Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-07-18


deeds which they performed in violation
of sacred right, in violation of liberty,
and against the greatest people and great
est country that God ever prepared to
dispense the elements of government,
knowledge and Christianity throughout
the world. As it was in former so in lat
ter times. The conduct of the loyal peo-
pie of this country contrasted with the
conduct of these traitors who concocted
treason and attempted to destroy our
Government,was a sight worthy to be con-
templated. Upon our Southern borders
we saw treason and traitors in black gar
ments-in robes of death. We saw them
with fendish look, indicative of a desire
to perform the most atrocious deeds that
slen could ever conceive, threatening to
deluge this land with blood and desola-
ton, with war and with famine.
THE PUNISHMENT OF TREASON.
Setting out in vivid contrast to the per-
fidy of the secession leaders, the noble
patriotism of the North, Gen. Logan said:
This day belongs to loyel men. This day
then being set apart for loyal men, loyal
men have right to talk to whomsoever
has mind to listen upon the questions
of the day.
Fellow-citizens, there are questions to
be decided by the people of this country
that have grown out of this rebellion,
and there is no better day to talk about
these questions than the day on which
we celebrate our National independence.
When we were prosecuting this war
against the traitors of this land, think
it was said then by loyal men every
where that treason must be made odious
and traitors punished. (Cheers.) l be-
lieve it was said by all loyal men that
traitors property must be confscated,
that they might learn the measure Of
their crimes. | believe it was said that
traitors had forfeited all their rights, civ
il and political, that they had acquired
under the Constitution of the the United
States, and that these rights could never
be enjoyed by them until the people of
the United States should restore them
to their privileges, rights and immunities
that they had lost by reason of their
treason. If l am correct in this, then l
see no reason for US to change our posi-
ton now. l see no reason why treason
should not be as odious in our eyes to-
day as it was three or FIVE years ago.
Fellow citizens, there is at this time an
attempt to press traitors forward, and to
make treason respectable.
l am one who believes that treason for
feits not only human life under our Con-
but all rights, civil and polite
al. Cheers. If that be the case, then
traitors have not only forfeited their right
to life, but their right to their property.
We may not take either unless we desire
so to do
Perhaps it would be best not to do so.
l will not say as to that; but so far as the
law is concerned, we have the right legal
ly to do it. [Cheers.I What else did
they forfeit? Their right to hold
Office, their right to vote, and their right
to representation in Congress. These are
rights that belong to the people, and
when majority of the people of the re-
bellious States committed treason, they
the right of representation in
Congress as well as all others. And un-
til that right is restored they have no
right to representation l care not who
the man is who takes the contrary posi-
ton, or what position he may occupy in
the Government. Cheers.
Would you have believed two years
ago when man declared that treason
must be made odious and traitors punish
sd-that they must be IMPOVERISHED and
their property distributed among the 10y
Al people-could you have believed that
that man, under that declaration, then
thought that they were entitled to rep
in Congress? If he did he
had very strange way of expressing him.
self. daughter and great cheering.)
RECONSTRUCTION.
Fellow citizens: The restoration of this
country is the work of loyal men, and not
5he work of traitors. And while the 10y
Il men are engaged in performing this
work, they must say to those traitors,
we intend to confer these rights on you
lgain whenever we choose to do so.-l
Great cheering.) 1t is not for you to
specify the time, but it is for US. We
nave the right, and you have no choice
n the matter" loud cheers.l
But it is said inasmuch as these States
nave been recognized, and some of them
nave acted on certain subjects, that they
ire fully restored. Fellow citizens, that
s very grave mistake. They are resto-
ed so far as the act that they performed
5 recognized and no further. They have
ion that has been recognized by our Gov
as lawful: whether it was lawful
It the inception or not, by the recogni- |
ion we made it lawful. Hence the only |
.cts they can perform are such as we rec
'gnize and render lawful by our recogni-
ion.
But some of the opposition say, why, if |
-ou do not allow these people to be rep
one half of the Union is unrep- |
esented, and the laws that you pass in
congress are unconstitutional. Laugh
er.) Well, presume, upon the same
all the laws we passed during
he war were unconstitutional because
eft. Davis and that part of the country
Ihich he claimed was not represented =
These people left Congress without
nybody requiring them to do so. They
eclined to be represented for four years;
ut the very moment they laid down
heir arms, they say, "Why, we are mem
ers of Congress" They want the for
ign missions to be distributed among the
people, and the Southern peo-
lie want their rights. They talk about
heir rights" [Laughter.l Well, so
lSHl uOIse Gnlel, dI the very Time ne lS
eing tried before the Judge, and after
he proof has been given, and it has been
lown that he stole the horse, he might
~, Judge l want my rights" The
udge might say, "My dear friend, you
i'll get them in a very few minutes. 1
hing the jury will send you to the PEN
entiary for about twenty years.
Laughter and cheers. But they want
leir rights-rights that they forfeited,
nat they are not entitled to-rights that
y their own acts of treason they deprived
of. They claim the protec-
on of the Government, although they
eied its authority by their acts, and
st all the rights they had; and now, in
cad of marching up with a pardon in
ne pocket and a certificate of election
/ the other, and demanding what they {
IL their rights, what ought they to dor {
hey ought to be on their knees and i'm
oring this great and glorious Govern
ent to be magnanimous toward them,
Id to bestoW the clemency upon them
lat our gallant, faithful, honest Abra-
I'M Lincoln offered them over and over
,ain, and they as often declined. Loud
leers.
So, my fellow citizens, 1, so far as am j