The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-11-11
General Blair on Stanton.
A PHOTOGRAPH FROM LIFE.
In speech made at Mattoon, Ill.,, on tn

In a speech made at Nation, ILL.,, on the
goth inst, General Frank Blair said:
Now, my fellow citizens, l have been
charged with being extremely ienient to
the rebels with seeking to have them all
pardoned. l would pardon all whom the
safety of the Republic did not require
should be punished. l would be willing
to see all tried and punished whom the
safety and welfare of the county, required
should be tried and punished. And, there
fore, should not stop short with the trial
Of Alexander II. Stephens. l would like
to try another man or two. l would like
to see Edwin NJ. Stanton put upon his
trial. Cheers and Laughter. A voice
John A. Logan"
General Bair-He is too small an affair.
Cheers and laughter.
l would like to see Edwin M. Stanton
tried, and | would be willing to be the
prosecutor. will tell you what l could
prove: could prove that Edwin M. Stan
ton was the Attorney General under Mr..
Buchanan, and that when the two Sena-
tors, JEFF. Davis and Albert Gallatin
Brown, made their addresses to the Senate
of the United States, taking their leave of
of their States, as Mr.. Brown came out of
receiving a salary from the Government of
the United States, having sworn to pro-
tect and defend the cons titution, holding
on to that office, his stomach filled with
bread that he had eaten and that came from
the Office he filled, went up to Mr.. Brown,
as he came out of the Senate chamber, and
said "Sir, 60 home to your people and
MAINTAIN the position they have TAKEN
Unite together, stand shoulder to shoulder,
and you will compel these black abolition.
lists at the North to yield all the demands
that you make" That was the language
of a man then in the empl Of the govern
ment ; then receiving his salary from the
government with the oath still on his
lips TO maintain the Constitution and to
support the Constitution of the United
States. He gives this advice and encoura.
ges and gives aid and comfort to one who
had declared his determination to wage
war upon the Government Of the United
States.
would prove further, on another count
in the indictment, that after the war had
been waged for several years Stephens
went with his STATE, took the forlorn hope
yielded to the pressure, and this man Stan.
ton took another Office ir the government
of the United States, became Secretary oil
War, becoming the most vindictive perse
cutor of those whom he had urged to &c
into the rebellion, and that when in the
changing fortunes of war our men had been
made prisoners of the enemy, and we hao
captured some of their men, and that gov.
ernment, so called, at the South came for
ward and offered an exchange, this mar
Stanton refused-refused to succor the
soldiers who had been to the front and by
the chances of war had been made prison
ers. He refused, although he knew they
were dying lingering deaths in the prisons
at Andersonville and elsewhere. Not only
did he refuse the exchange, but when tn,
Confederate Government sO-called, came
forward and offered to surrender our sick
aud wounded without an exchange, he re
fused to take those men, but let them dit
in the Andersonvi.le prison. 1t could bt
proved, also. that he refused even to sent
medicine and food and surgeons to then
to succor them from impending death, al
though urged to do 80 by the so -callec
Confederate authorities.
; What, think you, would be the verdict
of ON returned soldiers if some of then
should 81, On the jury? Cheers ani
laughter Wha... with such proof-and
believe such proof c. 'a'd be brought
would be the verdict ? ,'"u'o nns. II
could, to-day, by legislative ELL c'''en1
reach this great f lon-for regard him az
felon. would not do it, althonghh I
conceive him to be the greatest felon in
! America, because l would not strike down
that shield of the Constitution, which
covers all the people in this country, even
TO reach the worst man in the county
BIZ: / would like to see this evidence ad-
duce.1, and would like to know what YER
dict and sentence Jury would pronounce
upon him. Aye, I have a curiosity to
know. would like to see these two men
tried, because after the rebellion was clos
ed this MIR. Alexander Stevens was seized
and imprisoned by this same man Stanton
and put in Fort Warren, In Boston harbor
And would like to have tee verdict OF a
jury of my countrymen to see, when Stan
ton turned the key on Stevens, on which
side of the door stood the traitor. Laugh
ter and cheers. A voice, son the out.
side."]
My fellow citizens, use these exa nples
simply to illustrate the principle npon
which these men have acted.
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