The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1870-01-19
AuHftd.
RECONsFRUCTEON OF GEORGIA.
Speech OF Hon. 6. w. Morgan, of Ohio
I'm the House Of Representatives, De
eember 20. 1869. -


State of Georgia
Mr.. MORGAN said
Mr. Speaker There are those, and
they are numbered by thousands, who at
the time of the outbreak of the war which
closed five years ago believed that it was
the deliberate purpose of the leaders of
the so-called Republican party to force
this country into war for the express pur-
pose of subverting its free Institutions l
was one of those who were reluctant so
to believe / was willing to contribute, to
the best of my humble ability, IN sup
pressing the armed opposition to the Gov
eminent. But, sir, with my hand upon
nv heart, IN the presence of the great
God who rules all nations and now watches
over ours, l here declare that am now
convinced that the single object of these
leaders of the Republican party was the
subversion of our free institutions and the
desire of war to that end. The charge
| that | make is a bold oue-a charge that
should not be lightly nade-a charge
which when mode on this floor should be
sustained by proof What are the proofs?
1t is true that peace congress assem-
bled, but 1t Is also true that it dissolved
IN failure. The peace congressl Sir, if
ever there was conspiracy against peace,
If conspirators ever assembled with the de-
termination to sacrifice liberty upon the
| preteZt of securing liberty, they were in
| that body. But, sir, what proof is there
| that the leaders of the Republican party
desired the war for the purpose of over
throwing our free institutions? 1t is a
fact which have not heard commented
upon, and yet it is a startling fact, that so
anxious was the administration of Mr..
Lincoln that the rebellion should assume
form and an organized army be placed in
the field, that after open war had been
made upon the part of the southern peo-
| pie by firing upon Fort Sumter, Mr.. Lin
| coins administration furnished to the re-
bellion the four great leaders who organ
lied and commanded their arInies-Rob-
| ert E. Lee, Joseph E. Johnston, Albert
Sidney Johnston, and that thunderbolt of
southern war, James Longstreet. Their
designations were accepted by Mr.. Lincoln
after the firing upon Fort Sumter. Upon
this charge challenge denial
Sir, it was notorious. throughout the
land that Robert E. Lee, Joseph E. Johns
ton, and Albert Sidney Johnston were not
only three Of the most distinguished Off
GERS IN the American Army and holding
the highest rank, but that they were three
of the most scientific and able of military
men. 1t was at the option of President
Lincoln to receive or not to receive their
designations. Fort Sumter had been fired
upon, and it was evident that the rebellion
must prove a speedy failure unless great
chiefs were placed at its head. Who fur
nished these chiefs? The administration
of Abraham Lincoln. On this point
again challenge contradiction. pause
for reply, As no reply comes I viii
make good my charge by proof r
l hold in my hand testimony that will
J not be eontroyerted-the Register of the
Nrmy of the United States, in which il
appears that the resignation of Brigadiel
General Joseph E. Johnston was accepted
on the 22d day of April, 1861, one weeI
) after the firing upon Fort Sumter The
: same record shows that the resignation o
General Albert S. Johnston was accepted
on the Sd day of May, 1861, then nearly
: three weeks after the firing upon For
: Sumter that the resignation of Rober
E. Lee, colonel of the first cavalry, wa!
; accepted April 25, 1851 that the resigna
| ton of James Longstreet, who Is now tht
7 leader Of the Republican party in tn
: State of Louisiana, holding. IN that Stat
: the best office within the gift of this Re
publican Administration, was not accepted
. until the first day of June, 1861, abou
s three weeks before the disastrous battle O
! Bull Run. ---
Mr.. STEVENSON. VIII the gentle
: man yield to me for a question:
e Mr. MORGAN. Yes sir.
Mr.. STEVENSON. As the gentlemal
# is experienced in military matters woul
i like to know what he would have tn
r President do In cases where rebel officer
d thus proposed to leave the service of tn
b United States and rendered their resigna
d tions?
o Mr.. MORGAN. 1 thank the gentle
If man for his question No soldier woul
: have any difficulty In answering it. Wha
/, would have had ihe President do whe
a an officer of the army of the United State
: proposed to resign his commission for th
If purpose of taking up arms against th
/ Federal flag and Constitution? He shoul
1t have put him under arrest, sir. ..--. .
Il Mr. STEVENSON Anything else
IS Mr.. MORGAN. Had they been put NJ
ss der arrest the confederate armies Woul
It have been without competent leaders an
/ the rebellion would have languished an
/ died before 1t had assumed grave propo
, tions -...-.#
/ Mr.. STEVENSON. VIII the gentl
ID man yield to me further
&c Mr., MORGAN. With great pleasure
Is Mr.. STEVENSON. Is 1t your opinic
4, that Lee; as he left the Union Army
ID Join the rebels, should have been put VI
der arrest on rendering his resignation
Z Mr.. MORGAN That is my opinion
n have no doubt on the subject.
Mr.. STEVENSON. Without,any proc
- Mr.. MORGAN. Proof, sir There W
u proof in the roar of the confederate gun
fred upon Fort Sumter The heavel
Ho were lurid with its blazing battlement
81 our flag was lowered and our garrison So
~ rendered as prisoners of war. And, aft
N all these notorious facts, the gentlemi
he still asks for proofs
Mr.. STEVENSON. l want to ask Il
n fgentleman one more question. do n
ba wish to annoy him.
y Mr.. MORGAN. Do not be uneasy, S
- you do not annoy me. | am happy
hear the gentleman
M Mr.. STEVENSON. If for their evil j
lis tention they should have been arrest
r. then, what should be done with them nc
"a for their evil deeds? TApplause.l
he Mr. MORGAN What should we
&C. now? The war was a family one, and
les were not free from blame. We furnish
the rebels great generals to organize tn,
armies and to meet us in battle array. \
fought them like men and they fought !
WV We conquered; they surrendered, and i
az brave men they have kept their faith; Ii
N, brave men we should keep ours. / WoI
make friends with them. / would OF
more draw them to our hearts. wol
ask them to rally around the brave
Ike flag which represented them and US all
.ss. and when the next war came l should {
ish Joe Johnston, Robert Lee, Albert Sidr
Johnston, if he were alive and their ]
comrades IN arms to stand by our side
IN the next war in fighting common enc
I a in defense of our common flag. fApplaui
Icle Now, Mr.. Speaker, there is no bittern
in my heart, although there is much
sadness. l regret more than can
press the unhappy condition of our COZ
'iul try. I desire to see the evils which e,
you corrected, and not from partisan feel
get but from sense OF duty, l feel thl
should go further in my charges agai
the evil policy of the leaders Of the L
hat called Republican party.
it is Sir from the time Of the Declaration
are Independence down to the present b
les there has been in this country elias
Il ~ haart