Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-01-17

Delng c0mpeiieu 10 neip Pal i'' ~ 'na'
the demand on their part to tax the peo-
pie for the payment Of the debt Of the
South will beas surely conceded as the
demand is made.
l come TO another issue that is also in
volved in the contest--the pensioning of
rebel soldiers, and the widows and Orphans
of those who fell fighting for the rebellion.
Does not the present state Of affairs in
Maryland indicate the feeling which pre-
walls against the soldiers Who were
members of regiments in the Union army?
Can Union soldier be elected TO any
Office? Is he not prescribed in business
and in society," l ask if Union men, who
are lawyers or physicians fad any sue
cess in the practice of their profession?
Are they not prescribed on account of
their sentiments? Does not the same
condition of affairs exist u, Kentue - /
see here to- night gentleman who can
tell you about that much better than L
who knows from experience and observa-
ton what the feeling is there. Rebels,
and only rebels, are elected TO Office. The
presence Of Union men is nowhere tolera-
ted, and their position made uucOm forta-
BILE, and, if possible, to rid the State Of
their presence. e
Sir. if you give the power OF recon
struction into the hands of rebels, you
may expect the same condition of Affairs in
all the Southern States And you may
ask. what do | argue from all this?
will tell you. When the Democratic party
again gets into power, do you suppose
the representatives from the South will
vote for pensioning the soldiers and wid-
ows Of the North, aud not provide for
their own in the South? L. it human
nature, | ask, for men TO do such things2
And when you bring them into power,
their rebel soldiers will as surely be
placed on the same footing with the
Union soldiers Of the North. This ques-
ton, then, | say, is involved in the
issues Of the coming campaign.
The point make here to- night is the
inevitable consequence Of the Democratic
party coming into power. Some men may
like the financial policy of the party, and
vote for il solely on that account; but let
them remember that they are voting to
elevate tue rebel soldier 70 the same po-
sition as those who fought TO preserve the
Union.
Tho military policy OF the party is
foreshadowod in the order promulgated
by General Hancock on assuming com
mand Of tho Fifth Military District; and
as il has been presented TO Congress by
the President for its admiration, think
tha, criticism upon IL is perfectly fair. |
will read the order [The order was read.
as has been pubished1 This idea is, like
the apples Of the Dead Sea, fair to the eye,
but erumble TO powder IL but touched to
the lip.
The noticeable feature Of this order j.
that II does not mention the subject of
reconstruction, for which, by authority of
Congress, ho Is sent there aud empowered
TO carry out lie goes on to say that the
civil rights Of the people must no, be in
terfered with by military rule, aud openly
declares by this order that tho very pur.
pose for which he was sent there Is 10 be
supersoied aud ignored.
Mr.. Merton then read from acts Of
Congress defining the authority aud duties
by these | show that this order is in con.
tradiclon aud defiance Of the laws enacted
by Congress. The very State govern
menis, which, by these acts, are abrogaled
aud declared illegal, are the ones which
General Hancock, by his advent, has re-
garded in general order; Congress, to be
explicit, has, at u later day, defined itself
on this subject, aud declared, if these State
governments were allowed to exist, illegal
and unauthorized as they are, il would
only be through tho sufferance Of the
military commanders.
But General Hancock expresses open
contempt for Congressional authority,
and bows allegiance to the civil au-
thority OF the State of Louisiana. aud
implies thereby the recognition Of State
Government that has been declared illegal
aud unauthorized expressly by Congress.
What does he mean when he expresses
himself about civil liberty? 1t looks very
we'll, but what does il mean in this con
nection? 1t means that loyal men shall
be tried aud condemned by rebel juries.
But it is said tney will have justice done
them. Who has ever heard OF the murder
Of single Union man in the South hav-
ing oeen ferreted out, or the guilty one
puuishedI
ladnit the haJeas corpus is a right
dear TO the people of the country, and
should not be lnteriered with except in
time OF war, when its force would be an
tagonistic to the interests of the Govern
ment But whit does the writ uf daLeos
corpus mean as seen ia the eyes Of General
Hancock aud expressed in this order?
What does II mean, ii IL does not say to
the rebel judge, you are clothed with full
power TO demand the release OF every man
arrested by military authority, applied, OF
course, to the oppression of the loyal men
OF that State. And all this in the name
Of law aud justice and right. Do you
believe that 1T is meted out to them? Let
the massacre at Memphis and the horrible
tragedy at New Orleans answer that, and
think Of il, that order was written on the
very spot where that bloody tragedy was
enacted, an account Of which sent u thrill
OF horror into the heart OF every being in
Christendom order which declares
that this power shall be directed only to
sustain their laws and government. read
that order with mingled sorrow aud con-
tempt. General Hancock was u noble
member of the Union army, and his re-
cord one that any man might well be
proud OF. lie was wounded in the SER
vice of his country, and justly earned the
laurels borue by him from many baitle.
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