Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-10-03
A Noble Speech Of Gen. John A.
Logan.

Gen. John A. Logan, before the war men
Der of Congress, and one of the most influer
tial leaders of the Democratic party in Ill
3 nois, now Brigadier General in the FEEDERS
g army, was on visit to his home in South
= ern Illinois, and in recent speech at Carbon
J, dale, uttered the following noble sentiment
e in glorious contrast to the partisan harar
r CUES of the Mahonys and Thayers in thi
e State.
The Carbondale Times gives the following
report of his speech, which it says was tn
best of his life, and drew forth rounds of ap
plause from his hearers
The circumstances under which we NEE
are strangly different from those ofany othe
period of our history. At other times W.
met to descaIt upon the advantages ant
blessings of this great and good Government
and the best political measures to perpeuatt
free institutions the great question is
how shall we save it from the vortex of re-
bellion, from the whirlpool of treason which
is threatening to overwhelm and utterly
tstroy republican liberty. In regard to tn.
best method of crushing the rebellion and
ending the war, almost every one has his own
views, and not few are ready to lose conf
dence in the ability oftheGovernment because
this or that policy was not adopted, because
this or that defeat occurred, or in conscG uence
of me imaginary or real mistake that has
been made. This is all wrong. The men
who are guiding the Ship of State have done
the best they could, and ale entitled to our
confidence and sympathy. They are but
men, and we should strengthen the hands OF
the President and our Generals in this trying
hour by over looking mistakes, and using our
influence in trying to impart to others con-
fidence in those On whose shoulders rest SO
much responsibility. How little do we know
Of the tolls, the cares, and "nxiety of those
brave hearts who have labored with all their
might to crush the monster secession.
These are times that demand the most hero.
ic energy and undaunted bravery. Every
patr OF in the land is called upon to come to
the rescue of his county, to do his par in the
struggle, and the man who fails to lend his IN
f1uence and energies in this crisis, " Tho fingers
while liberty beeds. is worthy of traitors
doom. This is dreadful war. the influenc,
Of which will be felt for ages. 1t is q struggle
between night and day, between republican
ism and anarchy. 1t is too late now to in
quire into the causes that brought on the war
the day of compromise has long since enb-
edit is by the sword the bullet and the
bayobet that this nationrrl difficulty is 70 be
settled. We have cunning and powerful
foe with which to contend he is in fearful
earnest, and has been all the time the die
is cast, the Government must be preserved
1t may cost millions of blood and treasure,
but we must conquer. The world is looking
with anxious hearts 10 the result of this war,
he prayers OF the down-trodden portion of
the Old World are ascending to God for the
preservation Of this Union this hope of the
world. All things else sink to insignificance
compared with the solution Of this problem
PARTY LINES AND PARTISAN FEELINGS SHOULD
BE SWALLOWED UP IN PATRIOTISM. In this con-
nection must say that l am sorry to see
men in Illinois forget their country for their
party. While our brothers are falling in
their countr's service like leaves of autumn
before the wintry blast; while their bones
are bleaching beneath the summer snn; while
the nation is suffering throes of agony, and
crying for help, YOU are wrangling over can
bidates and conventions. In the name of
God, fellow citizens cease this clamor, turn
politics over to old men and wemon, and
rally like true soldiers to the standard of your
country. l was once politician, but so help
me God, l will never sheathe my
sword for courtly halls or civil hopors until
my country is saved from the bloody tornado
which is desolating the fairest land on earth
never until the old flag floats it triumph from
every hill top on Columbia's soil. These are
my politics, and all there is in the army at
jackson. Indeed, l am surprised to hear
men talking of anything else
Your country calls for aid, and it needs it
now. 1t will accept voluntary assistance if
it can get it if not, men will be forced into
the ranks There are many easons why
men do not 60 to var, and very few why
some men should not 90. Frivolous reasons
are often given for not volunteering, but the
most powe, full reason is, they do not aoant TO
90! When | hear a man say he will go only
with certain man, or in certain company
or regiment, or that he will not 60 into an Old
regiment, or that he will not 60 without an
office, l feel sure their is something wrong
in that mans heart. He don't love his coun-
try as he should. Your country needs you
now worse than at any other time, and if you
want to 60 into the service you can find no
better or more honorable place than an old
regiment. Why object to filling the place Of
the brave boys who fell at Belmont, Donelson,
or Shiloh, whose bodies sleep in soil contain
mated by the footsteps ofrebels. In sickness
or in health, in the camp or in the battle
field, the best place for the young soldier is by
the side of the veteran.
| But there are some who say, L can't GO
| this is war to free the niggers" This
charge is not worth attention but. although
no such object is contemplated in the prose
cution of this war. yet the negroes are getting
free pretty fast 1t is not done by the army.
but they are freeing themselves, and if this
war continues five years not slave will be
left in the South. Now, let me say to those
who arc anxious about the interests of slavery
if you wish slavery to continue, join the army
and help us to whip out the rebels quick.
and there will probably be few old stumps
left; if not then slavery must 60. Now, my
principles on this question are, if the master
is engaged in the attempt to overthrow this
Government, take the lives of our people
and desclate our homes, and the slave gets
free, it's none of my business. 1t is family
quarrel in which shall not interfere. If the
question was presented to me as to which
should live, the Union or slavery, would say
the Union with my latest breath. The Uni"n
is worth everything If the sacrifice Of q
million OF men was necessary to the sal.
vation of this Government, and nothing Else
would save it, and was the arbiter of its
destinies. would consign the million to death
I-and die with them
am for vigorous prosecution of the war
Ito do this we must have men, and thousands
of them. If necessary, would call out every
able.bodied man in the loyal States-turn the
Government over to our mothers, wives and
daughters. would give those who wanted
to 60 an opportunity, and those who did moi
, want to 60, l would make an opportunity fol
them. would make them fight for theGovern
! mont Iwould stretch an army from theAtlan
tic to the Rocky Mountains, and with fixed bay