The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-14
THE ASSAULT ON STANTON.
How Gen. Joseph Wheeler, of Alabama,
Performed a Duty to His People.
He Claims that There Was Nothing Treason
enable in the Late Observation-Disclosures
and Apprenticeship Talk OF Hanging.

aud Appomattox-The Talk Of Hanging.
bama upon Edwin NJ stanton. delivered in the
House at late hour Friday night. June+
most unwelcome and painful task has been
forced upon me as a duty, duty to myself,
duty to the people with whom have ever been
aud always shall be identified in feeling and
sentiment, and duty to the truth of history.
That duty is now performed. have shown
from the record that an innocent woman was ex-
ecuted despite recommendation to executive
slemency, that recommendation being studiously
kept from the executive. have shown that
officers were dismissed from the service SO un-
Justly that Congress has felt constrained to use
its power to repair the wrongs inflicted upon
them by the Secretary Of War have shown
from the testimony of his own friends that MIR.
Stanton systematically violated the confidence
and trust reposed in him by President Buchanan
and his Cabinet. And finally, feel that have
shown that he tried to destroy General Porter
by practices and methods which have been in
effect condemned by Generals Grant, Schofeld,
Terry and Getty, and which Mr.. Lincoln would
also have condemned had his life been spared.
maintain. therefore, that it Is incontestably
established that was justified in saying that
MIR. Stanton ''sought to conspire to drag down
officers who did not conform to his views or sus-
tain the line OF policy that he had inaugurated."
The uncongenial and unpleasant duty has been
thrust upon me. Sincerely had almost said
laboriously-I endeayored to escape it. But l
was not permitted to evade it, and, though It was
unwillingly undertaken, trust the gentlemen
who forced it upon me are satisfied with the
manner in which it has been DISCHARGED
Mr. Stanton may have been great man, may
have rendered great services to the Republican
party and the country may be largely indebted
to his undoubted ability But can the proof be
questioned which shows that he professed foalty
and devotion to one set of party friends while at
the same moment be secretly comforting
with and aiding their enemies. Can they question
the proofs which show that he was Unsuitable In
engrosslng power and arbitrary and ruthless in
exercising it, that he sought to accomplish the
disgrace and ruin OF one officer OF the govern
ment by acts which doubt if many members
of this House will approve, and secured the dis
missal of another by devices equally reprehensl-
.ble9 y
Those familiar with the methods adopted by
soldiers to manifest their detestation OF any and
everything unmanly and revengeful can readily
imagine the reception which Grants army would
have accorded to an implacable and ferocious
civilian who, after resting quietly in his COM
Portable home during that last year of continu
Gus and desperate fighting should have visited
their camp and talked about hanging the men
and officers who were under the protection of
General Grants parole. Why, sir. the carefully
polished boots, the 'bed" shirt, s'store Clothes"
and glossy beaver in which the sangunary-
minded man of peace had been careful to array
himself indicating his vast superiority to
mere fighting soldiers, would only have tended
to increase the derision and and scorn with
which his proposition would have been received,
and if he escaped a coat of tar and feathers he
might have considered himself undeservedly and
exceptionally fortunate.
Mans circumstances and surroundings may
change, but human nature is the same In all ages
and under all conditions, and the great master
delineator of the workings of the human heart
has, In Hotspurs account OF the bearing and
80 AZ InxS Id
oners he had taken on Holmedon field, very ac-
curateiy portrayed the scorn with which the sol
diers of Grants army would have received such
an emissary as have imagined, that cannot
forbear quoting the passage
remember when the fight was DONE
When was dry with rage, and extreme toll.
Breathless and faint leaning upon my sword,
Came there certain lord, neat, trinity dressed.
Fresh bridegroom; and his chin. new reaped,
Showed like stubbleland at harvest time.
he was perfumed like milliner;
and still he smiled and talked;
And, as the soldiers bore dead bodies by.
He called them untaught knaves unmannerly,
TO bring slovenly. unhandsome
Betwixt the wind and his nobility.
then, all smarting, with my wounds being cold.
To be pestered with popiniay,
Out Of my grief and my irnpatience,
Answered neglectingly, know not what;
He should or should not,-for he made me mad.
TO see him shine so brisk, aud smell so sweet
And talk so like waiting gentlewonan
OF guns and drums and wounds (dod save the markD
Was parmaceti for inward bruise
And that it was great pity, so 1t was,
That vilainous saltpeter should be dgged
Out of the bowels of the harmless EARTH
Which many good, tall fellow had destroyed
So cowardy; and but for these vile guns
He would himself have been q soldier.
None of those who were confederate soldiers
have, during the twenty one years since 1865,
ever received aught but kindness, respect, and
courtesy from the brave men of the federal
army, who for four years stood in the front rank
of battle
All the taunts all the insults, all the unkind-
ness, all the sneers, all the expressions, all the
efforts and talks about hanging have come from
men who re in their homes while their coun-
trymen ve,e bivouackng under the canopy of
heaven or bravely leading In the front of battle.
We may take 1t as an invarable rule that when
any of these men who talk about hanging
Americans went to the front they accepted
positions az judgeadvocates or quartermasters,
or at least portion of their service was of that
character; and it is such men who form little
coterie scarce more than trio) who in Con-
gress occasions express sentiments which
seem to hetray regret that Southern men were
not hanged; and some Of them to-day, after the
lapse OF twenty -one years. use language on this
floor which certainly indicates that this regret
still rankles in their hearts. l recognize fully
the fact that many of our best, purest. and
worthiest citizens-men of dauntless courage,
devoted patriotism. sterling character, aud dis
tinguished ability-both North and South, were
prevented by circumstances from taking any
active part in the war. But men OF this char
acter never INDUCED in TRADES such as have
referred to- Inoffensvely cherishng their con-
victions and quietly pursuing their peaceful vo-
cations while the clash of contending armies re-
sounded through the land, they not trans
formed into fierce, implacable warriors by the
return Of peace.
wish now to say how keenly have appre
eiated the kindness and chivalrous courtesy
which has uniformly been extended to me by
nearly every member of this House, and to place
H.
and proper regard for my dignity as Repre-
sentative have necessitated my saying aught
which would wound the 'sself- adoring PRIDE of
this small coterie of patriots whose devotion to
their country became most manifest when it was
least needed.
Mr. Gallinger-What does the gentleman think