Marshall County Republican., 1867-08-08
CHE 9spnblitau.
SPEECH OF hf0N. JOHN 4. LO-
GAN, OF ILLINOIS,

In the National House of Reprcpresents
tivcs, on the Explanatory Reconstructfof
Bill, and in response to Mr., Robinson
The Rebel Democratic Representative
from the BROOKLYN, New York, District.
Mr.. LOGAN said:
NJ. Speaker 1t wss not my intention to
have taken any part in this debate, but
cannot get my own consent to sit and list
en- quietly any longer to such extraor6iua
ry specifies as have again and again been
pronounced on this floor within the last
few days. If the wisdom of the policy o
excluding from representation In this ifsl
the South has ever cost me doubt, II
could never again cost me another. More
earnest advocates of their political theories
and more eloquent apOlogists for theil
darkest crimes, traitors have not in the
South or elsewhere than they have here.
\ resolution blOtting ont the Constitution
of the United States and the respective
States is recommended 10y one gentleman
who evidently means thereby TO intimate
that, in his opinion at least, this House has
already DESTROYED everything like funda
mental law in the land, and trampled ruth
lessly in the dustthe liberties ofthe people.
Mr.. Eldridge. That is what l thought
and what | meant.
Mr.. Logan. L so understand tlie gentle
man: and the thought occurred to nre at
the time, sir, that Ii was strange indeed,
passing strange. that the gentleman did not
discover during those fearful years of blood
and carnage through which the truefriends
Of humanity, liberty. the Constitution and
the Union had TO pass todeliveT them from
| impending destruction, who 1t was assail-
ing them then.
Mr. Eldridge. Will the gentleman yield.
Mr. Logan I decline. Why did it not
occur to the gentleman. when mighty ar
mics IF brave men. commanded bv ykillful
Generals. were lowering in a menacing at
titude around this devoted city, spurning
our country's flag, mocking our patriotic
professions, insulting loyal citizens, ignOr-
ing private rights, and perpetrating public
Outrages, that the Constitution. the Union
and liberty were in danger then? Why
/ does the gentleman wait until the war is
over. the Constitution is no longer in per-
/ il. and those who stood fast and firm near
/ il and by it. when is banner was streaming
on the breeze of battle. are attempting 10
devise tho most practical and polite
means to restore al the earliest moment to
this whole land permanent and healthful
tranquility a'.d prosperity? Why does he
wait for such a moment TO announce the
startling discovery that our Constitution is
threatened and liberty is in peril?
Mr.. EldridSe. Does the gentleman de
sire me to snswcr his question:
Mr.. Logan. No, sir: one interruption
encouraged invites another. Is 1t not
strange, ] repeat that The gentlemen who
are 80 easily alarmed now about the peiils
that compass about the Constitution of the
Il Il
while peace is bcnignly smiling upon us,
saw no terror or threat in thc glitter OF
bayOncts or the frown of batteries when
l0ur beloved land was swsrming with mil
lions of open enemies and the earth was
trembling under the marshal tread of ser
ricd hosts and the loud roar of angry ar
jiillcry? Then when shere was war. was
no peace they could raise the cry OF
peace. peace" and when peace a. last has
come, they aver il has not come, but that
We are still in The midst Of bloody war. q
war upon tie Constitution we fought tC
save, war upon the liberties we led to
preserve Treat youT Southern brethren
kin,ily. win them by affection" is the CRY
Of the Democracv Rather" said one o
them. ''that jeff Davis and his coadjutor:
had succeeded than tile President of tn,
United States should be impcached.r y
Such language is worthy only of n repre-
sentative of South Carolina or some other
rebel whose hands are eel with loyal blood
No wonder that in party boas,ing ofsuct
types of pGtriotisni, there should be many
yerv many. enthusiastic followers. whosaN
nothing reprehensible in the conduct Of thC
open, avowed. defiant, and bclligerent en-
emies Of the Republic, but who do find
much to deplore and denounce in the ad
hesion now to the principles Of those who
stood like wall of adanant around on
flag when the mad waves of secession
Threatened to delugc with blood the eterna
rock upon which our fathers and theil
fathers had planted it. Our dead i sup
pose are TO sleep in fof.ctten graves WhilC
the rebel slain must be apolheoiZed ant
we who fought with and survive the bravo
boys in blue
"Who fighting fell, and falling fpught,''
are to be stigmaized with opprobrious ep
iihets, while The traitors who thirsted for
our blood are to be meekly and sweeily
called "our brethren.
Mr.. Muneen. i rise to question of or
der Ny point OF order il that the gentle
man is not discussing the bin before tht
House. as the rules require him to do.
The Speaker. The Chair has not seen
that the gentleman from Illinois has wan
dcrcd AZ all from the legitimate limits of de
bate. He is debating the question OF re
construction. II, however, the gentleman
can point to any specific remark:
which have been in violation o
the rule. The Chair will pass upon them.
Mr.. MUngen. The gentleman has no
alluded at all to the question ofreconstruc
tion =
The Speaker The Chair will state tc
the gentleman from Ohio that this question
of reconstruction grows out of the war il
which the country has recently been en-
gagged, and the gentleman from Illinois, il
: the commencement of bis speech, is LAYING
. foundation for the discussion ofthe Ques
tion, by reference to the commencement
of the war and the circumstances surround
ing it. 1858 t
Mr. Logan What am anxious to lear
Mr.. Speaker, is, upon what foundation
rests this flippant AMI gratuitous charg'
repeatedly made against the Republican
party on this floor To the effect that we ar,
trampling liberty under foot and destroying
the rights and privileges of a portion ofth
American people. Wherein have we Yio
lated the Constitution? Was il in crushing
the rebellion? have no doubt every cop
J. perlead IN the North would say yes
We did carry the emblem of our nationa
o glory and greatness from the rivers ant
/ lakes Of the west to the bays and gulfs o
the South, where it waves to day and vii
wave forever; but in doing so Innocent,
thought, hoped and believed then, and still
hope and believe that we were erecting
around the Constitution impregnabie bul
warks, and laying for liberty deeper ant
, broader foundation in the gratitude conf
dencc and affections Of our people. w
never dreampt that for every enemy W
Killed in the South we were making al
: eternal enemy in the North; and ne do no
: think 1t amounts to q riddle beyond th
: comprehension of mortal wits how II i
: that very many of the brave men VIII
fought us, and whom we had to literall
overwhelm before we could conquer, ye
now they are conquered are much NOR