The National tribune., 1886-12-30

In the Winter Of 1S67-'5 Gen. Logan was
urged by many OF his friends TO accept the Re-
publican nomination for
GOVERNOR OF ILLISoIs,
bat he declined, preferring to remain in Con-
gress The following Summer he was renom-
mated for Representative-at-large and was
again elected by an overwhelming majority.
The same year he was a delegate to the Ma
tional Republican Convention, and in n brief.
ringing speech put in nomination for President
his old commander, Gen. Ulysses ;. Grant.
During the heated Presidential canvass which
followed, he was increasingly active, making
many speeches in other States than his own,
which were acknowledged to be among the most
powerful of the campaign.
In January, 1869, Gen. Logan. in the House
of Representatives. created a sensation by de-
claring himself opposed 10 further money sub
sides TO railroads. His speech on the subject
made a great stir at the time, and was Hniyer-
sally commended by n large majority of the
people of the country, who fully agreed with
him in the position
EHAD so FIRMLY TAKEN.
In March Of that year Gen. Logan, as Chair
man of the Committee on Military Affairs, re-
ported and secured the passage through the
House Of his bill reducing the army and muster
ing out between 400 and 500 officers. Gen.
Sherman wrote letter opposing the bill, butt
was answered by Gen. Logan so vigorously and
convincingly that il utterly failed of its object
IL is a fact not generally known that TO Gen.
Logan fully as much as TO any other man IS
due the authorship of the Fifteenth Amend
ment TO the Constitution of the United States,
which provides that " the right Of citizens TO
vote shall not be denied or abridged by
the United States or by any State OH account
of race, color or previous condition OF seryi-
tuder This amendment was finally agreed
upon, according to the draft made by Gen.
Logan, by both Houses of Congress, and was
passed by the constitutional two-thirds ma
joTity,
On the 9th OF April, 1870, in the Masonic
Temple at Washington, Gen. Logan delivered
an Grafton before the Department of the Poto-
mac, Grand Army of the Republic, upon the
life, character and death of Gen. George III.
Thomas, the
"ROCK OF CHICKAMAUGA
and the hero of Nashville. IL was mastery
address, eliciting the warmest commendation
from the comrades and others who heard it.
In 1870 Gen. Logan was nominated for the
third time for Congress rs the candidate at
large from Illinois and was again elected, but
was soon afterward chosen
UNITED STATES SENATOR
| by the Illinois Legislature, TO succeed Richard
! Yates whose term expired March 3, 1871. At
| the Republican legislative caucus he had more
| than three to one over both his competitors,
Gov. 0glesby and Gen. John NJ. Palmer.
On Jan. 16. 1872, the Senate having under
consideration bill for the relief Of Chicago,
| then lying in ashes, Gen. Logan delivered
speech for the bill, which was one of the most
vivid descriptions of great calamity, and one
of tue most powerful appeals for assistance ever
made TO a legislative body.
One of the most effective political speeches
ever made by Gen. Logan was in june, 1872,
when he replied to the speech of Senator Sum-
| ner who had bitterly assailed President Grant
/ n,,1 Is.afN NfSfra Sun ar'E ali hn-
ing TO defeat the denomination of Grant by
| the National Republican Convention soon 10 be
/ held in Philadelphia 1t will be remembered
| that Gen. Grant was unanimously renominated
amidst great applause.
As far back as 1870 Gen. Logan's name was
occasionally mentioned in the press of the
country as a
CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT.
This was received with great favor by the old
soldiers in all sections, who, from that time
forward. lost no opportunity to urge him for
the position of Chief Executive.
| In 1879 Gen. Logan was reelected 10 the
Senate. The same day the arrears of pensions
! bill passed both Houses of Congress and soon
after became a law through the approval of the
President. This measure brought JOY TO the
hearts of thousands of pensioners, widows OF
soldiers and their children throughout the
country. Gen. Logan had labored for years in
behalf Of this measure, and its passage was
largely due to his persistent and eloquent ad'
vocacy.
Scarcely had he taken his seat in the Senate
when he again introduced bill for the
EQUALIZATION OF SOLDIERS BoUSTIEs.
Ever after, when occasion permitted, he urged
the Justice OF this measure, and il is through
no fault of his that up to this time it has failed
TO become a law.
In April. 1879, Gen. Logan performed an act
Of high moral courage in declining 10 notice q
challenge TO a duel. sent him by Congress
man Lowe, of Alabama, one Of the Con
federate Brigadiers whom Logan had dashed
so severely in his great speech on the
Army bill. Mr.. Lowe charged that Gen
! Logan, at the opening Of the war, raised
body of troops i'm Illinois with the in
tention Of entering the Confederate service
Gen. Logan stigmatized this as ' vindictiv,
aud malicious lie" Mr. Lowe sent him tive
7 or three notes demanding the satisfaction du,
10 n gentleman according TO the code of honor
to which Gen. logan paid no attention, refus
, ing to recognize him in any manner Referring
, TO this episode Methodist paper said:
. John A Logan is n good Methodist and viii no
fight duel but he use pretty strong Language
, sonetmes When Mr. loves second" waited or
and said Go 10 hell with IL. will not even rec
ognize the existence OF your principal until n
makes AN abiect apology" To which We and al
the good Methodist brethren, say Amen.
Gen. Logan's devotion to the interest of tht
: soldiers, and his able and persevering efforts 4
: secure justice TO them from the Government
I which they so faithfully served, are wei
, known. He has at all times and places adyo
4 Gated every just measure for the payment o
pensions and other claims which the soldier
q have upon the Nation. He was never fright
! ened by the cry that bill
( WOULD COST TOO MUCH.
: He always argued that the Government should
: at whatever cost, be faithful 10 the promise
: aud pledges il made TO the men who flew
Z arms in its extremity.
L In 1879 Gen. Logan was engaged for the Re
: publieans in the political campaigns in Ohit
J. Iowa and other States. There was a great dc
mand for him everywhere, and he was uni
yersally received with outbursts Of pOpula
J. enthusiasm. The feeling of the old soldier
:, toward him then and always made itself man
fest in every part of the country. They crowd
A ed around him by thousands, filling the al
n with their shouts aud giving expression in
~ most tumultuOus manner 10 their love for the
= old leader.
n prominent feature Of Gen. Logan's careC
n in the Senate was his persistent and eloqueI
T. opposition TO the bill for the restoration
n Eitz-John Porter 10 his old rank in the arm,
a That he was conscientious in this, even IA
4 opponents could not doubt for an instant. I'll
:. bill was before several Congresses, until passe
! at the first session of the present Congress
a Each time Gen. Logan spoke against il wit
all the
" FIERY FORCE AND ELoQUENCE
or hecould command. The repeated defeat of ii
bill was in "A large measure due 10 his arg