"•Passitio, All,waa done, that could be.dime;-but
anoverraling power` that eve? disposes, however
tatireproposes; made the triumph of slavery inthe
Mexican aeliuiaition a crowning diaanethatmeni.
California was held at the door of Congress with
her Representatives and Senators for months to
1090.
slavery and Democracy some pretext to re
lea thenitt but the power of freedom on the Pa
cific became stronger with each day, and at last
thfgleigiidaownanaconfessedtheirdiscomfiture.
swit,Aististrous as was the' defeat, it was not
diainayed. It still had a willing and powerful
'Party at the head _of the Government, and it
struggled confidently, defiantly for supremacy..
It wrung the Missouri Compromise from an an
willing people, years before, and triumphed there
bp bet it-now steed in the way of the march of
slavery to universal dominion. It was a sacred
monument of the solemnly plighted faith of our
fathers. For a quarter of a century it had stood
unassailed by any one ; but it confronted slavery,
and it must tat rethiesly destroyed. Democracy
was summoned to the task, and the cruel work
was done. Again was the tranquility of the na
tietf wantonly, wickedly broken by the Democra
cy in. obedience to slavery, and when its convul
sions threatened the very safety of our institn
ticins, the spoiler came
. again with the seducing
err of peace, by 'submission to its wrongs. ' What'
followed is but too well remembered by all. The
revolting scenes which made up the early history
of Kansas, and the Lecompton infamy, which was
made the test of devotion to a Democratic Ad
miniatiration; are but fitting sequels to the crime
that had its inception on the violation of the Mis
souri compact.
Staillit was not content. The right of petition
bad bee restored ; the right to rifle the mails bad
been abrogated, and enlightened progroLwas on
every hand besetting this monster fist of liber ty
and law. In this extremity it turned to theju
dicialtribmsal of last resort—a court where once
sat a Marshal and a Story, and in the name of
Democracy demanded that its ,life should be de
clared to issue from the Constitution itself, and
that by virtue of the sadre instrument it could
spread its polluting /ewer - Wherever it was not
expressly interdicted by municipal law. It had
but to command, and it was obeyed. • The terri
tories were surrendered mercilessly. and in defi
ance of the 'accepted law of the civilized world,
to its desolating tread. The States were pro.
nounced its obedient servants In the maintenance
of its interests, and the black man was jtidicially
defined as a being without rights which any one
was bound to respect - This was its chief, its fa
tal triumph. The year that witnessed its mastery
over a' free people and their institutions, dated its
di:aline and fall ; end now the rejected black man
pleads in a court where, but a few years ago, he
was denied•even the legal status of manhood ne
&teary to maintain the prerogatives of a suitor. `
*At last this demon of discord and relentless foe
of our 'liberties had exhausted the uses of the
Democratic party as a party of administrative
power. It had so prostituted and demoralized
, that organization that it was impotent to save
slavery from the doom of subordination, and with
it subordination was death. It therefore spurned
its faithful - instrument -or wrong, and rent it in
twainat Charleston. li net mina to sander
the Union. It was not prepared for the war
with attach it has shadowed the land in mourning.
It saw its power departing, and it must be en.
pre= or die. 'lt resolved upon a final, exhaust
mg effort to prostitute the North at its feet and
secure its 'perpetual and unquestioned power by
• new and wholesale organic concessions to its vi
tality. It therefore thrust out the major p ortion
.
of the Northern Democracy, and reckonmgrby
the history of the past, it confidently expected to
see friend and foe paralyzed into submission ratit
e? than brave its vengeance. But the die of sub
mission was past. The,free North was aroused,
and resolved that the ri g ht of the - rnajority to rule
in conformity with the laws should be tested.—
Vainly did its rejected ally, the Democracy, plead
foe it in 1860, but the fiat of the 'people declared
that slavery must henceforth yield its own boasted
snpremacy . to the majesty of the laws. It was
no unmeaning victory. It was not achieved to
be basely bartered away by comprdinise, in
which right should surrender to wrong.
,Slavery was appalled at the retributions it had
bitted, but it did - not despair. It saw the seep
tre of power depart, but it hoped to seduce or
in
timidate the great North from its settled purpose
to 'vindicate the laws and the force of the Govern
ment. It saw an educated, honored and requit
ed industry give rich fruits in prosperity and pro
gress in the Northern States, while its own fair
homes were marked by decay. It saw a vast pre
ponderance of population gathering about it
whose honest aims of life made them 'its implaca
ble foes. It saw every element of greatness with
which a beneficent God bad blessed - a free people.
It saw schoolhouses at every cross-road scattering
wide=spread education—its deadliest antagonist.
It saw the spires of our churches pointing to
heaven in every community, each steadily instil
ling the great eternal truths which pronounce sla
very accursed of man sad God. It saw rising
here from day to day elements which in time
must crash it as the foe of civilization, of humuni
,ty and peace. It saw its own power wasting
from day to day beneath the inexorable progress
of intelligence, and it buckled, on its armor for its
final struggle. If dethroned, it resolved that
' there should be woe to the victors as well as van
quished in its hist conflict
Again it turned to its distracted ally in the
North. It had spurned the Northern Democracy
from its councils, and left it Without a resting
place; but when it gathered up its strength to
make a nation bow at Its deadly shrine, or ac
cept its fearful alternative, it again turned to the
shattered elements of the Democracy, and said,
"There shall be war or submission, and Demo
cracy shall be the ally of slavery." I understand
ztr.spker, the fearful import of this dec
.. Ifiratiiitti , moan It lulls broadest sense. When'
slavery resolved upon war as its last resort, should
the North maintain its integrity, it turned to the
Democracy, and was assured of sympathy and
triumph in grappling with the very life of the Re
public. How flir it has been successful, let the
chequered history of this bloody drama tell. ft
made War; confidant in the belief, predicated
upon. positive assurance, that the Democracy
would paralyze the North in the attempt to exer
cise its might ; that there would be a powerful
party that would sustain it with matchless fideli
ty even unto death, and the bond is about to be
tlOed today. And why should it not ? Aught
selsel would be butholloyv hypocrisy and shameless
piwardice.
Slavery reckoned but too truly on the power
of Democracy in this fearful conflict. When the
guns of.treason-were thundering against Sumter,
every member of that party on this floor respon
drid to the call of slavery by voting against the or
' ganization of any - force to defend the State, or the
;ix* of the Republic: And in the Senate, when
amir deliberations on the bill to arm a force forde
;knee were interrupted by the lightning messen
gem proclaiming tho,progreeB of the bombardment
of the feeble but heroic command of Anderson,
every Democratic member sent back to trium
phant _treason the cheering assurance, that no men
or means should be employed to preserve the life
of the Government by their voles. Such is the
blistering truth of history as made in these legis-,
lative halls.
And as here, it was elsewhere. The faithless
- were for a time overwhelmed by the outburst of
patriotisn of the people : but no soon as they felt
safe in so doing, they assailed the loyal cause with
_every petty pretest,.
put,as they have quibbled to
resist the inexorable logic docents today. Then,
when the national heart throbbed-with demotion
to our imperilled institutions, the gentleman from
- Northumberland (Mr. Purdy) did not,declare in
Itte.siolumns of his paper that the Southern • Cori
• redersey was an established fact, as he afterwards
did, -.He-bowed to the resistless current of patri
.• wag thelittte,but he waited. and, watched
tor the p . eriod when he could by stealth; by cow
ardly iamb, bpsiuthiotts essitilts upon the ad
ministration of-the government, strike most ef
fectually at thevery vitals of the Republic. And,
air, with what ruathless fidelity bus this cruel task
been performed. .The gentlemen who lust ad
dressed the House in opposition to the resolutions
has, from the tithe this war commenced, persist
ently condemned, every measure proposed for the
vindication of our national life. When slavery
tit/furled its banner to the breeze - , proclaiming'
wanton, relentless nay alike upon our people 1111 a
their institutions, be answortel its deinands by de
nying- the right ofeoercion—by refusing to the
- nation its inherent rikht.tu live.. There has hard
ly been an argument 'emanating from the leaders
of treason in Richmond that has not in spirit or
in terms been re-echoed by the seu tl emen fron t
Northumberland. flit own constituents, I believe
declared in public:, meeting that the Southern
Confederacy was ottablitthod. •
Mr. PURDY. Will the gentleman allow me to
ask bhn a question
Mr. M'autirl. Certainly. '
Mr. Pont. I would like to know whero the
:Larding was held. - r i •
DPCLURE. 1 cannot soy, but the resolu
tions were published in his own JourhaL
Mr. kiißov. Tiny Neff: never published in
my iournal.
mr. micLuRE. I cannot be mistaken, sir.
The gentlemen may quibble as to the eirdit phra
seology of the resolutions, but I do not know that
res,olutions were Pilbibibed by Whet if hot ender
sed',certninly without disapproval, declaring th a t
the mkt confederitt7 was " eatebiisbed 144 2 1 4 Mat
their governinerit•stmA 0001111nis ; Itat,TellieLSUCle
.n.or istwo.r w.wt i lliwiess. and therefore we
Should submit to the triumph of treason I donut
mean that this wits the exact Ituigsaie of the res
olutions, but I will thank the gentleman,if be
has them iu his-possession, if he - will present diem
now and show" Wherein I am Mistaken.
m c , g i mpy' I rise to explain.. 'suppose the
gentlemanfrom.Franklin (Mr.. MPlare)-refers
to a meeting called away up in Maine, 'the pro
ceedings of -which were published in my journal
as an evidence'of what was being done up there.
Mr. 31'0.1am. Imay be mistaken as to where
these resolutions originated, , but not as to,their
se ntiments. They 'declared for disunion--for the
success of our eountry'a-foes. Were they endors
ed or were they condemned by the gentleman
when he published them
Mr, PURDY. The'resolations were from
the World-or Herald into my paper, together with
an editorial from the journal from w hi c h th e y
were taken.
Mr. 31 1 CLIIRE. I. wish to inquire distinctly of
the gentleman whether he condemned the senti
ments of the resolutions when he published them ?
Mr. PURDY. I would say, Mr. Speaker, that,
I think, the whole tone of my paper condemned
the resolutions.
Mr. 3l'Curra.. wish the gentleman to an
swer &Toddy whether, when he published in his
own columns resolutions declaring that treason
had already triumphed over: the government, he
did so with or-without their condemnation.
Mr. PURDY. I will Say, in the first place, that
these resolutions did not declare that treason
should triumph. -
•31r 31.'Cl.t1tg. I hope that I shall get the gen
tlemen to answer my question.
Mr. PURDY. I have answered it.
The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Franklin
will proceed. This dialogue is out of order.
Mr. MetmtE. Sir, I am not mistaken in the
charge I have preferred. A series of resolutions
which I supposed to have emanated from his con
stituents, (1 accept his correction on this point,)
confessing that the confederacy of treason wits -
established, and the Union substantially dismem
bered, was published in his own journal and in
others of like faith, and with positive or silent ap
proval, thus in everything short of an actual ea
pouSal of the enemy's cause, strengthening the
toes of- the goAarnment' in their murderous war
upon our heroic brothers in the-field By ever}, .
means which promised success, they sought to
impair the sanctity of the laws; to traduce. mis
represent and weaken the government, and reu
derlt feeble as possible iu its terriblecontlict with,
slavery and treason. They sought to defeat the
execution of its own statutes deemed essential to
the safety of the nation. And how could this be
better done than by proclaiming through the col
umns of a newspaper that the rebel government
was established, and therefore resistance to trea
son was but remorseless murder? No man who
read those resolutions misunderstood them. No
loyal man read them without being chilled in his
confidence hathe great struggle ; no traitor ever
read them without rejoicing that he had faithful,
tireless allies ire the free North. Such publiea
tiona and speeches of like tone were the brightest
rays of hope to treason until the nation spoke mil
lion-tongued in behalf of its own life in Ititi4, and
bid the cruel murderers of the South rely upon
themselves. There was not a skulking conscript
in the gentleman's own county, or elsewhere, who
did not applaud the resolutions, and thank him
for their nubliention.
MeHminf. Wlll the gentleman allow nie to
interrupt him to make an explanation? In re
gard to the resolutions I will simply say, that they
were published as the proceedings of a meeting in
the State of Maine, which was called about the
time of the breaking out of the rebellion, when it
was deemed by the gentleman from Franklin (Mr.
MCltire), and by his party, that there was not
any such thing as seceded States. The meeting
was called to form a movement at that time for a
compromise of the difficulties. The resolutions
stated that the rebellion was a fixed fact, and
called on the President and authorities of the
United States to enter into some measures foratie
prevention of this bloody and ruinous war. If the
gentlemen will persist in perverting this meeting
and in perverting my action with reference to it,
he is at liberty to do so atter this statement. I
will only further say, that at the outbreak of this
war, 1 addressed war meetings, for the purpose et
raising volunteers in my county, and published
resolutions adopted at three meetings in my own
journal.
Mr. 3rcLuRE. The gentleman still avoids the
material point. He may have addressed war
meetings, but it was when he could do nothing
less, in obedience to the aroused sentiment of the
people about him in favor of the suppression of
the rebellion. But soon- after the outbreak of the
war he -published, and approvingly because not
disapproved, resolutions pointing with unmistaka
ble distinctueas to the established success of the
rebel confederacy, and then demanded peace.
Soul-stirring indeed must have bee,. ma wor
speeches, when at the very threshhOld of the
stroggle,be prayed, as Slavery and Treason would
havebid him pray, for compromise, concession and
ultimate destruction of all government. The tone
of the resolutions, as well as the tone that perva
ded every issue of his journal, by implication, if
• not in expressed terms, denied both the right and
the power of the Republic to maintain its author
. ity_ by the arbitrament of the sword. ,
Mr. PtrwY. Not at all.
Mr. M'Cunte. I do not err on this vital issue.
However disguised by professions of loyalty, the
teachings of the kettleinati from Northumberlaith
(Mr. 'Purdy), and his political associate are aimed
to paralyze the power of the government and to
strengthen the hauls of its deadly enemies. W.
were told the war was fruitless ; that it (amid aot
be successful; and faithful men were staggered by
tirele , a, mighty current of peso that
flowed from the Democratic leader= to nmke the
phople their own and their country's fOr:43, I ex
cept, as I have always done, the masses Of all
parties from the terrible imputation of disloyalty
to the Government They have shown it in every
stage of this conflict. They have defied their po
litical leaders in the darkest hour of the nation's
cause, and rushed to its rescue; but they left be
hind them the quibbling; craven traitor. whAvere
too base to defend their nationality, and too eow
ardly to.assail it manfully.
Need I inquire to whom we 'are indebted for
the turbulence that has blotted our history in the
various stages of this struggle for national exist
ence 7 Whence came disorder, contempt of law
and riots in our, own free North? Who taught
the deluded victims of Democratic leaders to in
augurate anarchy in the chief city of the Union 7—
Who taught them that conscription was but :re
morseless tyranny and prepared them, by persist
' sit, malignant hostility to the Government for the
appalling scenes which were witnessed there in.
leti3 7 And when they bad but obeyed the inev
itable conviction of Democratic teaching, and ran
riot in arson, murder and anarchy for days, who
greeted them as "friends" and begged for peace
—not to vindicate the violated laws or to save an
imperilled Government, but -to save themselves
from the swift retribution they saw in the bitter
cup they had prepared for others. The leaders
had not the manhood to declare in favor of Sla
very and Treason, but like the gentleman from
Northmnberiand, (Mr. Purdy,) they poured a
steady current of treaeon, the more deadly be
cause it went forth in the thin guise of devotion
to the Unit's. Well did they obey the behests of
slavery, and they gave rich fruits whereikith to
gladden despairing traitors.
Arid who in our own State have taught Wel(
110,14 to defeat the strengthening of onr armies and
protract the war for fresh sacrifices of blood and
treasure? Whence has come disorder here I
Not from Allegheny. or Chester, or Lancaster, or
Philadelphia; but from the sections where De
mocracy could boast of its greatest supremacy.
Whence came this treason 1 It was not inherent
with the people. They are as loyal now as they
were in 1861. Who -then, by tireless arts and
persuasion; made them stringers to their own
best inheritance and foes to goverment arid law
I saw brave men clad in, their country's blue,
march from the border when 'the cannon of Early
thundered on the Potomac—hot to make the vic
tory of Sheridan more deeisive, but to enforce the
lasts um' preserve order in our own" then threat
enod Commonwealth. While treason flaunted its
bloody banner on the very border of our State,
Deitmeracy, its faithful ally, was attempting rev
' elution in the strongholds of its-leaders, to cheer
the hen its and strengthen the arnit of those who
came ',, thrust the torch of the barbarian, and
ply the trade of the 'free-hooter in gar' happy
home.. and make our golden fields dpaolate, by
their-brutal tread; These are but the currents
which iloW from the deadly • fountain of treason,
and s. here: rises its pestiferous head to course its
wit) to •very hamlet in the land and leave its fa
tal ili,pl.4!Ki upon mankind! Who gave this foun
tain on ;reason lite and power, to threaten a na
tion's noblest struggle with disaster! Behold the
unman who at every stage of the war have resisted
es via me.asure es.entiul to saccess. They declare
- ed 11 - ea- In too mighty forthe Government to sup
ess fhey appealed to the sordid tit arrest stag
geni/ tuxes and debt by, demanding peace, when
thee knew that peace involved dismember
meet Tad death. They plead their unholy cause
to we fearassi the cowardly, and implored them
to avoid the perils -of ,the field by -resisting con
scription, and impair the power of the Govern
ment by lawlessness., They aroused the preju
dices of the humble, by pointing to the degraila
tiott of nugro equality, and even men plumed as
popular leadentsoetraxl:to fear that they were so
tpoorly.ehdowod that tho beoighted Milan might
..utstrip them in the-rara is o f ambition. They ap
to every prejudice of the feeble, the pealed
to array them against the free last!.
tutints whOse benefletume gave theta,everysocial,
nivir and raltaiPas right. But the people; although
at times faltering tea tho dark tibial:4s &disaster
envelopedthe nation, were still faithful to their
Government- . Lllle - the disturbed and oscillating
needle. thatever settles to the ptde, they would
rise from the cloud of perfidy that beset them and
- give their hearts and one to preserve the
Republic of our fathets.
One hope remained for Democracyand slaiery,
They turned to the court of last resort of Penn
sylvada;andi lathe mute of Deinoeiney,-deman
ded that the only means by which our armies
could .be'filled anti' enabled to triumph, -should be
set aside - as 'an infraction of the sovereignty of
the State, and therefore void. -They hoped that
the people would be glad to grasp this pretext to
tfunNon themselves,- their country, their chil
dren and their God. It was the taskof despair,
but it was performed, and the right of this Gov
ernment to defend its life when treason was fas
tened upon it in deadly strife, as with hooks of
triple steel, was - gravely denied by the Supreme
Court of Pennsylvania. , Then did treason, the
twin-born ofslaymy, triumph in our midst, and
compassed the "judicialy—the last refuge of the
people—in its slimy embrace. But it aroused the
people to a mighty struggle. Impelled by the
despotism of treason, which mucked them in their
perils, to tbe'moralberoism which ever strength.
ens right in its midnight of gloom, they reversed
their court by the' decision of the ballot-box,
from which there is no appeal, and I thank a just
and merciful God that the Court, the State. the
Nation, lived, and lived loyally. [Applause.]
This record of innuingled wrong and treachery
is the histo4 of the party whose representatives
today will cast their votes against the ratification
s,f the proposed amendment to the Constitution.
It is their work—they ,were so bidden by slavery
and they obOed: Am Ina right, sir. in saying
'that they are consistent? • So far from being sur
prised that they so vote; I should think it strange
indeed did they not mint-Win the shade of virtue
that consistency and fidelity may give them. Sla
very, couceived in critne, and faithful to its crea
tion for more than three-quarters of a century, is
about to finish its tusk, and when it turns for the
last them to behold its friends. in the exercise of
power, it would he ernelotiost ertiel indeed. ihr
thew to spurn it. and leave it to die umnourned
and dishonored. They ox , le it to the power is hide
they worshipped when it' win mighty. They- fol
lowed its black plume of desulation.until it made
bondage 'national and treettom scetioual—until it
subverted the genius of the government and ifs
hindamentallaw—,-until it plunged us into cause
less war and brought bereavement th every circle:
and now when,He Who rules over all, iu the full
mess of his time, has declared that "vengeance is
mine. I will repay,' and when Rbi last relentless
sit eke is about to fall upon it—it is fitting in this
hour, iu this death struggle, that they should be
faithful to the institution that in other days made
them great. [Great applause.]
f - raratlin %tpoiton).
WedaMlity, rebrti!l!7 . 22,- I SOZ.
THE EXTINCTION OE SLAVERY.
In. political affairs the end is not always
apparent from the beginning. - Both na
tion's and statesmen are sometimes com
pelled to accept the logic of events as their
instructor. The aspirations of the first
are often quickened' by unexpected reali
zation,- whist the latter are content to
shape that whose beingthey could neithet
forestall nor create.
How long African slavery would have
existed upon 'this continent, had it not
been for the occurrence of the stupendous
civil war now drawing to a doie, none can
say It might have lingered many centu
ries, an impediment to our civilization, a
blot upon our escutcheon, a cause of dis
integration, and an element of death. It
might, too, in the ways of an inscrutable
Being, have been taken through the pro
cess of eradication by some noiseless, gen
tle means, so Hitt as scarce no man could
tell whence it came, none should know
whither it went. But as the great Same
controls both the zephyr and the hurri
cane, so doth He rule in. the armies of
heaven and among the children of men.
none can take Him to task for His agen
cies.
Notwithstanding the present incumbent
of the Presidency had years ago declared
that the States of this government could
not rmain permanently half free and half
slave: notwithstanding his prettier had
declared that between the two systems—
oe and slave labor—there must ever be
lin irrepressible conflict; at the very com
mencement of hostilities it was anthorita
tively announced by both the executive
and legislative hmuchesot, -the •govern
ment, that the object of the war was solely
to compel obedience to the national au
thority under the constitution and laws.
Thus whilst the inAurgent leaders avow
ed the object of rebellion to be the estab
lishment of an unrestricted System of en
forced labor, the power - they were about
to engage as unhesitatingly disclaimed
past encroachment and future interference
with the unclean thing. *
It may be interesting now for a moment
to leave the giants interlocked-L-to let the
strife progress—whilst we consider for a
moment the probability of the eradication
of slavery by other means than through
the war.
- Its eltiuction may at any time have
been effected by one of three means—war,
either on the part of the enslaved or by
those favorable to abolition ; a constitu
tional amendment providing for its prohi
bition or-voluntary emancipation.
As regards voluntary emancipation,
alas! the cupidity of human nature ren
dered it almobt impossible. The evil had
its origin in a love of gain. The same in
satiate desire caused it to thrive. Tears
and blood were no obstacle to its inhuman
barters. Its advantages were reciprocal.
Coffers were filled at the North, where the
crack of the lash and the sigh from the
block were unheard ; coffers were filled at
the South, where both were equally un
heard. There could- be no hope for. vol
untary emancipation when the demands
of avarice never ceased to be met and the
national heart was growing harder.
For the same reasons a constitutional
amendment was equally out of the ques
tion. Arrayed against progress was every
sordid and selfish interest, every besotted
- and brutalized instinct, every debasing
and unchristian sentiment. Men in their
own estimation proclaimed the African as
-not of human kind, but allied to his own
native gorilla. Even such as admitted
his humanity insisted that he was accurs
ed of God. The argument then was - not
confined tO a street car, but they insisted
upon perpetually and 'systematically de
basing him upon earth and finally exclu
ding him front Heaven. The aid of the
highest judicial, officer in the government
was invoked, and it was announced from
the Bench that he had no rights a white
man was bound to r4peet. What wonder
then .that both voluntary and constitu
tional. emancipation were out of the gut-s-
But slavery had been doomed. Per.
witted originally' for some wise purpisii.
tip ,fraitidin Repositara, 414mnbetsburg,, pa.
it teas not intended that it ainfalii have a
perpetual lease, nor never be called to set-,
tle an account. The enslaved. it ATlle
were helpless. tong_yeare ofoppre
,ss . ion ,
and neglect had _fitted them morOorser-'
Vita& than for freedom. • Bagel master
anirtheir allies had often paraded this as
a reason why their bondage. should •be
continued. '.Death they said wad the best
- antidote for ,death—the virus that produ
ced the disease should be
`:all
ill its cure.
It was jiistlere; when hope seemed
to have died, out, when the heart of the
lover of justice to. all failed Within' hinr,
that a ray of light appeared r a ;Speck in
the heavens no bigger than-a makei. hand.
Mr. Lincoln!was elected. He uas about
;to be inaugurated. The revolution of
slaveholders was begun. At dist-to hu
man perception it seemed of triAing int=
portance, easy to be quelled. The retiring
President let it severely.aleue. It waxed
strong. The new President soon found
blieSelf in the midst of a tremendous con-'
vulsion.
It is not necessary to detail. events.
None fail ti remember how the present
Chief Magistrate has from the beginning,
sought'to win the South back by appeals.
today mid patriotism- 7 41°w everY ulterior
measure of tear has been anteriorly pro
claimed and opportunity :Lftbidetito retain
to a cast-off allegiance. r_ -
Slavery is now dying, not by the hands
of those who long since favored a prohibi
tory constitutional amendincnt not- by
the hands of abolitionists so called, not
by virtue entirely of the. executive proc
lamation. brit by war, cruel War, provoked
and made bY its friend. Had not a sylla
ble of the'entancipation proclamation been
uttered the result had beim all the same ;
fbr the present conflict rill searely close
before our armies - shall 'have Overrtm all
parts of the Smith and tdven practical free
dom tn the slaves.
Our own measure resorted to for the
purpose ofWeakening the enemy} is about
to be adopted by him with the view of ad
ding,:strtfug,th to his armies. , pro
posed now in the §outh to put the slaves
into serviceiand manumit them for antici
pated heroic efforts. slt iinot a Matter of
saprise that sack. n proposition meets
Much- oPpdsition there.' Pew thinking
men can have faith Fin 'the: ideui that the
negroes will tight for their oppresstirsnu
der the promise of freedom when these
very oppressors have failed in 4 contest,
the object of which was by a separation
from Ahe old government to insure the per
rilane-hcy and enlarge the areaof slavery.
The idea is Prepostereue. It is a. 4 if 111)a
-eine adventurer -returning with Itislioar
ded dust when shipwrecked arid utterly
without hope, should first cast his treas
ure' into the yawning sea andlerip into its
jaws for a perpetual sleep.
Whilst - slavery dies by the IVar a.s an
element of strength in the rebellion, if we
seek a more remote and moral ieason for
its extinction we find it in the ireyading
sentiment of patriotism and pride of na
tionality of the loyal North. So long as
the institution did not strike directly at
the vitals of the - government It hail Its
Mends, but When it sought to disrupt the
Union and overturn the constittition,
maw', zpnit, prejudice, 'cupidity,
hatred of the negro—all obeyed the be
hests oft true patriotism and came to the
rescue. The large majority of the people
notwithstanding the seditious appeals of
enemies of the government .and rebel
sympathizer•i, are desirous to eotulitet the
war in suchia way as will deal ;the 14.4-
est blows non theenonyandrnOst quicks:
ly and thortinghly re-establish thenation
al authority. The result of the late elec
tion shows that the government has met
the expectations of the many, Whilst for
its double work it has called down upon
itself the benedictions of mankind.
After the rebellion in the United States
had assumed frightful proportions, and to
our enemies( had presented the aspect of
success, the' French Emperor,' ambitious
of, getting possessions on the American
continent, availed himself of this oppor
tunity, and; o carry out his desiWun
dettook, single-handed, the conquest of
Mexico. He was weak enough' to believe
that the twenty millions of the free, loyal
States ofthe Federal government. had not
_patriotism enough to meet the foe of their
Union, and in a bloody war sustain them
selves as a brave and chivaltims people.
Thinking that the people of the Northern
States had (Mnk into a condition of apathy
so cold and!indiffeient its tAhe - danger of
a dissolution of the union oftheir govern
ment, that...MAo4- would theconfederacy
be permanently established upon its rains,
but that he would have seated a 'rider in
the capitol A Mexico, and have, in the
name of France, some of its richest prov
inces before they would 'discover what
they had lo`st. or be iu a condition to pre
vent the complete execution of this Mag
nificent programme.
Three Yeair ago the Emperor broke
faith with England and Spain_ as members,
of the tripartite expedition, wishing to bag
the game himself, had the moment he
landed a soldier upon the soil of Mexico
he soundedlthe key-note of a policy that
challenged the earnest heed of the Amer
ican people! .
If we trade the conduct of the Emperor
since 1854, 'we find that he had his eyes
upon de rich province of Sonora therh'and
has been intriguing ever since to obtain
possession of it. He favored that unfor
tunate exPedition of Count Ritonset de
Benlhon, until it was evident that it could
not succeed, and then fearing to make
himself knoymin this weak and snudi of-
Mir, permitted its leaders to die the death
of filibusters. - From that day to tbiS he
has not taken- his eye froM Sonora,lbut
has labored zealously to get some plan by
which he might control and receive, it
vast wealth into its own coffers. Itdoubt
less was h i intention to possess Sonny
when the expedition. against, Mexico was
first phoMed.
The Emperor is now under the impres
sign that the Mexican Republic is extinct,
and that the monarchy established` by
himself 'lndia. European auspices is' a sue
cess. MaliMilia.n is a scion of the house
of Hapeburg,And evidently chosen by No,-
poleon becalm of the military power of
NAroz.leolcvs POLICY.
hie family alliances, and for the
_express
purpose of insuring the sup*t } ctf one of,
the -strongest: - nations- ,Eurkm:' in the'.
event orb's 'Usurpation helut..,o44, l ged.
by the 4ovenunent of the United States,',
-Napoleon is ariibitioas and loves Success.
Any anieunt of duplicity and:.,haW,in
trigne will be resorted to by him, in order
to carry out his purposes. He seems to
have the spirit of his illustrious Uncle, and,
will &critics human life like things of
worthless character, rather- than yield•
when once a scheme is, nndertaken. He
loves the French nation, and wishes to
Lang for, it, the fear and envy of -the na-
flubs of the earth. At Orizaba he rid,
.himself of the English and ...Spanish by
making fools of their representatiVes; and
openly entering into an anti-Mexican
He then proclaimed to the Mex
icans that he entered their boundaries sim
ply to pacificate, that he desired not con
quest. He vowed to the world that their
institutions should be held sacred, and
the public vote fully respected. l'his.was
no sooner done. and the ink scarcely dry
With which these promises were written,
until he himself choie arnler for the peo
ple, and compelled - their vote at the point
of the nayonet. What can all this mean,
unless it is, that he has a great policy to
work out, Which he is resolved to crown
with success at any cost.. By : hip own acts
and declarations he bass consented. to:de
grade himself, and has .stooped frOm his
high position to acts of treachery, falsehood
and tyranny that demand thecarefal con
sideration of the American .People. He
has nut chosen a ruler for the Mexican
people because their discordant condition
required "it, but it is simply to rob the
country of much of i`ts glittering wealth.
He pretended to place a prince of their
own choice over them, and yet keeps the
entiretontrol• of more than one-third of
the country,' If Maximilian is - competent
to administer the government of Mexico
for , the good of this - distracted People,
why should he not be trusted by the 'Em
peror otFrmice If the prosperitYof the
MexiCan Iwo* will be '1.30 largely inereas-,
ed and the happiness of the people aug
mented, why doubt the ability of this Peo
ple to Compensate the Emperor for the vast
services_ rendered by his army I It is
strange indeed, that more than one-third
of a wealthy country must be pawned, as
-security for this outlay. It is without
precedent, to occupy and possess the ter
ritory of another government for service:,
rendered in pacification. Nation s gen erally
rely. upon customs, duties and internal
taxation, and always borrow upon,bonds
sufficient to show an intention to
date national debts. In this case, noth
ing of this kind .is asked, no, schedule of
debts presented, but, •simply, without the
consent of the people, the territory is, re
quired, entered upon and occupied. In
all this there is a - purp4e. , It is not only
treading down the Metlean nation, but is
defying the Monroe doctrine of the Uni
ted States. We can clearlysay that Mexi
co has been conquered, not for its - own
sake, bat to serve: as a base of Opetations
for cattying, out a . Frenchpolicy on the
AnieriCart Continent Whether he will
Itiitthe sinking cause of the Rebellion at
gnome Altura day, ramming; to biTaecn.
it will result in advancing Ids-Veep de
sign, it will doubtless be done. 'He is not
"playing the part of a spectator in the
gredt, drama now being-enacted upon this
continent. He has his ends to accomplish,
and ash has already conquered the Mex
,ican government and exercises absolute
sway over the States of Sonora, Sinaloa,
Durango and Lower Califon*, he evi
dently expects to lay hold of the South
ern States at no distant day, or derive
some benefit from our ' Pacific States,
which will place him as an Emperor far
above in wealth and power any of the
crowned, heads of Europe. The duty of
our Government is plain, and its course
well understood. Another Campaign - will
break down the strongholds of the Rebel
lion, and then we ask that the Monroe
doctrine be clearly defined, as the doc
trine of our government. It , will require
bat an tinny Corps of our brave fellows to
"dislodge botlitho scion of Hapsburg and
the Vain Napoleon front the position they
have so ingloriously obtained upon the
American continent.
mwrtm ,L*l ro to Aklll
There are manifest signs of: dissolution
in the domlniens of treason. " The Raleigh
Progress confesses, Mail elaborate - article
that the capital of that State is at the
mercy of Sherman;' that the last rebel
legislature is now in session there, and that
Charleston, Columbia, Wilmington and
ultimately - Richmond must be surrendered
to the Union armies. Part of the predic
tion has already been fulfilled. Sherman
entered Columbia, the capital of South
Carolina, unopposed, and the Richmond
papers confess that the occupation of
Columbia necessitates the surrender of
Charleston. The Progress adds that when
Sherman does come the people of Raleigh
and itiorth Carolina will accept him as con
queror, and imitate Savannah by making
the best terms possible with him. It also
frankly admits that the rebel government
cannot maintain the war, and that justice
and humanity demand its early termina
tion on the basis of re-union.
In the mean time Sherman is pursuing
his victorious march practically unoppos
,ed. Had it been in the power of the re
bels to defend Columbia and Charleston,
it would haVe been done. If Shermaii_
cannot be defeated in detail, how is he to
be beaten when his immense army is con
centrated I When he moved upon Co
lumbia, he had two other columns. opera
ting in different directions, while Beanie:
gard had the interior lines and could have
concentrated against any one of Sherman's
wings l ; but he failed to do so solely be
cause he was too feeble to meet any con
siderable force in battle. We do not ap
prehend that there can be any better point
at which Beattregard can give battle than
the pogitione already surrendered. Every
day's nuirch Sherman makes brings him
nearer to heavy co-operating columns
The 23d corps is in North Carolina, and
must now' be acting in direct • support of
Sherman,. and soon the grand armies of
Grant must be in supporting distance of
each other toeompatiethereduction of the
rebel capital. •
Outside of thti genet a§pookcif 01413 -
affOrs,,theie aro , titaitriair4O4deige Of
h.af treason. ', The .
sPPecil - 01, - :Sedßenjarairi made re
ventlY4l gipbroonkadorilathatliipb;mond
roust be stirrendered - unfeSO4 - 8111NeS are
put,into the .field, and 'he admits that un-,
less they are induced to go' voluntarily by
offOriiifTreedein,theyiWill' Witt - l!faind
the rilielii._ Ile, admit's that,.the , ;white..
populatio of the South no subject to.
the deSlio "o 'Davis - As On4Ml to the
contest, a dpu the issue squarelytu*,
people t t nal ' ' the slaies'aine baithe
rescue of 'tors, the rebellion is crushed.
It is most remarkable, too, that Vice -Pres
ident Stevens, although several times an-.
'ntiunced, lias never spOken since his re
turn from 'the conference at Fortresa Mon
roe. He 'Was understood as desiringpeace
before ',he, Came' there; but it was freely
stated that he would now take the stump
and :ulv6cate the maintenance 'of the war
at every sacrifice. But he is still reticent
as ever, and seems to have retired again
to .allow the madness of treason to ex
pend itself in the most wicked and hoped
less war of history.
On every hand the cause of the govern
ment seems to promise decisive and early
success; and wehoPe that the day is near
at hand, when the List army of crime—that
. of Gen. Lee, Will he compelled to seek
uncertain refuge in the Cotton States, and
the. authority of the government ;be re
sumed in Virginia and North Carolina, as
, in Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri.Arkan-
I sus and Louisiana.
MAJOR DODOE.
Major Dodge, the- Assistant !revost
Marshal of this State, and commandant
at. Harrisburg, has been gravely censured
by the legislature, And also by the heads
of Departments connected with the mili
tary service at the capital,for wanton cru
elty and shameless disregard of the wants
of soldiers sent to Camp Curtin tO be or
gan&d into companies. A committee of
the legislature was appointed,, upon the
Complaint of sundry soldiers, to investi
gate the condition of affairs of Camp Cur-.
tin, and they reixorted that the recruits,'
just from their liora4_ and not inured: to
the rigors of the Camp, were, lets - there
without 'adequate shelter 'or - prOtection
from the excessive cold, when slaj. Dodge
had not only ample authority bat ample
recources to supply every want of the
men.' The same committee, or apart of
it. also confered with Maj. Dodge on the
-subject; and found him entirely indiffer
ent alike to the Wants of the soldiers and
the efibrts of the State authorities, to rem
edy his cruel negligence. The result was
a joint resolution demanding his removal,
Which passed the House by an overwhelm
ing majority: - and, was passed to third read
ing in the Senate by the decisive vote of
17 to 10, and even those who voted in the
,negative took especial pains to state that
they did not mean to justify the conduct of
Maj. Dodge. ,
The government is now in want of men,
and particularly in need, of volunteerS,
who can'be placed in the field•with ;inch
more facility than can be attainedby the
enforcement of the conscription.. Harris
burgis the rendezvous for snob. volunteers,
and Maj. Dodge is the commander there.
One company from Lewistown--4he first
to respond to the call for fifty companies
—tried Maj. Dodge for a day or two, and
then disbanded and returned home. The
next lot of volunteers that reached Camp
Curtin enjoyed the luxury of standing oat
in the snow day and night during the ex
cessively cold weather of two weeks ago,
and had their feet and ears frozen becaur43
gaj. Dodge prefered to have them's-GT:ex
posed. The result is that voltinteering
hassbeen almost wholly arrested; as men
do not . appreciate the system of Major
Dodge, whereby they are made, the vic
tims of every atrocity his ingenuity can
devise. How long this state of things is
tb continue, the authorities at Washing
ton must determine. Gov. Curtin has.
repeatedly demanded the removal of Maj.
Dodge without indicating his suecessor or
caring who he might be. so that he should
come prepared to discharge his duty, and
the legislature, certainly in no ,factions
spirit, has seconded the request of the
Executive in the most positive' manner.
Will the authorities at Washington disre
gard these demands? 'lf so they must
prefer that Pennsylvania shall not prompt
ly furnish volunteers to strengthen our
armies. No matter who Maj. Dodge is,
or whowants him here, or don't want him
at the front. If he can't be used advan
tageously elsewhere, let.him report to a
pile of brick or his arm-chair at home if
need be ; but we submit that his insolent
disregard of the wants of our volunteers
shall not be perpetrated at Harrisburg to'
chill the ardor of our young men who are
prepared to swell 'the ranks of our
ar
mies. . .' •
Two bounty bills have passed the House
relating to this county. Mr. Sharpe read
in place and passed finally a bill author
izing the collection of the additional $5OO
bounty paid in most of our districts by tax
ation in accordance with. the Provisions
of the general bounty law--or; in other
words, authorizing the collection of $5OO
instead of $3OO for each recruit put in un
der the last call. A general law'was con
templated, but it was found impossible to
forme one to suit the various systems
adopted in different localities to raise
bounties. Mr. Velure also read-in , place
and passed a bill authorizing the town
ships of Green and Guilford to pay $3OO
to drafted men in those townships. This
bill merely confers the authority, but is
not mandatory. The School Directors,
therefore, may or may not pay the bounty
to drafted 'men as the citizens may desire.
By the provisions of the bill the Directors
cau pay the bounty to the drafted man
himself, or to his family, and at such times
and in such sums, as they may deem just.
The people of these, townships'hase indi
cated a desire by public meetingS and pe
titions to have sach a law. Both bills will
pass the Senate thisweekandbecOmelaws.
WE give in to-day's paper the remarkS
of Xt. H'Clure on, the proposed amend
ment to the Constitution, providing for the
abolition of slavery, as.phonographically
reported by the chief reporter of the House.
February
_22, 4_865.
~f~~" - .
MEE
tiniklba
to Drottod Menlo VirOosoodliailtiard
.- Itentovat. of Sq.* Hodge Boalauded.
t*OveautOinik s keOFoOklioiteikOtOxi•
• totO4 - 18, JOS&
Two local bounty bills of interest it, the people
of Ftnnklin county. passed the Rouse - on- Wed
nesday. One 4,ead - ilf place of 'Kr. - *tar au
thorizes tho',eollection of the additional - S9:XI
Atacinty . Paid to recruits hurt year in thi eaveral
districts of Franklin '.County, 17- taxation, to be
levied and collected in aiondance with 11M pro
visions of the General botmty law authorizing the
collection and payment of '4231*." This
refund by taxation the money subscribed and
borrowed to pay the excess Cf -V.OO, which was
paid in most if not all the districts in ymir otnnik
ty. A strong effoull was- made to get at u gener
al law to provide for the eicees bounties paid
without anything of law last year, with such die
eriminations as might be just; but ittvair found
impotaible, and where dieeriminahou should-be
'yin or end; if attempted at all, was a qiiestion
That the most astute could not solve. •
• - .
Mr. M'Clore'read in place a bill prOiding that
the School Directors of the. townships of Guilford
. -
and Aleen shalthaVe authority to collect by tax
atiti7n accordance . with the' provisions of the
generalloiamty laW, anekourn of moneytaamay
be necessary Ito pay drafttnl., men, a bounty of
$3OO s ' ";.clii as' 'vehinteers, - with the addition
that citizen of the township!. subject to
den " , 1 1l pay a per cupit4 fax of fifteea dollars
in.addition to the tax upon property. By this
law those township , can. - pot in such a portion
of their:quota as they- can procure, and such of
their eitizensas may . be drafted' will be on the
same footing as volunteers. The act provides that
the School Directors may pay the
. .$3OO bounty
to due to drafted men to their•fainilies or to the
conscripts iu such sums and at such times as they .
may deem just, :thus enabling the Directors of
those townships to appropriate the whole fund to
the families of conscripts if they thiuk proper.
This obviously just provision will prevent men
from squandering their bounties, akt. leaving
their families as a charge 'upon the 61,110 fies of
the people. Both bills will pass the Senate and
become laws next week. They had evidently
been matured and were offered-. with the appro
bation of both the' Franklin county members : —
The bill providing for bounties to, drafted men is
- restricted to but two townships for the reason ..
that none others have indicated a desire to have
such a law, The citizens of green held a public
:meeting and petitioned for it.
--; The chief legislative
,excitement of the week
was the passage of - a joint resolution requesting
the President to remove Major Dodge, the Assis
tant Provost Marshal General of this State. He
had made himself singularly odious before the
meeting of the legislature by hid want of coartesy
and inattention to the interests of the - State; bat
his insolence culuoinated- last week-in a new sys
tem, purely original with himself, forintuing re
cruits to the rigors of,war. He is the command
ant of this pest and has charge. f Camp Curtin.
Darietthe very severe cold spell of last week a
number of. volunteers arrived here, and he con
eluded to make them veterans at once; as far as
enduranee, can accomplish' it, and he therefore
made them spend the night in shelter teas; with
out straw, flooring, fire said in a number oi - in
stances without blankets. The- experiment was
but partially successful, and in the merging many
of the soldiers protested against the litrocity of
Major Dodge's system, and exhibited their frozen
feet and ears - es, in their- judgment; conclusive
evidence that it might be improved. Hilturally
enough such wanton brutality oiAlia part of an
Officer ,barged with so important a trust, aroused
intense Indignation. A joint committee of' the
legislature was appointed, which' visited -Camp
Curtin, coffered with Major Dodge, and reported
unanimously that lie was unfit to have any:Com
mand of the kind—that he deliberately exposed
the soldiers to the terrible inclemency of the win
ter, when he had every means for making them
comfortable, and insolently refused to perform his
duty when called upon- -and'requestel to do so.
The result was that the legislature branded him
as a brute and deniatided las removal by an over
vote, and the 'Prodded
. cannot retain
him in his present position.:;
The appropriation bill will - be reported week
eller next, and then the, important lerlntion will
begin. It is not likely that, the legudaturer can
adjourn by the 24th of March; although both
branches have fixed on that day. .HORACt.
WASHINGTON.
Mja r c h o fGen. Sbernuu -Cougr -Ina.
ip
portant Bills yet to be Beath of
Senator Blebs—Murder in at Hotel—Be.
Arrest of Baltimore and Washington
Merchants, dte.,
Correspondence of tho Franklin ittwaitori.
IVAHuncuTos' Cur, B'o.. 19, 1865.
Sherman - and his army, like the soul of old
John Brown. " goes marching on." We have
evidence to infer, without much supposition, that
before the publication of this letter, the city of
Charleston that hot-bed of treason and cradle of
the present,"rebellion, will have fallen, or at least
be so completely encircled by our army 'Mt to
as speedy a surrender as that of Seminole'
Then there will be nothing to prevent a trinitiph
ant match through North Carolina, reinforcing his
army with Union men hid in the mountains of
that State, taking Wilmington on his Wamad
re-inforcing Grant on his left with an of
over 100,000 men, which will be sufficiently large
to completely surround Lee, or Compelltrymme
diate evacuation of his present pasitrair - 7
-
Though the prese4seesion of CentiriAiliinear
lint an end, only eleven mom Working days left,
there is yet an enormous amount of work to be
done. The Internal Revenue bill; Bankrupt bilk
army and navy appropriations bills; andmany
other miscellaneous bills, are any of them in
self large enough ; to occupy half of the remmning
time. Yet they. must be acted on. It is oboe.
lutely necessary. It is a great pity thatsufficient
lime cannot be had to make them as nee . * per
fect as possible. In the hasty legislatiOn finder
which they will pass, there cannot but Many
oversights and errors, which will require ini'end.
leaS amount of official deeiSions and constructions
by beads of Departments and Bureaus, according
to their ideas of the meaning of ',this and that
clause, and which interpretation is often just as
erroneous and distant from the tine meaning, as
day is from night. On the masses of the ,people
who have to foot Me bills, falls the Weighteof these •
constructions of the Law, and hence an endless
growling at the unjustness of this and that bill,
and all from - such hasty legislation as that requir
ed bythe remaining session of Congress.
During the past week, death has beeratrlcork
in the U. S. Senate. Senator T. H. Hicks, Who
it will be remembered was Governor tif_ktary
land, during the dark days of '6l, died suddenly
of appoplexy. The funeral obsequies took place
in the Senate Chamber, and notwithatandingthe
inclemency, of the weather, the mkt pouring down
in torrents all day, en immense crowd assembled
to pay respects to his memory and witness the
imposing ceremony of the Masonic' order of
Knight Templars—of which Senator Wicks, was
a member. in all Maryland there is not a WU
whose action will show a clearer record ormore
determined opposition to the demon at secession
from its earliest movenientd,fthan Senator Tricks.
Night before last , a soldier named Anthony
Gross, Co. L, sth N. Y. Car., in company with a
man who registered himself as James Allen, put
up at the Lichen House. Allen went out about
eight o'clockin the evening and did not return.
In the morning thd !milord went tip - toivbien
the soldier, and on entering the room found him
dead. A bluestreak on one aide of deceased neck.
and a cut on the other side rerealtd - the fact,
that be had been murdered., Ile had the doTbe.
fore been discharged and drawn his pay $4,24,
not a cent of which was found. on his person.--
The man Allen has not yet been found.
A number of the Baltimore and Washington,
merchants, tried sometime since for goods.
to:blbekade runners, but at large on ,'kavr
,
been re-arrested -
A General Hospital for the troops of,Gen, &ter
idan's army, with very land aoconamodation4
bemg established at Martmeburg. -
The 'week has paed by without any particular
rumor of peace, other than, that Which Sheithan'e
army attain make on ita march nerthw„tin,L trona
charlatan. . .
The Potomac river it still bhAieded 'l4l
aad no boats have arrived or departedAiraieeek.
past