises, we can with
ease deduct the co-relative duties of the rulers
and of the people. The one owes 'protection,
and the other allegiance. Different forms of
government have appeared up the • earth. We
have had and now - have, despotism, - constitn.
tional monarchies and republics. But no dif
ference what shape the governme7nt may as
sume, it never can rid itself of the Original
object Of its institutions—protection - to its .
people in all their .rights. There never has
been a despotism in nil the annals of , history
that has ever forgotten this high obligation Which
it oived its subjects when their interests had
been infringed upon by other nations, No mat
ter how cruel might be the heel of dianestie ty
ranny upon the necks of- the citizeas; still the
despot in 'dealing' between his subjects and for
eign states, stood true as the needle to the pole
1
in his discharge of -this noly,and'aacred trust.
Bien now the Emperor of France has
,upon this
continent a powerful army' whose eagles have
overrun a neighboring republic, in a crusade for
.the reatonitioli of the violated rights of - his cit
izens. Can it he that this great-State, the the
ory of whose government is founded upon the
broad and eternal principle that the people are
the source of all powers—that they indeed are
the sovereigns, and the rulers, for the time be
ing, the servants? Can it be, sir, that this great-
Common Wealth, with such, a political concep
tion as that, can swerye the tithe of' a hair from
her high Mission 1 Can it be that the people
who, iu this State, are the goveaanient, shall
fall below the standard of- seeurity which des
potism has set up for,- - the rights of its subjects ?
Can it be th;it this pbefileathrough their repre
i eentativesaiM thin goer, will so - stultify them
e selves as ta deny paoteetioia.to themselves ?
1 Until it is shown that, those whom I represent
here have thrown off" their- allegiance to their
government, and forfeited-the right of protec
tion; until it is proved thatsthey are - derelict - in
their duty;' until it is shown that- they - have
struck, with parricidal band, a: blow at the heart
of that government that mused them in safety
during infancy, and protected their property in
manhood; sir, until these things afe - .shown here
upon this neer, I ask this relief for -sty constit
uents not as a "hatter of grace -4 demand it as
a mattes of right: - t
Is there still some gentleman in this Ho - use
who asks why your constituents come,here and
ask for this relief? I answer him, because - they
deserve it. The highest civil duty of the citizen
is to discharge all his ditties to his governments
There may be - some - gentleman upon this floor
who may think that I put the case too strongly,
when-I say that my constituents have in all
times past, and under all- eircurnitances s fully
performed every obligation that they owed to
the Government. I repeat; sir, 'with emphasis,
that they have done soaand I cliall'eiige contra
diction, come from what huarter it may. There
is a passive obedience taihe,Goverrrient which,
a citizen may giie, and which is enough, in or--
dinary circumstances, 'to entitle him to protec
tion in life, liberty and property: In other words,
every State is bound-to protect.-her eitizerw
against all assaults ,upon their rights, so long as
they hold - allegiance to that Government, and
do no act in open Motility to it. This is the
universally acknowledged obligation of States '
to their citizens. -But*it r .' ,. jse argued that
the relief pro : y*l(3oy tine +t in inn usual. and
the sake of. the argument;ike
,(bnly thellake.
~Sfthe;argunient,) and I sfilliitaist
ititsetitS pre : entitled to it,:ibeeause obedij - -
ghee to-the'.Glivernaietit,haslisenli i~x'trstirdf
-
nary and willing one—aiiervice of the heart;
not of the lips. 'Their linrdensland their strug
gles have been - extraordinary in its behalf, and
whep cotepared•lrjth those r cif the, other citize ns ,
of the State, niay,luic'eert.Oiliense,ihe termed
-_works of superetegatien., ;Mr.. 4paker,_,my
tlistriet'sent one Of the first Coinpames - that-or
rived in , this eity, . : after, . the bombardment Of
Fort Sumter. It favnishedthat glorious batte : ,,
ryorartillery commanded by 'the gallant Capt.',
Easton, which' covered:, itself with ' honor at
Drainesiille, and Whose-het-old, commander, ra
ther than surrender ; hia guns to the enemy, upon
the first ef. the seven ill-fated days before Rich
:Mond; ealmly.bared his: breast lo the, storm of
lead, exclaiming, witli - his: dying breath, "This
battery never-'surrenders?" It furnished two
full - companies 4o the Pennsylvania ,Reserve
Cops. It sent the, first regiment of Pennsylt,
yoga to gather laurels upon the battle-fields of
Kentucky' and Tennessee; I i - efer to the 77th
Peindylvania Volunteers.- •It Sent a full battery
with thattegiment, now commanded by the gal
lant Capt. McDoivell: It, furnished the 107th
regiment to the Army' of the Potomac, In Au
gust;lB62, it seat the famous 126th regiment 'to
the same army,- and -upon the bleed' enriched
fields of Fredericksburg, the ',graismocv grows
over the graves of many of both, reel/I:tents'. It
has furnished three cavalry Companies tho
war. It has filled up itsquota. under the im
pending draft, and besides : allithathassupPlied
recruits to other portions :of the State.. • Upon
every battle-field of this cruel .and unnatural
war, the sons of my district haveheen found ly-
ing with'their feet to the foe and their faces: to
wards the stars. There were no politics in - their
d.eathi, as there had been: wine hi their lives,
after the stability of the Union was imperilled.
There they laY,,,eold iti:death, RepubliCan and
Democrat, side by side, (just as they had'fought
in life. - 'Remember, Mr.' Speaker, this'- is the
military „record Of a' district: that lies within
cannon shot of the - enemy's couritry.i This
is the military.`record of a , people whose
homes were daily threatened with desolation,
and which have, in: truth, twice been ravaged.
Have I not reason, air, to WI proud of such a'
constituency? Have I not, sir, just cause to be
sensitive,
when I am told, byfgentlemen on this
that my people invited and abetted WS
invasion' of this Courioawealtl4 Did I say
one word too much, sir, • WhArildeclared that
my constituents deserve the. relief of this bill?
But, sir, the one-half is - scare told.. We have
a,a.ta our taxes promptly. vested
our means liberally in Govern rarities.
I make!ne merit of thik - sir, bedause all' good
citizens have done- the f' saine.' But, sir, our .
country has twice been! overrun - With.the rebel
hordes. Twice have our citizens beenrobbed
and plundered by an insolent foe. Twice have
our people been drowned by the deluge of
militia men, who swarmed over our fields like
locusts, and eat up our substance. •Many of
our tenants have lost their entire steck,whichthey
gathered together by' the ptitientindustry of.b
life time.. They are, now.pennilesS and without
the means of livelihood Our • mothers, • our
wives, Our sisters and our daughters, havestood'
upon the streets of our towns and villages, and
at our railroad stations, to feed the hungry' and
nurse the sick, soldiers; who - had come from afat
to defend their homes.' We - have lived -in a
state of constant suspense_ kind dread. - In the
morning, our
.families, were' forced to exclaim,
"would to. God it were evening," and in the
evening, "would to God it were morning."
Our business haslieen broken up. Our grass
crops have been, permitted :to rot in the fields,
and our grain to perish forwant'of the sickle,
and our corn has been' tilisted 't
- O! the dews and.
ruins of a beneficent' Creator, Unassisted by
human labor. Oar industry : has been paralyzed,
and our times put out of:joint. Yet all this we
have borne with iettreely aimurmur. The cry
of my constituents for help and protection went
up and filled the; ears of, these is power, at
Washington. and yet no' heed was given to their
call. Despairing 'of assistance !from beyond
their own border, ,they at ldst only implored for
permission to keep - their eWn citizens, which
had entered the senice of the United States, , at
home, as a guard - to protect themselves from
sodden cavalry , raids. The neOssities'of the
nation demanded that this prayer- should also
remained unanswered. , -Thus Werc.we com
pelled to send' from otir midst these who ether
wise could and would linvc4 defended our prop
erty, at least from the rebetraid of Stuart. We
did not slumber upon the' brink of ruin, nor
blindly shut our eyes against the dangers that
environed us. We made know iyour apprehen
sions to the government, and - wefolly informed,
' those in authority of the consequences of ,
ne
glecting our demands:, But they were those
who heard not, thoughhaving ears. Under such
I depressing circumstances, and treated with such
'stoical indifference, did my constituents falter
n their loyalty? .:No; ;not they.' ,They had
heartselarge enough 'W I comprehend that their
government was not indifferent to their fate,
enly too impotent, at the .time to belp`them in
their sore straits. Theyhad intelligenceenough
.to understand that the' kind mother that had
nursed them into prasperitiy, failed 'Only to coin e
to their rescue,- because she was herself strug
gling in the expiring throes of inipending disso
lution. They could pity the anguish of a parent,
stung to death by the serpent tooth of her own
children's ingratitude. They could syinpUthize
as well as blame, and when they'. cast their eyes
over and across the troubled sea! of revolution,
ainlbeheld the Alp of state stru•gling aniid the
boisterous waves, with night and the tempest
clo;ing around her; : when their - eyes peered
thorough the murky atmosphere of the battle
field, and followed with longing and anxious
,glanees . the starry banner •of ; their country
through the varied and' Chequered fortunes of
each bloody...day, the words Of ieavil and Com
plaint changed upon their bpi into shouts of
honest admiration for the Sublimity of the strug
gle, and the diiinitY of the fortittnle it exhibited.
Therefore, Mr. ti[iorker, trty - coestituents stand:
to-dav, as they have stood iii all time,
- firm as a
rock, against which the mad waves of rebellion
and civil strife may dash but still the receding ,
flood will leave'thein - fixed and immovable as
ilefore. They have bOrne Jong and:patiently,
even for three long, Weary year . They new
stand in this presence, and threuglime, as one
of their- representatives, demand that tardy
justice shall at last bp done to them. Did I,
11r. Speaker', 'go beyond the bounds of modera
tion and prudence, when I declared - these people
deserve this relief?
Is there still some geotlemun open this floor
whose heart prompts hint to ahk, why do, your
constituants demand this' relief' I answer be
cause there is - 11, o reason'' founded in eithet jus
tice-or right, *hy they , should; be compelled to
cars} heavier burdens than other portions of the
State, more fortunately located. Look at this
question, Mr. Speaker, in a spirit of candor and,
fair. dealiMr. We are all sons , of Pennsyfiania .
alike: The regis of the same Constitution pro.
tect us all alike. W,ez have, a common heritage
of State glory and• renown, we have a common
duty of allegience to bear towards our govern
ment 'we have common - burdens to bear, Rtlft
common aspirations and corm ion hopes. The
golden thread that links bs in fa ekrnmon state
brotherhood, begins On the shares of Lake Erie,
and runs over mountains, through valleys and
across rivers, untillt 'gathers Within its links, us
whir dwell near the banks of the • Potomac. If
all things 'else be commonoviiy should our mis
fortunes be peculiar 7 If we have a joint tenan
cy of everything else; why should' we suffer the
fortunes of war in seTerhlty ? ' There can be no
abswer"adverse to my cause, Unless it be spoken
by the voice of that selfish parsimony, which,
wrapping itself up in the mantle of its own in-
fluence aniL c,, , Atcpstrnent, can dint his heart.
.against the plealngi' of justice, audturn a deaf
earffo: , :rthe:tale--et.sorrOw.- There iii no use in,
mincing Words ii4nditlita matter Cold, calect
ratingselatilless hatt)iiiitie deny the provisions
of this bill: - ;No tligherimpalsewill or can have.
alight te - saY'ilti reialtikesuch. a decision. -,,,._
lii there still aohiesegloman
,upon this 'floor
who inquires, - why : do-your constituents ask this
relief? Illusive; hint, because theyha e prece
dent for it. - The pinciple that peen' r , hard
,
shipa experienced by any portion of t e 'people
beyond the,cadinary hardships:of ,tit ' asses, its,
entitled to special - redress; - has 'atiVay been ro
cognized since the first dawn of Cur is tend' ex
istence.,„ The jouroals, efeztery - ..C0
,esi-teed.
State Legislature, are.filled, with sec essful op
, .plications of this Clutiacter. So iinpo -*have
' these clink% becomeinotir 'country, hit' ape='
collar and liaa'been created for their- settle
--
1 inept., - .l..kumy of no eiyilized nation that -does.
not acknowledge the binding
.force of this obli
gation.' The deitruetion of Property: by` mobil
.in'onr cities, bait 'by ' express legislation been
cOmpensated out of the common publiCinime.
If any gentleinah Will. cast 'his - eves oVer the
Reuse file, he will discover More than one relief
bill." 'lndividuals 'are here year - after year tip:
plying for relief. Here it is; the surety of a:de
faulting officer that , prays, be may be, released -
frointils.bond-7--there it is,.a, tan who has been
imsnecessful in some ,enterprise, opt of which
be eipetted to make a fortune—then again, itis
some poor Unfortunate Whci tbit his limbs in his
countrfsservico: ' It may be :answered that
these .relief bills are of small -moment. -But I
care not for the amount; it is the principle I
am seeking for.' The principle' involved in a ,
small' bill is the same principle that is involved
M, a large one. Since the principle has been es
tablished, it is too late to retrace our steps be
cause the amount is feirgerleen-usual. Is that
not rathjr a reason why weiltauld go-ferward ?
If the relief is too taneb for the States to give, '
it is too-much 'for my 'constituents to- lose. If
it is too much for my constituents to lose, then
it.is toe much for the State to give. I stand
then; air, upon the- principle of the precedents,
which loom up at all pointa along the pathway
of our State and national legislation. Is there I
still Some one here who feels disposed to inquire
whydo your constituents 'come to us for this re
lief?' I answer, becauSe they have nowhere else
, to go. The Treasury of the United States Gov
' eminent is barred againstthem. • [believe this
to be right, because, the General Government
could not withinit going- into a commission of
bankruptcy, begin to payall the damage's which
loyal men have suffered since the war began=
The day. may, no doubt ' will cope; when the
government 'can do so, but-not now. But-the
case is different with Pennsylvania. , She can
afford this relief to her oven citi?ens.r--
What do I ask °flier ? I ask her to pay claims
whienwill not exceed one of dollarii--.•
. at least, one half. of theta, -incurred inrepelling
invasion and'in defending her, own existence.- I I
ask her - to issue certificates of indebtpess to her'
creditors, under this bill, bearing/tie tiet ethitnin .
interest per aanuni, and - redeemable in. twenty'
years, or sooner, at her owneption. - I ask her-,
to levy an additional tax of a quarter of mill on
all property now taxable for State purpeses,
amounting to one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars annually, until ttaidrielent fund is , raiied
to pay these certificates-of indebtnesi. , -Is this
" the whole front of my offending 7" Is this the
measure of .my demand? Ts this, indeed;.llll?
Zslii, no; this is the lowest, part of My request ;
this is the mercenary portion of my demand.=
I ask what is - of far more ; value, than this. I
ask Pennsylvania to be true to her high duty.
lAA -her to be worthy: of herself. -- I ask her to
be just, not generous to her citizens. 'This, this
is the sum total of ray offence.
-1 , . . - _ ~
' Now,Mi.Speaker,Lhaveendeavored to prove
that myeenstituents may well demand this re
lief as a 'matter 'of ,right: - I have _shown that
they deserve to have it=flidt "there is no
.11 - lit or
true reason why theyslienthi be subjected to ~crreat
er raisfortunes.thanettw portions of the State
more happily located—Met flair claire:alas been
established by a long and Unbroken chain of
precedents, and that they haven() other place to
go for this redress. Icannot;ilierefore conceive
what plausible objection the moat refined cavil
ler can raise to the bill, unless it be that it is
premature ; that it is too soon to pay these claims.
I confess - , Mr. Speaker, that until within the last
few days - this objection never occurred to ray
mind. It chanced -in this manner: I ,happened
to meet, the other day, an intelligent andrespee
- table Senator, walking ' through the capitol
grounds.,_ In the come of conversation, I spoke
of this-bill and expressed a hope that he would
, support it. "Sir,"said he, "your bill is pre
-mature ;it is too soon tee pay- these claims." I
am candid enough to admit, Mr. Speaker, that I .
was startled by' the novelty of the objection;"'
.‘,Sir, ycur bill is premature ; it is toosoon to pay
these claims." - The words keptringingthrough
my,head ,and fell upon my heart like the incubus
of i night-mare. -I have often read how the fei
tal'Words, "it is too late," haVe been wiling
froth the anguish-riven soul ofambition, when it
saw its last ehance pass by and itasunbegin to
'set: I have often heard, of it being" too kite"
t&,slo justice. We are: -told that the sinner's
death-bed often witnesses the:expiring cry,'" it
is too late "to be saved.- I .have- often thought
that-the most melancholy sound in all the realms
'of the lust, will be the despairing soliloquy of
the soul that has gone down to death'froni the
mount of Gesple privileges, "It - is too late for
mercy herd." But, sir, I have never yet heard -
or read, thht when wrongs have, been suffered
which the state is bound to, redress, that ha
the can coine-too soon. 1 have yet to learn that
relief, when deserved, can he premature . What;
sir, would that patriot statesman whose chair,
you now oecupy, have said had he been told that
-the' redress which our ReVolutienary fathers
demanded of the British crown, wasprenniture '?
What would he have answered had he been told
that it was too soon to resist the onpressiou.,and.
tyranny of the mother country? . What would
he have said, sir, ifh e had been told that the bliaid
of Lexington was shed too soon? Whatwould
he have answered had he been informed that the
Declaration of Independence , Was premature,
and our whole Revolutionary struggle OW
' mistake 1 Methinks I see his venerated form
rise from the grave alai fill that' hair once more,
and as his eye Once more flashes forth the light- ,
fling of his soul, he exelainis in tones ofstern re
buke. "Such conusels„ if heeded, would have
strangled patriotism,'made the American Reyo
lotion an untimely birth, and left all its heroes
slaves. Never again let such ill-omened words
- drop frimi the lips of the patriot so long as there
is stills, struggling son of his country presenting
his 'claim for a -xedrefis of his-wrongs at the &a=-
gust tribunal of the People."
' Mr. Speaker - and gentlemen representatives,
go home to your constituents if you can. Go
home if you dare and tell 'them you • veted.
against this bill. Go home to your constituents
if you can, go home to theft if you dare s and tell
-them that Pennsylvania, the brightest star inthe'
galaxy of States, the cradle of American free
dom, the-nursing mother -of- the 'Declaration of
Independence, rich in the hallowed memories of
Valley Forge-and Germantown, having within
its limits the birth-place of ' our nation, and the
grave of treason close by the consecrated' epul
ehres of Gettysburg's heroes—on empire of
three millions ofpeople; _whose ipountains milk
the clouds, and,vithese .valleys run with fatness,
having within her bowels coal enough to .werm
all her friends, and iron enough' to cool all her
foes—a Commonwealth- abounding in prosperity,
intelligence and -civilization unknewn., else.
where—tell your constituents, I repeat it, that,
this State, such as I have described it,. through
you as her representatives on-this floor, has re
fused tobe just to her citizens, and has declared
- herself to be too weak and poor to protect them.
You May carry home to your people.thia dis
'graceful confession, but I humbly, thank that
beneficent Being, who halt hitherto guided and
-protected me, that he has given tile strength
It
enough floor th t t.l have
neitherignfrtop, otar l ,tarrahhing. tints, -the Zip
aeutiletih,ht etiftStAte - plide. I ahift the re
ip!unsPliiity.frotarfenifihnlairts,andlere in this
very *mond; , s l-4itittkil iff4he dust from my
_tett ao4s l == 7 ;fitialt a premeditated
„outrage.
Ok,oreriesi
- : •
I ithxdAtiastatio*
7A:ti:OLI,OI-ALN 'AND
I
and Dealer la all kinds of Merchandise
- MANS AliolliSlt VITAE'?
PlOidelphiaandNow Xorkfaz
S ,
, r '
and iluk4e4id bringitig
-
' - the
largest
. .
assortment of
- iMerchandise offered,
in this plaFe. - this large
stock einbraCea such' a vast varlet
i
of articiee: it wonid be itenos4ible ter
numerate trtieles and give prlcee.
to ea. 3 004 tiels varied assortment of
goads embeacei,a - full and complete , •
aesertaient of GitocErass - -
Irorn the common to
tho most
.: , i • choice -, ''-- .
•
and
j . , finest . .
grades known
i' to the market. -
bhoico Green andlifack' -
Tr4tr, Chocolate, tine Syrup:4,
Sugar*, C}Atees; Salt, 'Sigh, Rim,
Cheesq freak Crackers, dried
Beams. Ilaaday, Catsup, '
Pepper Sauce; Vine.
• ac: Also '
• i., -a complete aa.•
- -
settment
of • _
PURE, FRESII,I GROUND AND UNGAOUND SWIM,
• AND DARI:siG ARTICLES.
,
. ,
All splces eoleOre carefully cleaned and Voiand as
nan spice 011. Abs, a full varlefy r; • ._.•
Brooms,
Backet&i
Wane Boards;
Twines,
Cards,
II
Qufenisware,'
itonew t nre,
I Brutllea,
Indigo,
Fancy Soaps, ; : ..
I
:-, Cotaraim Soaps,, • - -
,
combs, , _
•
I ,
. i - Pocket Entree,
1 'Articles of Ilardwnr*,
- : 1
I * . Lubricating 011,
AND 501:cp'ARTTCLES NOT NA3fl3p,
all of will be 4old nt ch cup figures'
YVHOLOAL-E AND .RETA,1„1.....:
Calltandezam[kror-yourself and be convinced ,bsta.t.
q - ELNVICK'S CHEAP STORt
Its the pl=e U . r bargalus
- P. 8.-1 have alto I.t/o . Bottles of demestie uarmein
ture of strieilyiture raps Wine for sale. (dee16;631:
TO HE GREAT AMERICA
TEA COMPAZ:Y. 51, Vessix ZiTREV.f t Dim VAIN
Since its organization, has crentell a nen - ._s6n in the Nis
tory a AllltlngiTna in this country. ,
ALtourTeae are selected by a Piefeiwional Tea-taiter.
expressly nod exchisively fdr us, and we never eli.Crs.a
over Two Cent (02 Cents) per pound above cost for otifs,
inal packages. ;
We haft but One Price to every one ter enclugnallte, -
and that priceiie always market on each sample pott
age at our stole in plain noires.
isaue a notably l'rice List of our Teas, -
he scot tree talon who order it—oe aiiviatt every -Tex
Seller to seeit It coMprises a fug asiortruent selected
for every lacrity in the States. Provinces, South ,
vs and the Wiest Indies. In this list each kind is di
vided into Ili. Classes or' (wraith:B. namely: Casito,
nigh Cargo, ne, Fines, that every one may understood
from descriptlon and tire prices annexed epar the Corn,
parry tits cleteitnined to undersell the uho`e,tett trader,
e guarantee to sell all our Tans in original packages
at uot ever Tofu Coots per pound above cosi, begetting - "
this to he attractive - to the many who have heretofore ,
beau paiing ceormous Profits.
Quern:tines/ is largely since on orders. which'airerni- :
ways expert teas welt and promptly, oc though the buyer
- came himself. giving true weights and taxes, and 'Oars,'
guttranteein4f eye* thing; cur responsibility enablir,g -
U 4 to .100 we promise. Every dealer can orderitta teas'
'direct ftion the t'ornpanottrd - parties doing busintuat
within Five Himteslooo)milesof New roil!, can.retfom
Tea bought ni if they fire not titan they me
buy elsewharf', and tiro pUrchnser fa digs:lttihad Witb - bis
bargain, within fourteen clays4l4), and Traits the moor:
-refuttr'ell b. them, -Those-Wild:are over rive Ilia.iistred'"
mules can liftVo thirty days (30) and tiresome p054:10,...
extended to then,.
. . .
Iliwitles tit 'We allyantriztai the' eintipawy Wilt pay 'AR
gaponici. h,Jill ways if the Traa are ritnratal. „_. •--• ,
GREAT AMEItICAN TELLICO Ill'ANlr '
I AfPOll,"Tr.l4 AND Jonrante. - •
fel• 17.,'1nt i. ' r ili 51 Vesev St., New 'Yeti.
.i
, I[ 4 l .A.lvritr GROCERY - ST - 0,R11:
IEI- C. 1s YD
hrtylgg puteltnasit the.Grocpry Stpts. of Thntxots,Ertitalf . ,
-- 41 n :SI 'lin streot, oprusit4Yrr.q)ve'Allotel. takei thle Writ.
oil of. irmihg the nit patron:4..oi the ?mina!, Mkt! t'rif
g aneially, that he opening enried t
of • H
- CROCERTEfi,-..
which he Is prepared to offer at the toueet:Cae4lartt"
11Th stock -
consign; of
doFFEFS. ANT) TEAK
, ot all grivieg friito the highest to the lowest prietak.;"'
SUGAR CURED 1141
No. t, 2 and 3 Id ArE EREL.
AND WHITE EIIS ATI.
SYRUPS AND BIOLAriNEA
PR.I._T , SPIC
. 1; S , c-.
suds ;la Oridiges and Lemons. Bunch Raisins:Eistd)e'm
ltairniic Yilinea; Currants Citron. Fits:Walnut - arid'
Tomata ettaupSbi.colnte. 3lnee.- Ginger. Nntmera, bra
earoni. l'instard. kr., A r., and. every at t fele usually ;mod
in a Orncer3 Storn. - .
u5,,e.,.
BB9.o,'it' .
, ,
~ .
... ..
! ~,uce,„...
i So,sp,
Thrortil, : ,
i Needles.. '. . - -
Pins. '
~ . ,
Elmks rtruVßy'es,nr:d °lvry artirle , .siially to!anditOisst.
ety Store, lit BOVD'S, opposite GROVES. _
BA*i NG AP P ES,..
PcachiN,
Dried Apples.
i s Soap Deane,
- (hafoos.
always on tkand at BOYFS Cheap Grocery Store:
F 1) OTJR,
Corti Meal
Bacon,
Beans,
Putatoeo,
at BOYD'S Giocery Store.
itiIISOILLANEOpS ARTItLES,-
_LTA_ Wator Crackers, SlatChei, Stove Polish, r eSs
of Coffee. ilndigo, Starch, Shoe Blacking, Weer SlittC
&e„ for Sale At BOYD'S Cheap Grocery. Velt
EItOSENE LANTERNS,
It I Rerosiao Lamps,
fiorcebne 011, at
Grixor.
tab 17
II
MII
11E1
pholze Taboo* ,
^ EMI."
Stove Polish.
Choice '
. -
Nerolone ihtt.
HOMINY,
Mee, '
didar Vinegar,
Pepper Sao6e, , .
,Lard,