Such is the rule, and such is the condition of things, in Europe. I wish to know whether this attack on me, means that this country shall be subverted into the hands of powerful military men, who are to become aristocrats, as they are in Europe? I wish to know whether titles are to be established here? I wish to know whether a body of nobility is to grow up here.

true.

I know the people are honest, as we have been told in that letter. Yes, sir, the people are honest, the people are brave, and the people are He [Sherman] would not have been a general, if it had not been for the people. It was the boy who carried the musket, who made him what he is. The boys who carried muskets so gallantly during the late war, made all these men who now hold themselves so high. They are the boys who made generals, and presidents, and can unmake them; and I say, for one, I shall stand up here as the defender of these boys, and these men, of their widows and their orphans, and for the liberties of all the people in this country, against all generals, or marshals, or governors, or princes, or potentates, regardless of whatever aristocracy may be attempted to be set up in this land. While I live, I will stand as their defender. Living or dying, I shall defend the liberties of this people, making war against dictation and against aristocracy, and in favor of republicanism.

The Army bill, although somewhat modified by the Senate, still preserved its essential reform features when finally enacted into law-a result admittedly due to this powerful speech.

GENERAL LOGAN'S AUTHORSHIP IN THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT AS FINALLY AGREED TO.

It is a fact, not generally known, because of General Logan's modesty, that he was as much the author of the Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution as some of those who have heretofore claimed to be. As that Amendment came from the Senate to the House its first section read as follows:

The right of citizens of the United States to vote or hold office shall not be denied or abridged by the United States. or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude."

Mr. Logan sought to amend this section in the House by striking out the words "or hold office," as superfluous, the right to vote always carrying with it the right to hold office. The House, however, refused to adopt his amendment, but instead agreed to amendments offered by Bingham of Ohio, and sent it back to the Senate in the following shape:

The right of citizens of the United States to vote or hold office shall not be denied or abridged by any State on account of race, color, nativity, property, creed, or previous condition of servitude."

The Senate disagreeing to this, a conference committee, comprising Senators Stewart, Conkling, and Edmunds, on the part of the Senate, and Messrs. Boutwell, Bingham, and Logan, on the part of the House, settled the disagreement by adopting Logan's draft, so that the section should read thus:

"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude."

And in this shape, there being no disagreement as to the second section giving power to enforce it, it passed both Houses by the constitutional two-thirds majority.*

* By reference to the Journal of the House of Representatives, 3d session, Fortieth Congress, the following proceedings will be found: On February 20, 1869, Mr. Boutwell moved that the rules be suspended so as to take up and consider the joint resolution of the Senate (S. R. 8), proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Agreed to: yeas, 144; nays, 37.

Mr. Logan submitted an amendment to it, to strike out the words "or hold office." Disagreed to.

Mr. Shellabarger submitted an amendment in the nature of a substitute for the first section, but subsequently withdrew it.

Mr. Bingham submitted an additional amendment, to strike out the words "by the United States" and insert "nativity, property, creed;" so that it would read as follows:

"The right of citizens of the United States to vote or hold office shall not be denied or abridged by any State on account of race, color, nativity, property, creed, or previous condition of servitude."

This was agreed to, and the joint resolution was read a third time and passed by 140 yeas to 37 nays.

On February 23d a message was received by the House from the Senate, notifying it

LOGAN'S EULOGY ON GENERAL THOMAS A FITTING TRIBUTE TO "THE ROCK OF CHICKAMAUGA.”

On April 6, 1870, in the Masonic Hall at Washington, General Logan delivered an oration before the Department of the Potomac, Grand Army of the Republic, upon the life, character, and death of General George H. Thomas, the hero of Nashville, "The Rock of Chickamauga." Briefly, but in telling words, he thus sketched the turning-point in that great soldier's military career:

When the army swung loose from its moorings at Atlanta, to sweep across the plains of Georgia, the troops left behind were placed under command of General Thomas to hold the enemy in check in Tennessee. And here, in some respects, was perhaps the most trying position of his life. Gradually falling back on Nashville to prevent the enemy from cutting off his communications, concentrating his forces and strengthening his cavalry arm, his delay and apparent inaction was misunderstood and

that the Senate had disagreed to the House amendments, asking a conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses, and stating that Mr. Stewart, Mr. Conkling, and Mr. Edmunds had been appointed the conferees on the part of the Senate.

The same day, on motion of Mr. Boutwell, the rules were suspended, the joint resolution with its amendments taken up, the House agreed to the conference, and Messrs. Boutwell, Bingham, and Logan were appointed conferees on the part of the House.

On February 25th Mr. Boutwell reported from the conference committee as follows: "The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the joint resolution (S. R. 8), proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, having met, after full and free conference have agreed to recommend and do recommend to their respective Houses as follows:

That the House recede from their amendments and agree to the resolution of the Senate, with an amendment as follows:

In section one, line two, strike out the words "or hold office;" and that the Senate agree to the same.

Managers on the part of the House of Representatives,

Managers on the part of the Senate,

GEORGE S. BOUTWELL.
JOHN A. BINGHAM.
JOHN A. LOGAN.

WILLIAM M. STEWART.
ROSCOE CONKLING.

This report was agreed to by both House and Senate, by the constitutional majority of two-thirds in each House.

his motives misinterpreted. The news of Hood's rapid and persistent advance into Tennessee, and apparently no strong effort on the part of Thomas to check him, was a riddle for a time, even at the headquarters of the army. Sensitive to every insinuation against his honor or his integrity, as one of his nature must ever be, it required all his self-control to keep his own counsel. But he was equal to the task, and moving steadily onward, perfecting his plans, he waited patiently the moment at which to strike the decisive blow. When it arrived, it came like a thunder-bolt upon the enemy.

Hood's army, shattered and broken, was scattered to the four winds, never to be again reorganized.

This cleared away effectually the cloud which for a moment had obscured his fame, and his star shone forth with increased splendor.*

Of Thomas' characteristics, General Logan said:

He brought no peculiar trait into stronger relief than another, but blended them all in one harmonious whole. If there was any exception to this, any feature that predominated over others, it was the power of his will, especially its power over himself-self-control. And this, united with his uniform urbanity, was doubtless the secret of that facility with which he acquired control over the troops under his command, who seemed to obey, not more because duty compelled them than because they loved to execute the orders of their general. It was the secret of that power he possessed of instilling into his men his own indomitable and deliberate courage, that won him the sobriquet of "The Rock of Chickamauga."

Intellectually he was peculiarly fitted for military life; the very harmony of his nature begat system; and, possessing strong comprehensive powers, readily he grasped the points of his situation, and deliberate judgment concentrated the advantages and matured his plans, and energy executed them.

His heart was that of a giant, and swelled and palpitated with none but the noblest impulses. Sincere in all his words, his unreserved frankness and evident truthfulness in all his reports and communications extorted admiration even from those who love to censure. Strict conscientiousness and punctual fidelity marked all his actions. "No taint of sordid selfishness, no miserable caprices, no stain of dishonor, ever soiled his fair escutcheon." His name will go down to posterity without a blot upon his character as a soldier, a patriot, or a gentleman.

* But for Logan's self-abnegation, Thomas would not have had this chance. 87-88, and foot-note.

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Envy and jealousy will seek in vain for a flaw or defect upon which to hang a doubt or fix a criticism.

The peroration of this eloquent oration was very fine-as these few lines of it will show:

He is gone! Grief sits visibly on every soldier's brow, and pervades every loyal heart of the Nation. His noble form lies low, ready to be committed to its kindred dust. Earth never received into her bosom a manlier form or a nobler breast. The halo of his deeds and the brilliancy of his achievements may almost be said to illumine the grave into which his body descends, and the fragrance of his acts of kindness perfume his sepulchre.

He has gone from our sight, but not from our hearts and our memories; there his name must live on, embalmed by our love and garlanded with our affections, growing brighter and brighter as time rolls on. The cold marble often bears in mockery a name forgotten but for the letters chiselled in the icy slab. It cannot be so with the name of General George Henry Thomas: it is chiselled on the tablets of too many hearts to need the aid of marble or bronze to perpetuate it.

As a soldier, a gentleman, a patriot, a man, his memory will go down. to future generations, emblazoned upon the pages of history, pregnant with a lesson of wholesome emulation to those who shall in the future lead armies to battle, not alone in this Republic, but throughout the civilized world.

This oration was very highly praised by the press at the time-although delivered at a disadvantage, in this: that extended memorial services, including an oration by Garfield, had been had in honor of General Thomas, the evening before, in the hall of the House, in the presence of the President and his Cabinet and both Houses of Congress. Yet one paper said: "The night after, at Masonic Hall, Logan's oration flashed out with all its electricity and descriptive magnificence, throwing completely in the shade everything heretofore delivered." Another paper, alluding to this meeting, said:

General Schenck, Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, presided. Members of the Cabinet, Senators, Members of the House, and Governors of States were present, some of whom took part in the proceedings. The hall (Masonic Hall) was crowded to reple