The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-09-27

.cted. By what right oan these members OF
congress violate that constitution in their &C.
ion, whether rebels complained of it or not!
That 10 the question put to them, as Gso.
Logan did in 1861.
Again: In February, in 1867, alter the
battles in Tennessee, after McClsiians bat
Hes around Richmond, the French govern
mont came forward and offered meditation
between this government and the people In
Mr.. Seward, with the sanction oil
Mr.. Lincoln, made this reply: 1--WE do not
nasd vonr meditation at eli. The terms are
s;mnle and plain, and the rebels understand
IL. Their seats in congress stand there await |
ing them to come forward and occupy them |
Whenever they like All they have to do il
Law down their arms and send their members |
to congress, and the machinery of this gov |
ernment will 90 as before" That was the
substance of the reply to the French offer OF
M meditation in 1863, and with entire sanction
of President Lincoln. These men had at
tempted to 90 out of the Union, or had repu.
dated their representation in congress, and
we complained that they refused to exercise
that right, and made them feel the point OF
the bayonet in order to make them suocumb
That was the service we were engaged In.
II is alleged that the democratic party, on
the whole, did not give as much support to
the Union party At least 80 far as am
concerned, have given to the support of the
government, for the suppression of those reb-
els, all my powers, mental, physical, social,
and politiosl, right and left. | never with
held it. In the progress of the war, We diff
| fered as to what was the best mode OF accom-
plishing it's ends. / always told my neighbors
and fellow.citizens everywhere to sustain the
| plan adopted by Mr.. Lincoln, whatever the
| plan might be. AS q citizen of the United
| States, | owed my whole support to that gov
eminent; and it was the duty every man to
| come forward and help suppress the rebel.
| lion and that, too, in the manner prescribed
by the authorities at Washington. We could
do it no other way. Suppose the comman.
der.in.chief has issued an order for post OF
the enemy to be assaulted, and we, as soldiers
| and officers, are to make the attack as order
ed by him. If it be on the left, though my
private judgement may be that it will be dis
sstrous and ruinous. and that We shoulk at
tack on the right, | have no more right, my
friends, as a good soldier, to cay that, because
the attack ordered on the left is not the bes
in nv judgement, therefore l will not tight
No; it is my duty to fight as ordered.
Throughout the entire length and breadth
of Mr.. Lincoln's administration, while MI
policy was against my views, aud while l ex
| IL
fed, vet, in all my connections with 1t
whether relating TO raising soldiers TO
the field, or otherwise, | have done m,
part, and l can truly say, as q patrlo
and citizen, encouraged my neighoor
, to stand by the government. L left my hom
| for the field after | was so years OF age M
| oldest son took his position In the ola LUZ
= some of whom may be now within the hear
t ing of my voice That son, Cyrus, hnvin
fought by the side of the noble Gen. Raneof
Q in every battle in which Ransom was eve
: under fire. fell at Banks defeat on Red rive
f and his remains now lie In Louisiana. Nj
t youn gest boy, Is years of age, took his pos
ton right with me, first as my bugier. ii
marched by my side many day, was by m
B side In many a charge. and laid by my sid
r | often on tho wet ground; and, when Shel
: | man started towards Meridian, that boy We
] the fret man that fell wounded after crossin
!. the Big Black, and was borne back to th
r rear in the ambulance, with his arm torn wit
e a rebel bullet My son-n-law and law par
per. the noble Gen. William Il. l.. Wallace
| fell at the battle of Shiloh at the head OF b
t division, in the evening of that terrible SUI
o | day and his remains rest In our domest
| burial grounds at my home. hundreds an
Q thousands of democrats have been exposed
d | the same dangers and still sleep their la
4 things to show how IN ust the pref udice thu
8 calls in question our sentiments and love
d country. If l have any sympathy for tire
q son, may God forgive me; for have, In II
d sets, given the evidence full, broad and cCr
- plese in all parts, and | am devoted TO II
e country's welfare, and love her, however n
Q | judgement may err as to the best mode
d producing it. Cheers, l am, my friend
:, Ter the preservation of that good old const
q tuition framed by our toreiathers, and hand
: down through the hands of Clay, Webst
d and Jackson, Endorsed by them, and which
y will be at once our honor and our pride 10 han
q down as a treasure to our children, with tn
q same old flag, with a star for every state, al
= @ state for every star.
t, Our country needs rest,-reconclllatlol
,. and say, with Gen. Sherman, Before Go
10 as man and soldier, / will not strike a t
% who stands unarmed and submissive ct
,. feet, but would rather say, Go, and sin
D. more"
Of 1t is q cheap and easy thing to cultivate
'. spirit of sectional hate. 1t is Cheap, becau
!" ii is hate against those who are away. 1t
% moro difficult to cultivate forbesrsnce
IN those that have been guilty of great wror
ID and whom we believe to be great deal wei
n at heart than they really are. l want to re
We few words from that noble and magma
OF NOUS soldier, Gen. Sherman. He was call
he TO testify before the committee on the CT
ne duct of the war, and was testifying as
ty what occurred when be- and Johnston w
81 negotiating before Johnston's surrender.
ur testihes:
ng "Then a conversation arose as to wi
e. form of government they were to have in I
ts | south.
y, "Were the people there to be discover
,ir and were the people to be denied represeu
an ton in congress
n ''Of course ] said no. We desire that y
lie shall regain your position citizens of +,
m United States, free and equal to US in all
.ot spects, with representation, upon the con
~ dition of submission to the lawful authorit
n of the United States, as defined by the c.
etitution, by the United States courts. O
of the authority of the United States supper
bit by those courts"
at He said in letter to Yeatman:
ey II confess without shame that | um s
lot and tired of fighting. sIts glory is all mo
- shine. Even success the most brilliant
se over dead and mangled bodies, with the
n: guish and lsmentation of distant families
ly pealing to you for sons, husbands and ia
re- ers. You, too, have seen these things q
he / know you, also, are tired of the war, q
NJ | ora willing tn Iatt civil trihppolu raa,