The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-12-28

to IN enemy than TO furnish him with
tgreat captians,; accomplished fleaders,
nien skilled in the dread artsof war I
In this long list OF officers biyen. by
our President to aid the enemy, 10
organize his armies, to lead 4hem TO
battle, to make war against the Uni
ted States, we find the, names of
Robert T.. Lee, resignation accepted
April %, 1861, eleven, days after war
had commenced Joseph E. Johnston,
Hresignationaceepted A prit %, 1851 :
Albert s Johnston, Resignation ac-
cepted May 8, 1861 james. Long
street, resignation accepted June T.
1851, SIX weeks after the fall Of Fort
Suinpter. and while the confederate
army of Virginia was preparing to
advance, against Washingt Yet
this bill refuses amnesty to these very
otfictrS who left our service to Join
that of the eiieiny with the consent of
the Presldent.ast am specific, sir, in
the charge. General eMagruder'sI
resignation was accepted six days at.
ter the surrender of Sumpter, and be
has publicly stated that he told the
President the purpose Tor which he
resigned, but that he would remain
In Washington q decorous length OF
time after the acceptance of his resig.
nation, because he wished to be well
of within old love before he was soa
with the new aud that the President
replied that he would assist him on
with the new love by accepting his
resignation.
The motives which governed The
action of the President in accepting
the resignation ofthese officers, instead
OF holding them as psisonerssof war,
| leave to the judgment of impartial
history. It has been charged that
tears were entertained that tile con-
federates weuld not fight,. that the
flame of. southern, war would soon die
out unless competent generals were
given them, They were given, and
we know the result. Others have
charged that the object in accepting
the designations ofthose distinguished
officers was to secure more patronage,
that their places had to be filed
We know the result Whatever may
have been the motive, it cost US four
years of war and shook our Institutions
to the very base. But for the ac-
ceptance of those designations a hos
tile gun would not have been fired
outside of South Carolina, a million
lives and thousands of millions of
dollars would have been saved, and
our people would not now groan I'M
Ger the burden of war tax in time
of peace, -, -, - - ~
Mr. Speaker, never in the history
Of our country was more important
subject submitted for discussion than
the question now under debate. It
may determine whether we shall have
constitutional Union or q govern
ment of force. It is to determine
whether we are to say to our brethren
of the South, you must obey the
laws, but You shall not help make
them; you must paJ taxes to support
the Government, but shall never par
ticipate in i!s managem cnt." This. is
called amnesty, grace, oblivion as t.
the errors of the past! God have
mercy on the merciless, if ut the last
day they are to he judged by ru' u'e
like this! Sir, Ihave not spoken In
the interests of party, but-in thena;n !,
OF our common country and ii we
prove unequal to tn, disc,la ge of the
high duty WI ich devolves upon US the
peope possess the remedy, and bi
them 1t viii be applied. a4.-,