Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-04-17
SPEECH OF
Cen. Garfield In Connecticut

L uO OCuCA al o HACoCACO was udllbN
with great enthusiasm. He commenc
ed by saying that he did not feel tha
his presence there required any apollo
gy; for, in every New England State
as we'll as in his own State of Ohio, the
National questions of the day were the
living questions-of the hour, and Ger
tainly IN the present issue in Connect
cut, the most vital questions were o.
national character. We have triumph
ed in the war; we must triumph nov
and always, until the great work of re
generation is completed. He congratu
lated his hearers upon their excellent
choice of Col. Demming as their candi
date for that District in Congress; and
then quoted from the speech which
had been made by Mr.. Hubbard, there
in that very hall, few days before
Mr.. Hubbard said that one-half of the
States eauslessly and cruelty endeavor
ed to break up the Union, and inaugu
rated q fruitlessly cruel war; and il
this the speaker was very happy K
agree with him. Everybody else in
the Union party would be happy tC
agree in such sweeping denunciation
The Democratic party had not admit
ted it one year ago; and he was glad
to see their advancement in the right
direction. He also agreed with Mr.
Hubbard when the latter thanked
God that the cursed system of AmeTi
can Slavery had been utterly and for
ever oTerthrown in this country throi
the progress of the war for the Union
After such admissions, it would seem
almost impossible that the speaker
should differ with him who gave them
Inference in any portion of his speech;
but was surprised to see that the sec
ond portion of that speech was made
in another spirit and for another pur-
pose. Now that the war is over, it be-
hooVes US to take up the good work
where the war left it off. There never
was a war worthy of the name, which
was not battle of ideas. Take our
own Revolutionary struggle, in which
King George was possessed of the idea
that he had the Divine right of being
our King. appointing our Governors
for us, and making our laws. But the
people in these New England States
that they alone had the
right to make their laws and govern
themselves and for seven years eveFy
American gun was loaded to the muZ-
lie with ideas, until at last we were
rec. Cheers. The last was likewise
/ war of ideas. There were two cham
oions on each side. The first rebel
champion was SlaVery-the idea that
ilavery was Divine institution-that
hey possessed the Divine right of
holding portion of their men in bon
lage. Their second champion was
State Sovereignty-the idea that each
'tate was sovereign in itself-that
very man owned his allegiance to his
tate first and to the Union afterwards.
We also sent out two champions. The
irst was Liberty, the second was the
Union. [Great applause. Against Sla--
cry we arrayed liberty, against Seces-
ion, Union. We fought the war
through, and our champions killed
heirs. Applause We claimed that to
he conquerors belong the spoils.-I
Cheers During the last three years
he whole struggle has been to bury
he dead bodies of the slain champi-
ms, Slavery and Secession. (Applause.
he speaker wished to make a legal
rgument. The gentleman he had
efore quoted says: "If the Rebellion
; not over. the act of reconstruction is
Constitutional and just; if the Rebel
ion is over, then the act of reconstruc-
ion is not constitutional and just" ."-l
Iut such modes of argument, it would
q as Just to say that if he had a debt
D pay it, would be constitutional to
svy txes, but otherwise not. To quote |
fr. Hubbard further; There can be
o such State as Rebel State. A man
an commit treason, but State cannot;
nerefore all acts of Congress for re-
obstruction of the Rebel States are |
unconstitutional and unjust" Gen.
arfield remarked that with equal JUS
ce the crime of murder could be ex-
used. And if he met a man in the
rect who had just committed murder
nd that man should say to him l have
OF committed murder, for the laws
,rbid murder, he would reply, "But
on have committed murder, for there
es the murdered man." Those States
1mmitted treason. They deliberately
SOLVED to withdraw their representa-
yes from Congress, abolished every
ederal officer in the Rebel States, and
1rned every new stolen gun against
le Union. Whether lawful or unlaw-
u, the treason was cemmitted, both
Y States and individuals. We over.
helmed them by the might of our
rms, aud utterly. destroy their Rebel
Now, were they in the
nion or out2 The speaker would
erify his position out of the mouth of
ndrew johnson himself. On the 29th
May lS65-only few days after the
eplorable accident, nay, the horrible
.ime, which made him Chief Magis-
ate-Andrew johnson, in his procla-
Istion referring to North Carolina aud
her States, said: Whereas, the Re-
sllion, in its revolutionary progress,
IS deprived the State of North Caro-
na of all civil government, therefore,
Andrew johnson, proclaim, etc.
CIC 10 AA5tAACt dNOHdl lLldb 1dob
stage of State Governments was
7ept away in all those eleven rebel
ates. There was not the smallest
ice that had not been held by a rebel, i
ID since the rebel authority has been
terly swept away, the rebel officers
Il. There was no Governor, no Legis- !
ture, no Judge, no constable and no
an had the right to act as such.-
hat was to be donel The Constitu-
IN of the United States had provided !
r such contingency.
''The United States shall guarantee
every state in the Union a republi- '
n form of Government" If, by any {
ime, these States shall destroy their {
there is power author
ng 10 rebuild, to reconstruct" and c
at power Is the United Statesl-
pplause. Who is the United States 7 I
very humble individual" from Ten
ssee declared from the portals of the $
hite House, lam the United StatesY f
Louis XIV once said, 8
he State, that is l." but under this L
spotic rule, and in his age, the as ?
'tion was less absurd than now and il
re. We have been taught in a diff p
ent School. The people of the Uni 9
States are soVereipps and thew II