The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-07-02


twelve or fourteen of the most respectable
Union citizens of the city of Paducsh among
others the surveyor of the port, that those
Jews of Paducah had at no time been en-,
,a,ad in trade within the active llnes ol
Cen. Grant that they had all the while been
engaged in legitimate business a' tner
homes md that there was but one jew
rssidcnt of Paducah. who had gone out OF
,be tate into the cotton region, snd that one
was nat at home, and consequently was
nnt .ypeIled from his residence BY tins ruth
less order
Mr. President if We tamely submit to al.
low the military power thus TO encroach on
the rights of citizens, We shall be setting
b,d and most peruiciols example to those
in command Of our army. We should I'D.
minister to those in command of our Armies
the sternest rebuke for such lrgrant outrag
o. upon tho rights Of the citizen These
people IRE represented by the most respocta,
bic citizens Of Paducah TO be loyal men,
Many Of them were men who were not en-.
gagged in commerce. They were mechanics
attending to their daily avocGtious at their
homes. In my judgment, it is incumbent
On this senate, Rs the matter is before them,
" pass the resolution, and let Gen, Grant
and all the other military commanders know
that they are not to encroRch upon the rights
and privileges of the peaceful and loyal citi.
2cns Of this country. Pass the resolution,
and the example will be Of the greatest i'm
portance, particularly at this time, when the
| constitutional rights Of the citizens are being
stricken down and trodden under foot
throughout the entire county By tho execu
tive and military power We have submit
ted already too long and tamely 70 the en-
croachments Of the military upon the civil
rights Of the citizen. Many Of these Jews
who wcre expelled from PaduCah
honorable aud loyal citizens. This order
oxpels them ~ class from The entire de-
psrtmeut, and prevents than having psss
to approach his person TO ask redress OF
grievances. Gen. Grant might Just as well
eYpel the Baptists, or the Methodists, or the
| Episcops aus, or the Catholics, as class
az to expel the Jews. All are alike protect
ed in the enjoyment Of their religion BY the
constitution of our country. They are inof
icnsiye citizens and It 10 set forth N papers
that have before me, that two Jews whl
were expelled had served three months n
the United States, il defense og the Unior
cause.
There is no excuse for General Grant fol
issuing the order. 1t may be said that som'
jews in his department had been guilty o.
Illegal traffic If 80, eIpol them. DO not
wish to shield u Jew or Gentle from just
punishment for the iuIuctjOn Of the law
lie should have directed his order to the Of
| g.,J,.a .,d ghn,Id hoe. vr,, 5hod than
but sir, so far from doing that, he Furnishes
whole people as class without specific
charge, hearing or trial, be drives out noE
ensiye loyal people, men, women and chil
dreu, rom a city far distant from his head
quarters, without giving them the least op.
portunity to meet and repeL charges that
might be brought against them. Such con.
duct is utterly indeiensibe. Gen, Grants
conduct heretofore az n soldier has been that
Of brave and gallant officer he has fought
well on many fields for that l commend
him. But while commend him for his gal
, liant conduct, / must censuro him for this
most atrocioua and Illegal order. 1t is inhu
man ald monstrous. 1t would be ugwoIhJ
Of the most dcspotic government In the mos
! despouc period Of the worlds history, Sir
, VIC should rebuke such conduct,
| regret that General Grant has issued II
Z but, sir, We owe il to ourselves, we owe It I
I the civil and religious liberty Of the citI1c
4 to put our condemnation upon it.
| think have couChed the resolution j
the uildest terms possible. It is my duty
IN vindication of the rights of my CUnstltu
; euts-those Jews who have been SO grossl
and cruelty wionged-tO urge this resolution
10 its passuge. 1t will be = landmark in III
future to teach these military gentlemen
that they are not thus to cEcrOaCh on th
civil and religious rights Of the citizen
whether he be jew Or Gentle. | should b.
the last man here who would wish 10 yisi
with censuro any commander of any dopaI.
mont Of the army Tor Justly punshiug thos.
who had been vIolators Of the law in hi
department aud trust that shall be thJ
last e. pailate or excuse any commander
however meritorious lis conduct IL othe
r. matters may have been, who thus strike
0 cruelty and inhumanly at class Of people
driving them from their homes, men, women
y and chlldren,upon the shortest notice. Ihel
houses are closed up, and many Of thci
stores they inform me, are left without al
occupant, containing thousands Of dollar
worth Of goods.
The senate, in my judgment, owes il t
- Itself to yiudIcate the laws, and the rights 0
these prosecuted Jews. 90 Cor them wha
9 | would DO for any other citizen Of this na
o ton, or for any other constituents that
a have. hope that tho amendment | pro
i pose may be adopted, and that part of tn
" resolution asking the President to counter
$ maud the order tfor the commardcrinch chic
@ to his honor be it spoken, has most prompt
o revoked ii be stricken ont, aud let the pre-
amblc and resolution, cousuring this orde