North Branch Democrat

Political.

SPEECH OF SENATOR BROWNING,
Republican from Illinois.

Pursuant to notice, an immense crowd assembled at the Court House, on Saturday night, to hear an address from Senator Browning. The Court Room was filled to overflowing, and we are assured that hundreds were compelled to go away because they could not gain admission. Mr. Browning explained his position upon the confiscation question, and did it to the satisfaction and approval of a vast majority of those who heard him. He said that Congress had no power to confiscate property, and that confiscation was a humbug. If the power of confiscation existed anywhere, it existed in the President by virtue of his office, as Commander-in-Chief of our armies. The Constitution conferred no such power upon Congress, and he had sworn to support the Constitution. He could not support the confiscation bill and the Constitution too, so he supported the Constitution and opposed confiscation. Upon this question he stood with the President. The same was true upon the question of arming the negroes. He was opposed to arming them, and so was the President. He was for the Union as it was, and the Constitution as it is. In the utterance of these truly patriotic sentiments, Mr. Browning was loudly and enthusiastically applauded!

Mr. Browning denounced the abolitionists in unmeasured terms. He denounced the abolition leaders in the United States Senate—naming Sumner, Wilson, and others—as disloyal—traitors to the country—wild, deluded, crazy fanatics, who were bent upon the destruction of the government. He had no sympathy with them, and had refused to co-operate with them, and should continue to do so. He had marked out his course and should pursue it. It mattered not that some of his old personal and political friends had turned against him—he was for the Union as it was and the Constitution as it is, and upon that platform he intended to stand, though every dollar's worth of property that he owned in the world should be sacrificed or destroyed.

He was interrupted by an Abolitionist present, who charged him with having gone over to the Democrats. Mr. Browning responded that he was ready to go over to the Democrat, or to any party, or to act with patriotic men to whatever party they might belong, who were for the Union and the Constitution. Mr. B. then asked his brazen-faced Abolitionist if he would be willing to receive the South back into the Union, with all their constitutional rights, if the rebels would lay down their arms to-morrow? As might be expected, the crazy fanatic replied no—he would not! he would not be willing to receive the South back unless they would first abolish slavery. Mr. Browning said this was just as he supposed—these Abolitionists were not in favor of the Union and the Constitution, but would sacrifice both, and bring the liberties of the people beyond the hope of resurrection, if they could but accomplish their wicked and traitorous designs.

Another Abolition fanatic wanted to know of Mr. B. whether he would vote in favor of emancipating the slaves if he believed such emancipation would put an end to the war.—
“No, Sir,” said Mr. B., “I would not give such a vote, because I have sworn to support the Constitution; under that Constitution we have no power to emancipate the slaves.”

At this point the Rev. Mr. King, who was in the audience, was heard to say that Mr. B. is a traitor to his country.” Mr. Browning did not probably hear the remark, as he did not condescend to notice it.

Mr. B. commented at considerable length upon the course of certain Abolition journals that have devoted so much of their time and space to denunciations of our Generals in the field, and so little of their space to denunciations of the rebel commanders. Among these journals were the Chicago Tribune and the Quincy Whig.

He was particularly severe upon the editors of the Chicago Tribune. He read an article from the Tribune, and denounced it as the most infamous treason that had appeared in any paper published in the United States since the war begun. Of the editors of the Tribune he had a most contemptible opinion. He did not believe them to be loyal, and if they should take an oath to support the Government he would not believe their oath.

In regard to the war, he was for its vigorous, energetic, and successful prosecution.—He told his Republican friends that they could not hope to bring the war to a successful issue if they made it a war for the negro. The Democrats, he said, would not co-operate in a war of that sort, but confine it to its legitimate, rightful object—let it continue to be, as it has been from the beginning, a war for the Constitution and the Union, and the Democrats would work and fight shoulder to shoulder with the Republicans; indeed, all the patriots, of whatever party, would work together.

Mr. Browning throughout was listened to with good attention and with great interest. During his speech he was frequently interrupted with the enthusiastic applause of his audience. His positions, as he stated and explained them, on this occasion, are endorsed and approved by a large overwhelming majority of the people of this city and county. He talked like an honest man and a true patriot, and his positions, as they have been represented to us by Republicans and Democrats who were present, were broad enough for loyal men of all parties to stand upon.