National Republican., 1888-03-04
Response from the Grand Army.

Response from the Grand Army.
EDITOR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN: The
sixth section of article / of the con-
stitution of the United States has for its
concluding clause these words, "and for
any speech or debate in either house they
shall not be questioned in any other
place."
This, sir, affords platform upon which
a senator or representative in Congress
may stand and smirch the character and
reputation of whom they will, and the
person affected thereby has no redress at
law for the injury resulting from the
slanderous words uttered, no matter how
untruthful, or malicious, or how unjusti-
fable they may be; nor does it make any
difference even though the words uttered
or the sentiment expressed may result in
the moral or physical destruction of the
victim thus assailed in the heat Bipartisan
passion.
1t is an impregnable fortress into which
the cowardly assassin of good regulations
will silently creep, there to lie in waiting
until the opportune. moment has come,
when, with pretended or an imaginary
excuse, he makes the assault, with little or
no regard for the rights or feelings of his
unfortunate subject.
During the past few days the loyal peo-
pie of this country have been treated to
an exhibition of this apparently legalized
jugglery, and, without pretending to know
the motive which controlled the men who
engaged in it, as a private soldier who
fully performed his whole duty under the
flag of the Union. here denounce the as
arms by Senators Blackburn, Vest, and
Wilson in the Senate of the United States
as indecent and wholly unwarranted by
the facts.
Let me ask of comrades now in the city
how much longer we shall sit as silent
listeners without meeting in some public
manner these most unjust attacks upon
the good name and fame of distant fellow
soldiers and the widows and orphans of
those who are dead and who are now scat
tered broadcast over the land.
The public press does not seem to have
space for fitting reply and AZ yet no
senator has met these assaults in manner
satisfactory to the people nor with that
elegant argument to which you are en-
titled at their hands by reason of your
yalor and bravery on many well con-
tested field.
So far from the truth and the real facts
are the statements of these confederate
brigadiers that fair presentation of the
recorded history of the country bearing
upon the subject would not only show the
falsehood uttered, but 1t would also prove
the most absolute want of sincerity of the
senators making the statements.
| Mr.. Editor, there are quite number OF
private soldiers in this city who performed
the most honorable and the most hazard
GUS service for the Union cause during the
wicked rebellion, and who are sufficiently
qualified to present an argument so COM
plete in logic and in truthful statements
as to make it possible for them to admin
lister most fitting rebuke to those men
who have so unjustly misrepresented us
under the protection of the law.
Let me suggest that we have a public
meeting at the earliest day possible, where
men who were real private soldiers can
have the opportunity Of showing TO the
national treasury are pretenders only.
Let us take up this warfare ourselves,
my comrades, and jealously guard and
| protect the good name of our fallen heroes
Let us show these haters of the nations
defenders that if the statements of our
friends in Congress are not to be believed,
or if they fail to meet the issue, that we,
the rank and file of the Union army, can
present the most unanswerable argument
from our own lips.
Let us show this so-called talented array
of confederate officers that the Union pri-
vate soldier is legion, who can meet them
upon any forum and teach them the rudi-
ments of patriotism, loyalty, and true de-
votion to our country and her laws and
institutions.
We can do this in true spirit of patri-
otto manhood, and under such circum-
stances our efforts cannot be subjected to
the fiimsy criticism that officers and claim
agents mold the sentiments we express,
and that the real soldier is not asking for
further legislation.
am at a loss to know just how to start
the movement, but will make this sug-
gestion: / am assured by u comrade that
we can get some sort of room on Monday
night, March b, at Grand Army Hall. Let
us gather there and make the necessary
arrangements for an early meeting and
for speakers to represent us and our inter
ests.
This cause being sacred one, made SC
by the blood of our Lincoln and the 300,-
600 Others who were slain or died OF
disease, deem il not out of place to dc
SO, and hereby invite you to call at 110C
Ninth street northwest ut any time before
10 p. M, this Sunday night to consult
with me about il.
Comrades, such action is warranted, fol
the reasons here stated, and hope you
will again rally on the coiors; not In q
spirit OF destructive physical warfare, but
rather with an argument couched in terms
which show the magnanimous spirit of Q
true conquerer,, prompted by a sense o
pity for those who have made its produc
ton necessary. Respectfully,
Private, 9Th Michigan cavalry and 4th Mich,
igan infantry.
WASHINGTON, Mar. 8, 1888.