The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-17
Gpsnii,a State Sorrnal
MONDAY EyEN'G, APRIL II, 1871.
Mass Meeting of the Germans OF
Washington.

SPEECHES OF SENATOR sCHURz AND GEN.
CHIPMAN-GREAT ENTHUSIASM.
The German Republicans of the city OF
Washington held a most enthusiastic
meeting on Thursday evening last. Sen
ator Schurz and General N. P. Chapman,
the nominee of the Republicans Tor dele
gate to Congress to represent the District,
made excellent speeches.
GEN. cHIPMAN's REMARKS.
He said he came not to speak to them
az Germans, but as American citizens.
He referred to the recent Franco-Prussian
war and the triumph of the German arms,
and congratulated his German hearers on
the grand result-the unification OF Ger
many-holding that the war on their part
was defensive, and history would so record
it as the Judgment of the civilized world.
He held this opinion to be general through
out the United States, charging that the
only opposition in this country to their
cause came from the Democratic press.
He then contrasted the platforms of the
Republican aud Democratic parties, and
referred to the issues at stake in the con-
test to show that all the interests of the
people could only be subserved by being
represented 10 Congress by delegate
whose views and feelings were in accord
with the party in power, reciting the
many benefits and advantages that could
be granted our citizens through the efforts
of jealous and viglant delegate. He
stated that upon the great hobby of "mixed
schools" which had been raised by the
Democratic party, the Republican party
makes no issue. 1t is content with the law
that Congress has established, and he read
from the party platform on that subject.
He then referred to certain aspersions
made upon his personal character arising
out of his prosecution of the rebel prison
keeper Wirz. He said he was not MEM
Der Of the court which found Henry Wifz
guilty. He was the prosecutor of the gov
eminent, and as such was under the same
control by the court, aud held to the same
rules as to practice before the court, as the
counsel for Wirz. He did only his duty
toward the government, they did theirs to-
wari the prisoner. How, then, could they
look upon him as tiger in human shape,
which this Louis Schade is said to declare
he was, when he performed simply the
duty which he owed to his government,
and to the army of comrades who laid
down their lives for their country in that
miserable prison pen The Judge Advo-
cate General tells them in his review that
the trial was conducted with fairness and
importantly.
1t was said that he caused irons to be
put upon the wrists of this prisoner al
great personal torture to him. The fact
is that the prison-keeper reported evidence
of Virus intention to commit suicide, and
he was put in irons to prevent self-aestruc.
ton. He afterwards complained that the
irons were painful to him, and they were
removed, and guard placed in his room
and kept there for the purpose of prevent.
ing self-destruction. Furthermore, ht
(Gen. C.) had 10 his possession at this time
letters written by Wirz during the progress
of the trial, thanking him for acts of per.
sonal kindness. He was, indeed, pitia.
BILE object, although a monster in human
shape, and he (Gen. C.) did not believe hi
could have committed an act of cruelty
toward the prisoner, so helpless and pew
erless was he, and SO inevitable was hi
doom, in view of the cumulative evidenc,
of guilt Gen. Chapman dwelt at length
upon the trial, reciting pages of the evi.
dence as taken from the official report o
the same, and closed upon that subject a
follows
at may be added in conclusion that the
court before which the prisoner was tried wa
composed of officers high in rank and eminen
for their faithful services and probity of char
acter, and that several of them were dstin
guished for their legal attachments. The in
vestigation Of the case was conducted through
out with patience and impartiality, and tn,
conclusion reached is one from which the over
whelming volume of testimony left no escape.
In concluding his remarks he said: Th
outlook under our new form of govern
ment is, to my mind, suspicious. l be
lieve q successful administration of the 10
cal government under the present forr
will secure to us the permanency of tn
national capital. / believe it will put
rest the question Of the removal of th
capital forever. And, sir, if there is on
thing above all others touching the inter
ests of this whole country, as well as TIL
district, which / desire, it is that the sei
of the government shall remain where il
illustrious founder located it, and that
shall become what that illustrious man an
his associates designed it should be. Al
plause.
Senator Schurz having entered the ha
during the delivery of Gen. Chapman
addressed, and having an engagement r.
curing him to leave in short time, Gel
G. gave way to him.
SENATOR sCHURz
was received with enthusiastic applaus
and spoke in German as follows: "M
German friends, am very sorry that
cannot have the pleasure of addressir
you at length, but will say all am al
to say in the short time have to stay.
am obliged to go back to the Senate, nc
In session. 1 did not intend to participa
in this campaign, and should probab
not have been here tonight if my mar
had not appeared in the papers with t
statement that stood on the side of Me
rick. Now, my friends, for the last fife
years l have advocated the principles
the Republican party, and have urg
my German friends in innumerat
speeches to do the same, that is, to stsl
by the principles of the great Republics
party, faithful and forever. Applause
/ stand to-day as ever stood. ha