The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-02-08

civil officer of the government underline con- |
stitution ?" By this time quite a group had
collected where the eolloquy was being held;
and Thad. Stevens, seeming breeze had
come over to avert the storm. Addressing
him, Bingham asked what was the meaning
of this damnable assault upon Gen. Grant
"Oh, nothing said Stevens in his insldlous
way, only we want to investigate some
charges RECENTLY made against him. | don't
see whv Grant should be free from investlga-
ton any more than Johnson. He's just as
bad as johnson" Bingham again denounc-
ed what he termed very apty "a foul con-
spiracy against the chief officer of the army
of the Republic" and he gave the few trends
of the resolution who We're around him falr
| warning that if they pressed it, he should eX-
pose the cowardly proceeding as 1t deserved:
| Ry this time the resolution had "gone over"
as the parliamentary phrase is, from aretusal
Of the house to suspend the rules. Qulet
had been restored on the floor, and the busl'
ness of the day was quietly proceeding
| Bingham addressed Ashley, in presence OF
| several members, in language like TINS =
| aTell the honest truth now, who insngated
that resolution - .'Why, what makes you
think it wasn't my own p inquired Ashley
Because said Bingham, II know there is
too much cunning in it for you, ana IL bet
YOU ANYTHING YOU dare that Ihad. stevens
and Ben. Butler either wrote 1t or dictated It's
spirit" Ashley again protested against
| Bingham's right to question the authorship
and Bingham again repeated that there was
too much craft and design about It for any
| hodv bnt Stevens or Butler. What from
Bingham's earnestness and Ashley family
d;sgn;sed eauisocation, the dispute had be
|
radical members had collected around the
disnntants. After some further bantering
and badgering. on Bingham,s part, Ashley
confessed that Stevens had little to do witt
! It and Butler had a little to do with it, anC
that one of its principal objects was to give
Butler an opportunity of making and prov
ing certain charges against Gen. Grant"
Now this is no story of the Imagination
It is a statement of fact, given to me by on
who was witness to it, and substantiated b.
others. I heard it some time ago, but look
ed upon it as so improbable upon ITS fac'
that I declined to print it until | had 1t VEN
fed from such a source would leave M
5onbt of its accuracy. Here we have tn
would-be leaders of the radical party engaged
in the foulest, most malignant and mos
treacherous assault that the ingenuity of dey
lis could invent against the man to who's
| valor and genius we owe the existence o
the nation to-day. A committee of congress
is asked to inquire whether General ulysse
5. Grant has been engaged IN conspirac
to subvert the government Ii the reade
can think of ANYTHING more findish in its con
= ception. or more 7cowardly in its purpose, hi
reading must date back of the ,mest icer
tious DAYS of Roman history, when, even j
: the midst OF assassination plots aud blood
conspiracy the hfc and reputation of a brav
soldier was secure. And such crimes a
these are committed in the American COZ
gress. aud that, too, in the name of loyalty
, He who denounces them is "disloyal,' c
r what in the mind of these radical assassin
is the same thing, a conservative.
| Just here | cannot forbear quoting trol
: init SIare,u Standard an extract from
letter published in that journal with grei
t ecJGt, showing at least surface indications
= | this conspiracy against the countrys h
4 | TO -
Il was ashamed when heard leading men di
{ cuss-What would General tirant do when
: question under debate was whether the Preside'
% | should be impeaehed. Do? Who cares for hi
:, or any other one man in Chrstendom Do
| any one suppose that this mighty nation, whi
: hides million of bronzed heroes under the fol-
| of its mantle, win consent to be banked in al
e purpose by any tailor. or tanner, or despat
G tinker, soldier aligeI breath can unIna
: them as breath has made"
Is the party that now accuses Gener
Grant Of engaging in a conspiracy TO subve
y the government the same party formed $
wears ago by the union of fragments from
= parties of the country welded together by Il
A cohesive power of a common danger and
| common purpose? 1t is hard to believe
but if it is, it is high time it was dissolve
for it certainly has outgrown Its usetulne
- vurIurIuptIDIe anu uasIaruIy business indie
ted in the proposition / reter 60 Ir =
.-Union'' party has degenerated into a &C
spiracy to destroy the men to whom the i
ton owes its life. the sooner it is swept out
existence the better Mr.. Bingham desery
the appreciation of all true men for his tin
= IL intercession to avert an act the shghte
mischief done by which would have been t
disgrace of the men who participated in
Of for in their disgrace the whole American pc
I'd pie would have been involved in the ewes
Of the civilized world.
y But after all, though there is room for
Is nunciation and cause for wrath in the id
Is of Butler and Ashley charging Grant with
e conspiracy to subvert the government, Isl
N there, on the whole, more temptation TO
t good laugh?
he Rebel 0bseuuieS Prevented.