sedate, and good citizen; when bowie-knives bristled from their breasts, revolvers filled all their pockets, and clubs were substituted among them for canes; when they spoke to a Northern legislator in these halls, with scowls on their brows, threats on their lips, and fingers on triggers. . They seem to have forgotten the price the peace we enjoy to-day has cost this Nation, and the crimson currency in which it was paid; the broken hearts with which it filled bruised and troubled bosoms at home; the mangled bodies with which it filled the hospitals everywhere, and the lifeless forms of manly beauty with which it filled hundreds of thousands of nameless graves on the far-off battle-plains of the South. They seem to have forgotten the bitter, scalding tears that rolled like floods of lava down the fair faces of the loyal mothers, wives, and sisters of this land when the names ineffably dear to them were found announced in the long lists of the killed that were published as a sequel to the first flash of the lightning that reported a battle had been fought; and I dare say they have forgotten that there ever was such a prison as Andersonville, and the long, long catalogue of horrors that brave men had to suffer there for being true to themselves, their Constitution, their flag, their homes, families, and country. Well for such gentlemen would it be, if they could occasionally meet, as they wander daily over this broad country, a few, of the many wan spectres of suffering and woe, who were captured by the saintly Southern brethren of Northern Democrats on fields of strife, thrust into prisons unfit for dogs, and starved till a hale constitution was a wreck, and then left to suffer the worst penalties of privation incident to weather and climate. I could give my friend from Brooklyn illustrations of individual suffering at Andersonville that would make the hair stand on his head, the blood freeze in his veins, and curses spring involuntarily to his lips. I remember one poor boy from my immediate vicinity, especially. His name is Dougherty. He went into Andersonville prison without a scar on his young body or a cloud on his fair brow, but under the humanitarianism of Southern chivalry he came out without a foot to walk on. They were literally frozen off, in prison. I trust, Mr. Speaker, that we will pass such a bill as may be understood, properly construed, and energetically executed, and that when it is, that it will leave the Southern State governments in the hands of men loyal and true, and forever prevent disloyal men from employing power and place to foment treason. It is not when they come, but how they come, that is the all-important point with me. I would be glad to welcome them back to-morrow if I were satisfied they were reorganized aright; but it is my intention to vote, as long as I have a vote here, to discover they possess the good sense and courage to repudiate openly THE REASON WHY THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS HATED LOGAN- 66 That detraction in its worst forms is always to be expected by any candidate on the Republican Presidential ticket, goes without saying." That such a grand figure-grand in peace as it was heroic in war-as its recent candidate for the Vice-Presidency presented, would be subjected to all the assaults that Democratic envy, hatred, and uncharitableness could inspire, was to be expected. But Logan was used to that sort of thing. He had been through that sort of fire before, and came out then as victorious as he did when confronted by the storms of Confederate missiles in the war, and Democratic missiles, rattling against the armor of his patriotism and purity, fell harmless at his feet, in 1884, as they had in previous years. We are tempted to this digression by the fact that it was in this same speech before the House of Representatives—now, twenty years ago,—that he gave the reason of this special hostility of the Democratic leaders to him, in these telling words: The unrelenting war waged against me by the Democracy is liable. to be misunderstood if looked at superficially. It is not because, as has been suspected by some, I was a Democrat and am one no longer. Dying out as it has been, slowly but painfully, for the last eight years, with the dry-rot, that party has become too much accustomed to see men of sense withdraw their allegiance from it, to make my instance a source of serious irritation. The true reason, which explains the malevolence with which they pursue me, will be found in the fact that while the recent war was raging, the honorable distinction was awarded to me of having put to the sword my full share of their party, who fell fighting in front of my command under the spotted flag of treason to support their sentiments and principles. It was during the session of 1867-68, while Andrew Johnson was still President, and Hugh McCulloch Secretary of the Treasury, that General Logan's vigilant watchfulness saved to the Government nearly one million dollars. An Illinois paper of that time thus alludes to this important service: Could the history of the present session of Congress be fully written out, it would be found that General John A. Logan, the only member representing an entire State, is no less distinguished in his services than in his constituency. He is not confined to strictly political labors, neither does he waste time in buncombe speeches. To illustrate the practical nature of his services take his connection with the Sundry Civil Expenses Bill pending in Congress, for "necessary expenses" connected with the Government bonds, notes, etc. The estimate for this appropriation, when it came from the Treasury, was $2,900,000, which amount excited the curiosity of the Committee on Appropriations. It was explained to them by the Secretary, that it was to pay employés in the Note and Bond Printing Bureau, and for paper and other materials. The committee thereupon cut it down to $1,500,000, but General Logan, having recently had an experience of the wasteful manner in which paper is used in that bureau, and having seen considerable of the loose way in which this business is transacted, thought a little further examination would do no harm. He thereupon procured an account of the actual and necessary expenditures of the bureau for the month of February, 1868, and found them to be $47,000. He then multiplied this number by twelve, for the twelve months of the year, and moved to amend the bill by striking out the $1,500,000 and inserting $565,000. This motion was agreed to. It will be seen from this, that General Logan saved the Government from being robbed of nearly one million dollars in this one instance! To the Philadelphia Ledger belongs the credit of being the first to call especial attention to this service of our Congressman-at-large. Such a member cannot be spared from the Halls of Congress. LOGAN THRICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC-OBJECTS OF THAT ORDER, AS STATED BY HIMSELF-HE INSTITUTES THE ANNUAL MEMORIAL, OR DEC ORATION DAY. In January, 1868, General Logan's comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic elected him commander-in-chief of that order, and afterward honored him and themselves by twice re-electing him to that distinguished position. It was during his first incumbency that General Logan, as commander-inchief of this military society, issued the order-which he often afterward alluded to as "the proudest act of my life," setting apart the 30th of May as a day in memory of the dead soldiers who lost their lives to perpetuate this Union,-a day on which to decorate their sacred graves and keep in mind their glorious deeds. This memorable order,-which was is. sued to all the comrades of the "Grand Army of the Republic" throughout the land,-was in these inspiring words: HEADQUARTERS GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, 446 14TH STREET, WASHINGTON, D. C., May 5, 1868. General Orders, No. 11. I. The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating, the graves of comrades. who died in defence of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, hamlet, and churchyard in the land. In this observance, no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will, in their own way, arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect, as circumstances may permit. We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose, among other things, "of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines, who united together to suppress the late rebellion." What can aid more to assure this result than by cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes. Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add, to their adornment and security, is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten, as a people, the cost of a free and undivided Republic. If other eyes grow dull, and other hands slack, and other hearts. grow cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well, as long as the light and warmth of life remain to us. Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains, and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us, in this solemn presence, renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us, a sacred charge upon a nation's gratitude, -the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan. II. It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to inaugurate this observance, with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to call attention to this order, and lend its friendly aid in bringing it to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country, in time for simultaneous compliance therewith. III. Department commanders will use every effort to make this order effective. By order of Official. N. P. CHIPMAN, Adjutant-General. JOHN A. LOGAN, This order having been generally complied with throughout the country, with beautiful and touching ceremonies at the graves of the dead, Mr. Logan on June 22, 1868, introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives, which was unanimously adopted, in these words: Resolved, That the proceedings of the different cities, towns, etc., recently held in commemoration of the gallant heroes who have sacrificed their lives in defence of the Republic, and the record of the ceremonial of the decoration of the honored tombs of the departed, shall be collected |