The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-04-22
Remarks Of Mr.. Garfield in Reply to
Mr., Long, in the House Of Represent.
atives, April 9th, 1884.

you would direct The Sergeant at Arms 10
bring white flag. and plant i, in the aisle
between myself and my colleague who has
just addressed you.
/ recollec', on one. occasion, when two
great armies stood face 10 face, tha, under
a white flag just planted, approached a
company Of men dressed in the uniform oI
he rebel confederacy, and reached out
my hand 10 one OF the number, and told
him respected him as a brave man.
Though be wore the emblems Of disloy-
atty and treason, still under bis vestmen,s
l beheld brave and honest soul.
1 would reproduce that scene here this
afternoon. l say, Were there such a flag
OF lruce-but God forgive if / should do
IT under any other circumstances IL
would reach out this right hand, and ask
that gentleman TO take it; because honor
his bravery and honesty. l believe what
has just fallen from his lips is the honest
sentiment OF his heart. and in uttering /,
he has opened new epoch in the history
OF this war he has done new thing un.
der the sun be has done brave thing
II is braver than to face cannon and mus
kerry, and honor him for his candor and
lrankness.
But now | ask you 10 take away th.
flag OF truce and 1 will 60 back into the
Union lines, and speak Of what he he.
done. i am reminded by it OF distin
guished character in Paradise Lost
When he had rebelled against the glory
OF God, aud "led away the third part O
Heavens Sons, coDjured against the
Highest" when, after terrible battles il
which mountains and hills were hurled by
each contendipg hos. "wi,h jaculaticnf
dire )" when at last the leader and bis
hosts we've hurled down "nine times The
space that measures night and day." and
after the terrible fall lay stretched prone
on the burning lake, Satan lifted up hi,
shattered bulk, crossed the abyss, look et
down into paradise, and, soliloquizing
said /:
(which way fly is he'll +; myself am hell"
II seems TO me in that utterance he ex
pressed the very sentiment to which 20,
have Just listened ; uttered by one no les
brave, malign and fallen. This maj
gathers up the meaning Of this great con
test, the philosophy Of the moment, th
prophecies OF the hour, and, in sight O
the paradise Of victors and peace, utter
them all in this wall Of terrible despair
(Which way l fly is HE'LL" He ought t.
add, "Myself am hell"
Mr.. Chairman, / am reminded of two
characters in the war Of the Revolution, q
compared with two others in the war o
TO- day.
The first was Lord Fairfax, who dwell
near the Potomac, a few miles from u.s.
When the great contest was opened be
tween the mother country and the colo
nies, Lord Fairfax, after protracte,
struggle with his own heart, dec ided tha
he must SO with the mother country. H
gathered his mantle about him, and wen
over, grandly, solemnly and impressively
and joined the fortunes of Great Bri!ai
against the home of his adoption.
But there was another man who cast i
his lot with the struggling colonies, ant
continued with them until the war wa
well nigh ended. But, in a day Of dark
ness, which just preceded the glory Of th
morning, that other man, deep down il
the damned pits Of his black heart, haichet
the treason to surrender forever al! tina
had been gained TO- the enemies of hi
country. Benedict Arnold was that man
Fairfax and Arnold find their parable
in the struggle Of to day.
When this war began, many good me
stood hesltaling and doubling what the
ought to do. Their doctrine OF Stat
rights, their sympathies, all they had eve
loved and longed for, were in the South
and, after long and painful hesitation
some of them at last went with the ent
mics OF the nation.
At that time, Robert E. Lee sat in hi
home across the river here, doubling an,
delaying, and going of at last almos
tearlully, 10 join the enemies of his coun
try. He reminds me in some respects 0
Lord Fairfax, the stately royalist of th
Revolution. .s0
But now, when hundreds OF thousand
OF brave souls have gone up to God unde
the shadow OF the flag, and when thou
sands more, MANNED and shattered in th,
contest, are sadly awaiting the deliveranc'
of death now, when three yearsof ter
rife warfare have ragged over us. whel
our armies have pushed the rebellion bacl
over mountains and rivers, and crowded i
bach into narrow limits, until wall OF firt
girds it now, when the uplilted hard Of {
majestic peopls is about 10 let fall th,
lightning OF lis conquering power upon lh'
rebellion now, in the quiet Of this Hall
hatched in the lowest depths Of simila
dark treason, there rises Benedict Ar
mold, and proposes TO surrender us all up
body and spirit, the nation and its flag
lis genius and its honor, now and forever
TO the accursed traitors TO our country
And that proposition comes-God forgive
and pity my beloved State lit comes
from citizen Of the honored and loys
Commonw wealth OF Ohio.
implore you, brethren in this. House
not TO believe that many such births ever
gave pangs TO my mother Stale, such as
she suffered when that traitor was born
Suppressed applause and sensation.
beg you not 20 believe that on the soil o
that Stale another such growth has ever
deformed the face Of nature or darkenet
tho light of Gods day. IAN audible whisper
"Vallandgham."] But. ah. l am remind
ed that there are other such. My love aut
zeal and love for Ohio have carried mo far
l retraet. remember that, only few day
since; political convention met at the cap
ital of my State, and almost decided to SO