The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-06-02
JOHN A. LOGAN.
His DislOyal Speech at Murphysbero In
1861,
1Chicago Tribune, May 2S.1

OnlCdBO 1tlDuuct NAY e.
The positive statement of Mr. E. G. Mason
at the Music Hsil on Wednesday evening as
to the disloyal utterances of John A Logan
at the breaking out CT the war created some
what of sensation, not only among .hs vast
crowd there assembled, but throughout the
city. The same charge had been made before,
butnotby q person familiar with the facts, and
Logan and his friends denying IL, he was
given the benefit OF the doubt, owing to the
lack of proof But low there can be no
question of his sympathy with the rebellion.
Mr.. Mason, the gentleman who makes
thess statements, is the son of Colonel
R. B. Mason, formerly Mayor of
this city, and one of its oldest and
best known cltizsns. He is lawyer of high
standing al the Chicago Bar, has been promi-
nently identified with the reform Of politics
IN this city, and was one of the gentlemen
who were instrumental In rescuing the
South Town from the hands Of the gang of
thieves and shoulder-hitters who at one
time controlled it. To ell who know Mr.
Mason, either personally or by reputation,
his affirmation of the truth of any statement
will carry conviction with it.
A Tribune reporter called on him yester-
day, and asked him
UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES HE HEARD LOGAN
make the remarks he referred to in his
speech.
I'm the spring OF 1861" said he, 81 was a
law etudent 10 the Office Of Hoyne, Miller &
Lewis, OF this city, and, at the request OF the
firm. went TO Southern Illinois TO obtain or
ders in certain cases in the Circuit Courts of
Jackson and Perry Counties. IL ives Just
sfter the call of President Lincoln for ninety
day troops, and on my way down there,
there passed me at CenIralia the first train
loaded with Illinois soldiers on their way to
Cairo to take possession of that place. left
the Illinois Central at the nearest point TO
Murphysboro, the County scat of Jackson
County, and attended Court in the morning.
At noon the announcement was made that
Court would not be held in the afternoon
because John A. Logan would address bis
constituents in the Court House yard. The
return conveyance to the railroad was not
to leave until toward evening, and 1 there
fore remained and heard the speech. John
A. Logan stood in the midst of his constltu-
ents, who surrounded him in rows, seated
on the grass he was in the center, like the
chief OF a clan. The men were In the main
roughly dressed, had come in on horseback,
and some of them had rifles. When ali was
ready they said, Go ahead, John. Talk us
a string, John. And he did talk them
string, substantially as follows: He told
them that there was going to be war be-
tween the North and the South; that il had
already commenced, and that
IT WAS BLACK REPUBLICAN WAR;
that old Abe Lincoln as he called him.
wished to have Illinois troops take posses
sion OF Cairo, because it WsB en- important
point. and hold it for the North, and that
the Illinois men ought 70 take possession OF
Cairo, and hold it for the South. And he
recommended them 10 fight on the side Of
the South-to go iato it's armies, and have
nothing to do with the Union troops. Those
expressions, liz substance, | clearly remem-
Der; and the residue of the speech was OF
a piece with them. L was naturally
very much impressed by it, as the
people of Chicago at least had no idea at that
time of any sucn feeling in Southern Illinois.
L returned to the railroad and took the tram
for Cairo; and at one OF the bridges on my
way down, where the cars stopped, found
that soldiers had been left from the train
which preceded us, to guard the bridge, be-
cause rumors of rebel disturbances in
Southern Illinois had reached them. Olmy
arrival in Cairo, met some gentlemen from
Chicago, and told them of the speech Logan
had made. have bean in Southern Illinois
twice of late years, and have taken pains to
inquire as to the recollection of people there
concerning
JOHN A. LoGAg's POSITION AT THE OUTBREAK
OF THE WAR,
aud have been assured repeatedly by respect
able citizens of that part of the State that it
was perfectly well understood there that he
DID make reDsl speeches at that time, and
that there were men now living in Southern
ILLINOIS who had gone into the rebel army at
his instigstion. Ny own recollection as to
the speech heard is perfectly clear. There
can be no question about 1t"
why have you not spoken of it before?"
Il have repeatedly spoken of it to friends
in the city, and narrated the incident 10
them. L never made a political speech
before, and never had occasion to refer to il
in public. The matter never came up in
any way where 1 was called on to speak
about il as at the Music Hall. have never
made secret OF it among my friends"