The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-05-10
Bill to Make Gen. Grant Military
Dictator.
SPEECH OF
HON. GEORGE W. MORGAN,
DELIVERED
In the House of Representatives,
March 80, 1871.


alton the bill (H. R. No. 32O to en-
force the provisions of the fourteenth
amendment to the Constitution of the
United States, and for other pur.
poses
Mr. MORGAN said: .-.-.-
Mr.. Speaker: In a government oi
delegated powers, clearly defined by
written constitution, it matters little
what may be the name of the party
in power, provided it administers the
government in conformity with the
fundamental law. But party which
assumes powers not granted, no mat
ter what may be its name, is party
of usurpation. The party to-day in
power calls itself "Republican !" and
vet its President, its leader in the Sen
ate, and its master, if not its leader IN
this House, were but few years ago
proud OF the appellation of Demo
Gratis. Hence names are of little i'm
port; for it is principles which ccnsti-
tute party, not name. Names are
as often chosen TO conceal principles
as to represent them.
That crimes are committed is true.
The existence of jails and penitentia-
ries, the frequent announcement of
murders and executions, the number
of persons mysteriously assassinated,
the assassin escaping without Diet c ion,
as in tie Nathan murder in New Y ork
and in similar outrages in the South,
all prove that crime exists in the land.
But, sir, when did not crime exist
But the number and character of Of
fenses are willfully exaggerated. For
my own part am no aPologist for
crime, whether committed in the South
or in the North. When committed
in the South or in the North ] trust
that the criminals may be brought to
speedy Justice by trial and condelnna-
ton before tribunals of competent ju-
risdiction. For, if they be not tried
by such tribunals, then the act of con
demnation is itself crime, and the
greater, because committed under the
pretended. guise Of law.
Our own experience, Mr. Speaker,
during the last few weeks ought to
teach us how easy it is to manufacture
calumnies. The most startling charges
made against the Ku Klux dwarf when
Compared with the grave aCcusatians
deliberately made by the member
from Massachusetts,, Mr.. Butler,
made in writing, printed and LAID up
OIL the desk OF each member of the
House. What, sir, was the charge ?
The member making it shall answer
for himself. General Butler, in Civ
ing the reasons why he declined to
vote for or serve upon the committee
of investigation in regard to southern
outrsges, said:
"Second, because this committee
was raised by a combination of the
high tariff Repu blicans with the De-
mocracy, the one class willing to per-
NIT the slaughter and determination
of their political friends in the South,
if the tariff could be saved, even for
nine months" ...,
under the heat of passion. but with
calm deliberation. 1t was reduced to
writing by night 1t was printed and
laid upon the desk of each member OF
this House on the morning of the day
after the committee had been appoint
ed. What is this charge? That the
majority of the Republican members
upon this floor conspired with the ma
jority of the Democrats, for what r
TO SECURE the slaughter and exterm,n'
alton of the Republican party of the
South What was General Buffers
next charge? He says: ..
"And the Democracy acting with
them (the Republicans) in pursuance
of a deliberate plan, carefully concoc-
ted, in my belief to murder and out
rage enough Union men of the South
to overcome, by fear, intimidation,
and injury, the Republican majority
at the next Presidential election, well
known that this committee can do them
no harm, and that it will furnish an
excuse to the tariff Republicans to
vote with them for an early adjourn
ment, without legislation to protect
Union men in the rebel States"
Sir, 1 denounce this charge as an
atrocious calumny, not only against
the Democratic party, but against a
majority of the members on the floor
Sir, it appears to me that such charge
coming from such source, a charge
deliberately made, ought to teach US
to be very cautious i'll receiving as
true any charges hereafter made by
that member, or the truthfuiness Of
any charges made upon wild rumors
against the people of the South. But
we were told that not only are COM
mon murders and common crimes
committed in the South, but that there
are political offenscs committed there.
If such be the truth, and in some
cases it probably is so, who is respon-
sible, who is to blame? There is no
justification for them. But maintain,
sir, that if such offenses are commit
ted they have been caused in good
part by the mistaken legislation CT
Congress; for the Federal Legislature,
forgetting that ours is a republican
Government, a Confederacy of Re-
publican States, under a written Con-
stitution, based, as all republics are,
upon public virtue, upon the Princi-
pie of reason, and consent-the Fed
eral Legislature, 1 say, in 1866, com
menced what is known as reconstruc-
tion, system based on the vital prin-
ciple of despotism-fear, fear inspired
by force. a .
In 1867 two years after the war
had closed, an act was passed dividing
the States of the South into what?-l
Military divisions. subject to military
law, and none other. Civil courts
were abolished, and the life, liberty
and property of the citizens were put