The weekly union record., 1864-03-12
Great Speech of Gen. Garfield before the
House of Representatives---the 1nflu-
ence ofthe Army in Politics.

We call attention TO an extract from the
great speech recently delivered in Congress By
Gen. Garfield He was chief Of Staff of the
Army of the Tennessee during the whole of
last years campaign. aud gained the confidence
and love of the soldiers, and distinction as q
humane. discreet and heroic officer. He re-
signed this position. to take bis seat 10 Con-
gress, as representative from Ohio. The ex-
tract speaks for itself:
hold it as q settled truth that the leaders
in this rebellion can never live in peace in this
republic. do not say it in spirit of viDdic-
tiyeness, but as a matter of conviction. Ask
the men who have seen them and met them in
the darkness of battle and all the rigors OF war
fare they will tell you it can never be. !
make OF course, 40 exception in favor of that
sad array OF men who have been forced or Ca
joed by their leade6s into the ranks and SUBJ
ordinate Offices Of the rebel army. believe q
truce could be struck TO day between the rank
and file of the hostile armies. | believe they
could meet and shake hands together joyfully
over returning peace. respecting their mutual
courage and manhood But for the wicked
men who brought on this rebellion, for the
wicked men who led them into the darkness,
such day can never come. Ask the Repre-
sentaiives of Kentucky upon this floor, who
know what the rebellion has been in their
State, who know the violence and devastation
that has swept over it. ard they will tell you
that all over the State neigh has been
slaughtered by neighbor, fueds fierce as human
hate can make them have sprung up, and so
long as revenge has 40 arm to strike they will
never cease TO strike if such men come back TO
dwell in their midst This is true of every
State over which the desolating tide of war
has swept. II you would not inaugurate an
extermlnating warfare, to continue while you
and | and our children and childrens children
live, set it down at once that the leaders of
this rebellion must be executed or banished
from this republic. They must follow the fate
of the Tories of the Revolution. believe, Mr..
Speaker, that the army is unit on these ques-
tons; and must here quote from one OF ma.
ture's nobemen, man from Virginia with the
pride of the Old Dominion 10 his blood but
who could not be seduced from bis patriotism
one who amid the storm of war that surged
against him at Chickamauga, stood firm as o
rock in the sea George Ii. Thomas. That
of war nearly year ago, saying in substance,
for quote from memory:"I send you the en-
closed paper from sub ordinate officer in-
dorse It's sentiments and | will add that we
can never make solid progress against the re-
bellion until We take more sweeping aud severe
measures; We must make these people feel the
rigors Of war-subsist our army upon them,
and leave their country so that there will be
In liz, fnr h,. =.
man who is very far from being what gentle
men on the other side of the House are pleas
ed to call an Aboitionist or a Northern fanat.
lc; and IN saying this he spoke THE VOICE
OF THE ARMY. Mr.. Speaker | am sur
prised and amazed beyond measure at what |
have seen in this House. Having been so
long with men who had but one thought upon
these great themes, 1t is passing strange to me
to hear men talking of the old issues and dis
cusslons of few years ago. They forget that
We live in actions and hot in years. They for
get that sometimes nation may live a gene
ration 10 q single year; and the experience Of
the last three years has been greater than that
of centuries of quiet and peace. There are
men who do not seem to realize that we are at
war. TheydO not seem to realizeI that this is q
struggle for existence; a terrific fight of flint
with flint, bayonet with bayonet. blood for
blood. They still retain some hope that they
can smile rebellion into peace. They use
terms strangely.
One would suppose from all VIC hear that
war is gentle and graceful exercise, to be in
dulged in quiet and pleasant manner. l
have lately seen stanza from the nursery
rhymes Of England, which commend to these
gentle bearted patriots who propose to put
down the rebellion with soft words and paper
resolutions
There was an old man who said, how
Shall flee from the horrible COW?
| will sit on the stile.
And continue to smile,
Which may soften the heart of this cow.
tell you, gentlemen, the heart of this great
rebellion cannot be softened by smiles. You
cannot send commissioners down to Richmond
as the gentleman from New York, Fernando
Woodl proposes, to smile away the horrible
facts of this war. Not by smiles but by thun-
derlng voies must this rebellion be met, and
by that meyns alone | am reminded of what
Macauly said in regard TO the revolution in
England. He said:
ut is because we had q persevering revolu-
tion in the seventeenth century that we have
not had destroying revolution 10 the nine
teenih. 1t is because we had freedom in the
midst of servi,ude that we have order in the
midst of anarchy. For the authority of law.
for the security Of property, for the peace of
our streets, for the happiness of onr homes, our
gratitude is due. under him who raises and puts
down nations at His pleasure, TO the Long
Parliament, to the Convention, and to William
of Orange.
Mr.. Speaker, If we want peace that is not
a hollow peace, we must follow that example
and make thorough work of this war. We
must establish freedom in the midst of servi-
tude, and the authority of war in the midst of
rebellion. We must fill the thinned ranks of
our armies, assure them that loving and
grateful people are behind them, and they will
go down against the enemy bearing with them
the majesty and might of great nation. We
must follow the march of the army with a law
that will sweep away the cause of the whole
terrible revolution. The war began by proc
lamation, and it must end by proclamation.
We can hold the insurgent States in military
subsection half century, if need be, or until
they are purCed of their dross and poison, and