Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-08-09
NORTHERN ALLIES OF REBELS.
Speech Of General John A. Logan, In
the House Of Representatives, In Re-
ply to Mr.. Robinson, Of New York.

0V0ItN W 00H9fas ssuH ~ At0eHf w
the House Of Representatives, In Re-
ply to Mr.. Robinson, Of New York.
While the House Of Representatives
was considering the supplementary Re.
construction bill, Mr. Robinson, a Copper.
head member from Brooklyn, New York
made speech Of fulsome eulogy, both oi
the President aud the guilty rebels in the
South, and denunciation Of Congress
General John A. Logan, Of Illinois, re,
piled TO him In speech Of great force and
'eloquence, OF which the following extracts
will furnish good idea.
The following description Of the i'm
preston made by Gen. Logans speech,
and fine portrait Of the General himself, is
from q letter by tho Washington cores
,pondent Of the Worcester Mass Spy.
Gen Logan took tho floor. We had
for the next hour an impassioned dccla-
nation and defense Of tho majority OF
Congress, which set the blood dancing as
one listened, but which cannot be criti-
cised or described when the magnetic glow
has passed, through whose influence the
pulses rung 10 wild music, and every
nerve tingled with contagious enthusiasm.
Logan may not always bo compact OF
words; always elegant in construction Of
sentences, but there he stands, born or
ator. living near the popular heart. feeling
its tumultuous passion coursing through
his own veins, aud interpreting its earn
est thought Ia n food of speech which
sways men rs the wind does the summer
grass, or as often like the tornado rushing
through tbs forest aud crushing among
the boughs. Logan, with moro culture,
would be a great orator. Logan, as ho Is,
l. spopular one. whose words sway great
masses, and the fire of whose eye, tho
flame of whose voice will make men fol.
low 10 great deeds--whether II be at the
polls or on the battlefield. have a pic.
turc Of General Logan In my mind. MS he
appeared once when the tide Of battle
surged heavily against bis divisions front,
when the guns oil the enemy moved great
gaps In It's ranks, and when tho brave
boys wavered aud shook In that hollish
storm; I eau soc tho General es he up.
pearcd dashing down the front of that line
bare-headed, the flowing black hair foam.
lug back like a neat plume, with waving
sword high overhead, with eyes that fairly
flushed, aud appealing voice that ruug all
above the thunder Of artillery, the scream
of shell. aud the dull "thud' Of tho bat.
ties roar, and the line Strengthened, the
men cheered, the bayonets surged forward,
aud the enemy were swept back from the
''eoign Of vantage" gained but n moment
before. That picture is supplemented by
that orator, defining the service rendered
then; rebuking the apolosists for treason
then aud now, and hurling back, in words
that were "half battles" tho same grand
aud defiant radicalism which was shaping
itself in the bloody days ut Shiloh, aud
which makes sacred the sacrifices ut Pitts.
hurg Landing. All | can say is summed
up In the camp vcrnacular, "Bully for
John A. Logan"
THE SPEECH.
MR SPEAKER: IL was not my inten
ton TO have taken any part in this debate,
but ! cannot aet my own consent TO sit
aad listen quietly any longer TO such ex-
'raordinary speeches as have again aud
again been pronounced on this floor with.
iu the last few days. If the wisdom of
the policy Of excluding FROM n represen.
tation In this Hall the South had ever
cost me doubt, it could never again cost
me another. More earnest advocates Of
their political theories, and more eloquent
spologists for their darkest crimes, trait.
ers have not in the South or elsewhe
than they have here. A resolution blot
ting out the Constitutions of the United
States and OF the respective States is rec-
ommendsdby one gentleman, who evident
ly means thereby to intimate that in his
opinion, at least, this House had already
destroyed everything like fundan entail
law in the land, and trampled rutfilessly
in the dust the liberties of the people.
Mn. ELpRIDoE. That is what | thought
and what meant.
Mr.. LOGAN. so understood the gen.
tleman, and the thought occurred to me
Mt the time, sir, that il was strange indeed
passing strange, that the gentleman did
not discover during those four fearful
years Of blood and carnage through which
the true friends of humanity, liberty, the
Constitution aud the Union had to pass
to deliver them from impending destruc-
tion who il was assailing them then. Why
did 1t not occur to the gentleman, when
mighty armies Of brave men, commanded
by skillful generals, we're lowering in
menacing attitude around this devoted
city, spurning our country's flag mocking
our patriotic professions, insulting loyal
citizens, Ignoring private rights, and per-
petrating public outrages. that the Con.
stitution, the Union and liberty were in
danger then? Why does the gentleman
wait until the war is over, the Constitu-
tion is no longer in peril, and those who
stood fast and firm near it and by it, when
Its banner was streaming on the breeze OF
battle, are attempting to devise the most
practicable aud polite means to restore
at the earliest moment TO this whole land
permanent and healthful tranquility and
prosperity? Why does he wait for such q
moment TO announce the startling discov-
cry that our Constitution is threatened
and liberty is in peril3
Is il not strange, / repeat, tnat the same
gentlemen who are so easily alarmed now
about the peris that compass about the
Constitution Of the country and the liber
ties Of the people, while peace is benignly
smiling upon us. saw no terror nor threat
IN the glitter Of bayonets or the frown ol
batteries when our beloved land was
swarmiug with millions of open enemies
and the earth was trembling under the
maftial tread of serried hosts and the