Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1864-02-27
WHOLE NUMBER 739.

where they have seen its maIevoIence. its
baleful effects upon the country and the
Union, and they demand that 1t shall be-
swept away. never expected to dicuss
the demerits Of slavery again for deem il
unnecessary. The fat has gone forth. and
it is dead unless the body snatchers on the
other side Of this House shall resurreot IL
and give it galvanic life
Mn CHANLER. Will the gentleman
yield TO me;
Mr.. GARFIELD. must decline TO weld.
Mr. CHANDLER You asked question
Of this side Of the House aud / merely de.
sired to answer you.
Mr. GARFIELD You NAV say TO mo
that slavery is divine institotion, you NAV
prove TO your own satisfaction from the
word Of G cd, prehaps, that slavery is
beneicient institution; will say to you
that all this may be entirely satisfactory to
your mind, but your beloved friend, slavery.
is no more. This is world of bereavements
and changes, and ! announce to You that
your friend has departed. Hang the drs-
perry of mourning on the hieri Go in long
and solemn procession after the hearse II
You please, aud shed your tears of sorrow
over the grave. but life is too short TO waste
an hour 10 listening to your fearful euloey
over the deceased.
come now to consider another point In
this question. l hold it as q settled truth
that the leaders of this rebellion can ne yer
live 10 peace in this Republic. | do not
say it in any spirit Of vindictiveuess but as
matter OF conviction. Ask the men who
have seen them and met them in the dark.
ness of battle and all the rigors of warfare.
they will tell you it can never be. / make.
OF course. an exception 10 favor of that sad
array Of men who have been forced or CA,
joled by their leaders into the ranks and
subordinate Offices Of the rebel army. 7
believe q truce could be stuck to day be.
tween the rank aud ie of the hostile arm,
les. believe they could meet and shake
hands joyfully over returning peace, each
respecting the courage and manhood of the
other. But for the wicked men who brought
on this rebellion, for tbe wicked men who
led otherP into the darkness, such day can
never come. Ask the representatives of
Kentucky upon this floor, who know that
the rebellion has been in their State. who
know the violence and devastation that has
swept over it, and they will tell Won that
all over that State neigbbor has been
slaughtered by neighber, feuds 6erce as
human hate can make them have sprung
up. and so long as revenge has an arm to
strike, its blows will never cease to ba
struck, 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. If you would not uaupurate an
exterminating warfare. to contnue while
you and aud our children and childreu's
children live, set it down at once that the
leaders of this rebellion must be executed
or banished from the Republic. They must
follow the fate of the Tories of the Reyolu.
ton.
belive. Mr.. Speaker, that the Army is
unit on these great questions; and I
must here be permitted to quote from one
of natures noblemeD. a man from Virginia.
with the pride of the Old Dominion in bis
blood, but who could not be seduced from
his patriotism-one who, amid the storm of
war that surged against him at Ohickham.
auga, stood firm as rock in the sea-
George III. Thomas. That man wrote a
communication to the Secretary of War
nearly year ago, saying, in substance, for
quote from memory, send you the en-
closed paper from subordinate officer; I
endorse its sentiments, end / will add, that
we can never make solid progress against
the rebellion until we take more sweeping
and severe measures; we must make these
people feel the rgors of wor, subsist our
Army upon them, and leave their country
so that there will be little in it for them to
desire. Thus spoke man who is very far
! from being what gentlemen upon the other
side of the House are pleased to. call an
abolitionist. or a northern fanatic, and in
saying this he spoke the voice ofthe Army.
| Mr.. Speaker. am surprised and amazed be-
| yond measure at what l have seen 10 this
| House. Having been so long with men who
had but one thought upon these great themes.
it is passing strange 10 me to hear men talking
of the old issues and discussions of four years
ago. They forget that sometimes nation. may
live 10 actions more than 10 years. They forget
that sometimes nation may live q generation
in single year; that the experience Of the last
three years has been greater than that of cen
turtles of quiet aad peace. They do not seem
to realize that we are at war They do not
seem to realize this is a struggle for existence;
a terrible fight of flint with Rint bayonst with
bayonet, blood for blood. They still retain
/ some hope that they can smile rebellion into
peace. They use terms strangely. In these
| modern days words have lost their Significance.
II man steals his thousands from the 1rensu-
~, he is not thief; oh, noi he is "defauter.
: II man hang shackles on the limbs Of q hu-
! man being and drives him through life as q
slave it is not manstealing. it is not even sla.
very, it is only "another form Of cyilizatian.
We are usog words in that strange Way
There are public journals 10 New York city. I
am told that never caA this rebellion--it is
$ only "ciyil commotion" "fraternal strife
q 1t was described more vigorously 10 this Cham
e Der few days ago as "an inhumsn crusade
D against the South" l had thought the days
n of "southeTu brethren" and "wayward sisters
a had gone by, bat find il here in the high noon
! of its glory ooe would suppose from all We
hear that war is gentle and graceful exercise. TO
s be INDUCED in in quiet and pleasant manner.
Q l have lately seen q stanza from the nursery
S rymes Of England which | commend TO thess
! gentle hearted patriots who propose to put
d down the rebellion with soft words and Papsl
q resolutions;
D eIhsre was an old man who said, how
lel Shall Zee tom this horri0ls eOwf
u Iwlll At on the stle
d And continue 20 smile,
which may soften the heart ef this ooNL"
y tell you. gentlemen. the heart OF thi