Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1870-12-24
SENATOR MecREyny-s SPEECH.

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SENATOR MstREgny-s SPEECH.
We invite the readers attention to
the speech Of Senator McCreery, on
the first page. 1t was delivered in
support of resolution to restore to
Mrs. General Lee, the Arlington es'
tate which the government holds
under false pretenses, and is the most
beautiful eulogy on Gen. Lee, that
we have seen. Its earnest appeal for
simple Justice to the grossly wronged,
aud the noble and generous spirit
displayed in every lpenrcin striking
contrast with the diabolical malice
of those Senators who measure JUS
tfce Ivy the standard Of sectional hate
and enlightened liberality, by con-
tracted partizan policy.
The effect of the speech was To
quicken into activity MI tile venom
VI Radicalism, aud its spokensmen,
in order to hide the palpable justice
Of the resolution, resorted to the cry
of traitor ANA rebel. They feigned to
have forgotten that the war which
gave being to their ncfarious party,
was war between sovereign States,
and that, in such a conflict, the terms
traitor and rebel have no legitimate
application save to those who be
trayed the States of which they were
citizens by giving aid and comfort to
the lawless invaders of their native
land.
But, admitting for the sake of ar
gument, that the South wa in rebel
lion against a government rs much
its property as the property Of the
North, the Constitution which form
cd the basis and the bond of Union,
declares that forfeiture of property
can only follow trial and conviction
by civil tribunal Of competent jul
risdiction, and that such forfeiture
shall not operate beyond the life of
the convicted party. Was General
Lee thus tried and convicted? II
not, there was no forfeiture, and the
title of Mrs. Lee to the estate, fOrcibly
seized and wrongfully held, is rs clear
rs the law can make it, But ~ If 20
dodge this plain state OF facts, 1t Is
pretended that the estate was sold
for taxes aud the government he
came the purchaser. Sold FOR what
taxes? Taxes due to the Federal
government: Ifso, by what author
ity was Virginia estate taxed for
The benefit of the United States prior
Ia the conquest of the territory
That this plea of fair purchase Is not
relied upon as the basis for the gov
rrnmcnts title, il apparent from th'
statement Of one Senator, that ht
knew the blood-lhirsty stanton CON
vrrtcd Arlington into cemetery t.
make it an unfit residence for Tho
Ice family, and thus acquire by vii
lliny that which he could not hole
by law.
10 avoid an investigation of thu
vilaimy of the Radical administra
ton In relation To the unlawful p0ss
cSsiou of this estate, the Senate re
fused to receive ur consider the reso
luton. And to mislcad the gullibl,
Radical element of the North, an,
To hush the voice Of justice by appea
10 fanaticiSm, the Radical Senator
cried out in concert, that the rcsolQ
ton coutrmplates the dissertation {
the caves of slii til Union soldier
who blcd and died for the best gov
crnment that was ever overthrow
by robbers and traitors. The fact
that Arlington Is the graveyard fc
for fugitive slaves, who congregdtc
there aud died of the pestilence ol
Ecudcrcd 10y Incidence and filth, an
these victims of II mock bcrcvolent
and selfish and malignant finati
cism are designated rs martyrs
the cause OF liberty, and their gray,
are decorated in commcmuratiou
the heroic manner in which the
died the death of brutes. These are Il
glorious Cuion-s1ldiers whose ruttin
carcasses were designed by Stantu
to disgust the l.rc family aud maxi
them voluntary eNilcs from the
ancestral home. These are the sain
81 heroes whose loyalty is raised
"a screen, to hide from the public Il
Radical Villainy which seized ~
holds, In opposition To Justice ~
law, the rightful property of Nh
General Ice.
The. resolution may he prcmntur
hut its simple Justice, will irro~i~tih
appeal 10 tho sympathy of the 20,
IN every clinr and the bastard
uhu-c of the Immortal Lrc, II evuk
from its guilty opponents will mat
rally hasten the vNtiuc,iuu of Il "a
tiun whose hands are still red wi
tuumrnt blood and whose Golfers II
nllcd With stolen goods.
tnNGRE~NM BJ'TLER--not (
spoon thief but the Pension org
ha, hcru held Ia hlil IN the sum
four thousand dollars t. appear a
answer Ia a charge ur iugrry. Il