Year: 1867

Gently been engaged, and the gentle
man from Illinois, in the commencement
of his speech, is laying foundation for
the discussion of the question by
reference to the commencement of the
war and the circumstances surrounding
it.


Mi. Logan. What am anxious to
learn, Mr.. Speaker, is, upon what foun-
dation rests this fippant and gratuitous
charge repeatedly made against the Re-
publican party on this floor to the effect
that we are trampling liberty under
foot and destroying the rights and
privileges of a portion of the American
people? Wherein have we violated
the Constitution Was it in crushing
the rebellion? I have no doubt every
Copperhead in the North would say
yes. We did carry the emblem of our
national glory and greatness from the
rivers and the lakes of the West to the
bays and the CULTS of the South, where
it waves to-day, and will wave forever;
but in doing so we innocently thought,
hoped, and believed then, and still hon
estly think, hope, and believe that we
were erecting around the Constitution
impregnable bulwarks, and laying for
liberty deeper and broader founda-
tion in the gatitude, confidence, and af-
fections Of our people. We never
dreamt that for every rebel we killed in
the South we were to make an eternal
enemy in the North; and we do think
it amounts to riddle beyond the COM
prehension of motal wits how it is that
very many of the brave men who fought
us, and whom we had to literally over
whelm before we could conquer, yet
now that they are conquered are much
more ready to ask forgiveness and for
get the past and be friends, as we all
ought to be again, than are their allies,
who, however deep their sympathies
with them may have been while the
war was raging, took special pains to
let the danger pass before they gave it
an airing. God forbid that the day
shall ever dawn upon this Republic
when the patriots whose patriotism
won them crutches and wooden limbs
shall have apologies and explanations
to make for their public conduct, to
patriots who boast of and abuse the
privilege of eulogizing as their brethren
the men whose sabers drank loyal blood
and whose bullets shot away loyal
limbs. The truth is, the great wrong
that discounted Democracy feels
deepest is that the people at home
neither feel nor think that there ought
to be northern rebels enough in this
House to let the southern rebels in.


The next greatest wrong that they
have to complain of is, that the men
who had the pluck to stand by those
who in the field had to fight our coun-
try's battles presumptuously aspire to
make our laws. think thus far they
have vindicated their claims to the
worlds respect alike in the field and in
the Halls of legislation. What is the
basis upon which they fought Simply
tnat rebellion was a crime. They tri-
umphed. Now upon what basis have
they legislated? Simply that rebellion
was a crime, and they will triumph
again. The people will never require
us to fight on one principle and legislate
on another. To shed our blood on the
field and then come here to make apol-
ogies for it to men who wanted us
whipped. [ hold now, and always ex-
pcCG W HOlu, GIttG llO HAL HAS
to cross the threshold of this House
and claim seat on this floor who did
not dare during the war to openly stand
by and claim the protection of the flag
that floats over this Capitol. The Gov
ernment that is organized SO loosely
and administered so feebly that trai-
tors of yesterday can be among the
rulers of tomorrow can neither long
1oncr Ioco,.xya fn
And this Government can have no ene-
mics in the South half as much to be
dreaded as that whining northern friend
who would clothe with power in this
Government tomorrow the man whose
blade was drawn to stab the Constitu,
ton and the Union but yesterday
When the South can be Loyalty repre-
sented on this floor upon the basis pro-
posed by Congress the problem of re-
construction will cease to yex the dis
cussions of this Hall.


The prime, sole, and supreme object
of the Republican party is to re-estab-
lish this Government upon sure foun-
dation of loyalty, against which the
frothy waves OF treason may fret for
ever in vain. We have survived one re.
Oeiiioh, dii1 Glo SdSc ouSSestiOHc O1
past experience warn us that it will be
wiser to prevent another rebellion than
to too confidently expect to survive it.
Rebellion, secession, and treason are
like all other crimes and iniquities, and
will crop out in every direction upon
the smallest perceivable pretext. Put
forward, then, the loyal and true and
hold at respectful and indifferent dis
tance the disloyal and untrue until we
can see some voluntary evidence that
they have finally awoke to the consci
BUSINESS that they are criminals and
ought to be grateful that they have not
been ignominiously branded by the
Judgment of a competent tribunal as
such. The whole secret, however, of
the wailing and gnashing OF teeth that
we hear among the Democracy is not
because we have insisted that rebels
shall be held under restraint and loyal
men promoted, that our flag shall be
respected at home as well as abroad.
hut If ic simp1u tho roason a roha1 Trick