The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1865-08-15
John A. Logan on slavery.

Friday evening last. Its purpose was {
TO convince the people Of Kentucky /
that they ought to elect alegislature O
that will ratify the and-slavery amend b
mcnt to the Federal constitution. we r
make room for the eloquent concluslonI j
According to the views entertain I
of the obligations the government has '
incurred towards this benighted race,
they now stand. We found them c
slaves, and made them free men. We
found them in q state of harbarous
ignorance, living redardless OF all laws,
human or divine, in open and notorious
concubinage. Is it not our solnmn du-
w, as Christians, to enlighton them, TO
din them at least seven times in the
Jordan of civilization? This duty, IT {
recognized, implies the necessity OF
universal emancipation in all sections
At the same time, in order that the Leg
islaiion on this subject may be general
and indiscriminate, thorough and UNI
yersal. 1t i. idle to talk about making
two bites of such cherry, of doing
such job as this by piecemeal: l am
aware, it is urged, with no little vehe-
mence, that it is iniquitously unjust to
take from man his property, without
rendering him for it an adequate com,
ncnsion. 1t has been an immemorial
usage among all the civilized nations OF
the earth to sacrifice any and every in |
tere,t of the individual whenever the
nublic welfare demands it. The whln- |
inc sycophant who would confess him
self ignorant of this great and long-set-
tied principle of political economy,
: would sink below contempt. The
trutb is. itlwas rather a bad piece OF
luck to have much capital invested IN
slave property; but they had four years
warning to git rid of it, and, not having
needed it, they will have the bill to
foot. But, fellow-citizens, you must
allow me to express profound surprise
at the tenacity with which some people
still cling TO this peculiar institution. i
have now in my mind'se eye a venerable
. sire, who, when this revolution COM
menced, rejoiced in the possession OF
: IT They all entered the army. His
: neichbor's sons many of them have re-
l turned. but his came not. Where are
r thcy2 They went down amid the
storm of battle, to rise no moro on
G earth. The sod of the valley is green
tonight DER their lonely pillows, and
be is left GSo Rachael of old, to weep
for her children because they gre not;
}. The songs nc heard so oft in days
gone by on their warm lips, fall harsh,
" and cruelty now upon his shattered
=. heart strings, as the same words come
, however musically, from the lips OF the
:. stranger. Sorrow broods with miser
% care on every hour of his sad life
h Now why is all this? The war caused
:. 1.-THE institution ofslavcry did 1T. IL
= caused this terrible aud flatricidal war
y II caused that grayheaded father, as h,
Z bcnt for five times with bated breatl
/; on the bulletin board, or the long lis
y. ofkilcd and wounded in the telegraphl
~ reports. to find each time name unut
a terably precious to him, whose face n
n is never to see again. Is it possible h
Il. atill clings to this death's-hcad AM
ke cross-bones? -. >.
on 1t has filed the cup Of life wit
IN tribulation's bittcrest dregs to the brir
ve for him. How can it be possible tha
wa now. because he happens TO own fe'
10 slaves, he still oleaves to this same II
nd ,,i,ution? 1t is the mildew that ha
IN. bliphted and blasted every green spes
as of grass in the garden ofhis life. Ho
n can it be possible that man can still q,
,p. sire to hug it to the heart it has brol
70 70 emp lad it cost me hut one bray
INT bov. ! would devote my heart, so
, n and body TO it utter ann'hlatlon..
in. would wage against it an unrelentrr
in, war. a war of determination.
10. Our landis swarming with thousan'
a of cripplcs; some have lost legs al
others arms; why do not these men
mo abroad among the people and hold
,yc their shattered limbs and tell the slaN
mo holder: "This is what your instltuti
gof has cost me-. While you were baski
no, in the sunshine of safety athome, | W
,rc. at the front. When slavery took 7
.r.n form of armed rebellion, and soldit
were called into the field to put 1t do"
.r YOU found irresistible destinations
the attractions of home. i did my,
H;ap ty. l return now to my home to Or
sn' ont. through a few lingering years
miserable life, but mock me not,
,.n do, in Heavens name, implore you
ill., ,T : stop this eternal parade before my az
Wv inc eyes of this most odiousjnstitutio'
,ro o, that l had the power tonight
\ | - bring together all the shareholders
,nn IN this land, and have them look on
w., w., solemn silence, while the crippled.
~ widows and the orphans, that hi
~ been made in this war could pass
;. I'D \ fore them in grand review and tell ii
.'n ""u tales of misery and woe that siav
"u1Ss ,S has brought upon them; were u
a ,ta, hearts not made of stone, they wo
'or, .mnv melt while gazing on such scene, .
~ Nv with one voice let the land be at o
"a ~ rid of the curse that has cansed sue
" "' scene. But, suppose we have 10
r sonal grievances over which to mo'
let it cast one eye down the bank.
r. the mighty father of waters, and I
from returning, start again at Pcrryville.,
he'd, glance along that broad udc OF pa
bepn rolled through the gorges OF the y
,n.-- bcrland and down along the PLAIN
state Georgia, to the sea. Then pursu,
worth around through the Carolians,. to
cents cigh, and all over the crimsoned SO
ce.-- Virginia, and as you count the ain
only countless gravhs that lie all long
It the banks of that river Of blood, thic
}. il aautumn leaves in Vallambros