American politics (non-partisan) from the beginning to date : $b embodying a history of all the political parties, with their views and records on all important questions. Great speeches on all great issues, and tabulated history and chronological events.Cooper, Thomas V. (Thomas Valentine)
History
American politics (non-partisan) from the beginning to date : $b embodying a history of all the political parties, with their views and records on all important questions. Great speeches on all great issues, and tabulated history and chronological events.
Cooper, Thomas V. (Thomas Valentine)
Political parties -- United States; United States -- Politics and government
_Iowa_—1861, December 2, James F. Wilson succeeded Samuel R. Curtis,
resigned August 4, 1861.
_Wisconsin_—1863, January 26, Walter D. McIndoe succeeded Luther
Hanchett, deceased November 24, 1862.
_Oregon_—1861, July 30, George K. Shiel succeeded Andrew J. Thayer,
unseated.
_Louisiana_—1863, February 17, Michael Hahn qualified; 1863, February
23, Benjamin F. Flanders qualified.
Lincoln, in his message, recited the events which had transpired since
his inauguration, and asked Congress to confer upon him the power to
make the conflict short and decisive. He wanted 400,000 men, and four
hundred millions of money, remarking that “the people will save their
government if the government itself will do its part only indifferently
well.” Congress responded by adding an hundred thousand to each request.
There were exciting debates and scenes during this session, for many of
the Southern leaders remained, either through hesitancy or with a view
to check legislation and aid their section by adverse criticism on the
measures proposed. Most prominent in the latter list was John C.
Breckinridge, late Vice-President and now Senator from Kentucky. With
singular boldness and eloquence he opposed every war measure, and spoke
with the undisguised purpose of aiding the South. He continued this
course until the close of the extra session, when he accepted a
General’s commission in the Confederate army. But before its close,
Senator Baker of Oregon, angered at his general course, said in reply to
one of Breckinridge’s speeches, Aug. 1st:
“What would the Senator from Kentucky, have? These speeches of his, sown
broadcast over the land, what clear distinct meaning have they? Are they
not intended for disorganization in our very midst? Are they not
intended to destroy our zeal? Are they not intended to animate our
enemies? Sir, are they not words of brilliant polished TREASON, even in
the very Capitol of the Republic?” [Here there were such manifestations
of applause in the galleries, as were with difficulty suppressed.]
Mr. Baker resumed, and turning directly to Mr. Breckinridge, inquired:
“What would have been thought, if, in another Capitol, in another
republic, in a yet more martial age, a Senator as grave, not more
eloquent, or dignified than the Senator from Kentucky, yet with the
Roman purple flowing over his shoulders, had risen in his place,
surrounded by all the illustrations of Roman glory, and declared that
the cause of the advancing Hannibal was just, and that Carthage ought to
be dealt with in terms of peace? What would have been thought if, after
the battle of Cannæ, a Senator there had risen in his place, and
denounced every levy of the Roman people, every expenditure of its
treasure, and every appeal to the old recollections and the old
glories?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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