The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-10-15
A Tribute OF Affection by Governor
Palmer, OF Illinois, to the Hon.
John A. Logan.

sonal enemy Of General Grant, and I
feel bound to say that if he had at the
beginning of his Administration called
into his Cabinet statesmen instead OF
the small incapable men, who were
probably thrust upon him by his ser
vile followers, his term OF service might
have illustrated our history. But his
education was exclusively military, In
the old army he was a subordinate
whose personal habits were not of q
character to compel respect. APP
plause,1 He failed in civil life after he
left the army, and when called again
into the profession OF arms, his success
was 40 complete that he came to regard
himself as a prodigy. That his head
should be turned; that batteries should
be able to persuade him that he was
superior to others; that he was above
Law, and should not be fettered by con-
stitutional rules that bound his prede-
cessors, was not unnatural. 1t is too
early to speak the truth in ex-
planning his sudden rise; but
all history demonstrates that the real
enemies Of the sudden successful are
those who flatter them. The fatterers
of General Grant-Wasburne, Jones,
Logan, Porter, Leet, Stocking, Berry
and many others who need not be
named-are responsible for his failure.
Eager to appropriate him to themselves,
they excluded every great man from his
councils, and they cursed the nation
with what will be hereafter known as
the lack-learning Cabinet. In this list
of flatterers | have mentioned our Sen.
ator, General John A. Logan. No man
in the Republic has won so much re-
nown on so small scale Applause
When a Democrat, he introduced into
the Legislature of the State. and pro-
cured to be passed, law more cruel
than the slave system itself APP
plause. In the slave States the rule
only extended 80 far as to declare that
the child of slave mother followed
her condition. Under Logan's law the
son OF free mother might be made
slave. Under this act-infamous
among the cruel laws demanded by
slavery-for a free man or woman to
come into this State was made
crime to be punished by fine and by
slavery, and II the person guilty OF
black skin only remained in the State
ten days after the slavery created by the
conviction the fine was increased, and
another conviction and another sale
followed, and kept following until the
victims fled, or nature, more merclful
than the spirit that dictated the fero-
cious law, released the sufferer by death.
Logan's law did not deny the poor
bruised body of his victim a resting
place on our soil. He only hated llv-
ing men and living women. To him it
was OF no consequence that the colored
man and colored woman, prosecuted oy
the terrible laws of the slave States, had
gathered their little brood around thsm
and fled to the prairies that were
blessed by God and dedicated to free
dom by the ordinance of 1887, and by
the people of the State by two Constr
tutions. TApplause. They were ne
groes, and were feeble, and that was
reason enough for Logan to nate them
He forbade them to breathe the pure
air of the State, to earn their bread
and nurture their young here
He would drive them forth,
or would sell them again into
bondage. The husband and father
was forbidden to toll for his wife and
his children. The victims of this law
were colored, and were despised by those
whose votes he desired to win, and Gen
eral Logan WAS the eager instrument OF
their prejudice. Applause.J Not only
did this law announce slavery as the
doom of the colored emigrant, but 1t
provided fines and Imprisonment tor
anv one who should aid him. The
master, penitent for the wrongs done his
bond people, was forbidden to make
them free. The acts of the Legislatures
of all the States may be examined, and
nothing more atrocious or more cruel
can be found anywhere Applause
And in 1860. when to the eye and Judg..
ment of all impartial men, slavery had
become more wicked and more imam
ous from its disloysl, reasonable de,
mands, General Logan distinguished
himself in Congress as its most serviie
tool GApplause In 1860 slave hunt
inc was infamous even in the eyes
Of shareholders, and Democrats
denounced the hateful tool as Dirty
work Logan. He confessed the ln'amy
Of the employment, but loudly proGiesse91
bis willingness to do it. Applause
Other party leaders placed the Demo-
cratic party in a false position upon
the slavery question. Logan dlsre-
garded it. Applause. There is not
Democrat but his face has tngled WIN
modification and shame when they
have been tainted with the Illuminating
Indecent seryilitv of one who asplred to
be a leader. Applause In 1861,
wben driven into the army to avoid the
consequence of his disloyalty to the
Government, he denounced the anti
slavery men as the cause Of the war.
In August, 1864, he had not publicly
decided whether ne would support Lin
coin or Mcclellan. His family made
beta upon his probable line OF conduct;
| GApplause.1 In 1865 he denounced
manhood suffrage, and, by his conduct,
left it doubtful whether he would ,1ilo"
Johnson or adhere to the Reppollcan
nsrtv In 1868 he favored reputation
proposing, in violation of good iaith: 10
tav the National securities. In 1911
be was the assailant of General Grant,
and boped himself to be nominated for
the Presidency in 1872 HIS course
excited the contempt of his political