The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-08-21

fast as you labor to treat with these men, the,
will flee away and escape you. They hay
cessor, Gov. Moore. kept just sixty mile
ahead Of Gen. Banks army. have travclet
from the southwest to the northwest part o
Louisiana In search Of this peripatetic govern
ment, to try to get II to negotiate treaty will
US. Ihave never been able among the aeetcs
horses Of the South to find one feet enough I,
overtake n rebel State government, when
have around and about me victorious army.
II we cannot treat with the States leagues
together in rebellion; IL VIC cannot treat will
these State governments In their organized ca
pacity, how shall we win these men bacl
again! How assert again over them the supre
macy Of the law, and maintain the integrity o
the Union. The problem does not strike me n
one so difficult. IL seems to me TO be very sim
pie five look into the history and philosoph!
had its inception and progress, and thus far IL
success. How was III 1t was In the FIRST plac
by 80 organizing State governments that tn
few should constitute the dominant party il
the State, that they should be able to overrid,
the opinions and the will Of the many, and L
control the destinies and control and regulate
the legislation Of the State. II was In thi:
way, by putting down fair expression Of the
people and by submitting in lis place the expires.
sion of the interests, the passions and prejudi-
ces Of the dominant class-thc wealthy planters
in each State-that they were able to organize
a rebellion and frame new government. II
was because the State government Of the South
represented the views and interests Of the class
that was dominant IN social life, dominant In
the field Of politics and dominant in the halls OF
legislation. II was thus, singly, separately and
individually that the States went out Of the Un-
ion, although the people OF many of the States
were loyal. II was thur that individually ,sngly
and separately gone out, they formed collect
lively this league or contedcracy.
Now reverse this process, ignoring all these
State government, all leaders. all politicians,
and as these States went out separately, take
separately the people of these States !; take the
people of one State, begin with one State, come
TO the people oftbat State, offer them every on
portunity, every inducement to become loyal,
every inducement tn repudate their allegiance
to the rebellion ond TO renew their allegiance
to the Union. Take, then, these loyal citizens,
few or many, for they constitute the State
traitors are nOp part OF The State the men
who are trying to pull down the government
have no right to be consulted in It's construc-
tion, its modification or in the mode in which
II is carried on; and wherever in state or n
city, you can find ten loyal men, let them save
the Sodom of rebellion. There is no difficulty,
know from my experience In Louisiana. In
finding material with which you can 60 to work
and reorganize State. II will be done there.
The State will return to the Union. The State
will return to the Union by tho act of the peo-
pie not by compulsion, but by the free, VOL
untary act of Its own loyal citizens.
Nay. more by the blessing of that Provi-
denco which Is bringing good out of evil, and
which ordained that the first gun that was dis
charged against the walls of Fort Sumter
should sound the death knell of the rebellion,
(here the applause was loud and long contnu.
ed,) II will return to this Union, by the free
and voluntary act of its own citizens, and will
inaugurate, form and establish, as believe IN
the State of Louisiana, a civil government
which shall provide Immediately, or in the fu.
ture by gradual process, for tho destruction
of slavery and the substitution ofthe system oi
free labor. (Renewal OF the applause.)
Now suppose some Of you call this aboli-
tionism. daughter and applause.) Let us
see whether il is. Let US try that question out
Why was the term Abolitionism used rs term
of reproachl Why was man stigmatized rs
an abolitionistI Because. fellow citizens, he
was undertaking to interfere with the free ex
ercise of the rights of loyal citizens Of other
States in establishing and regulating their own
institutions. We used to say that the men in
the Southern States had right to establish
therein their own institutions that they were
guaranteed that right by the constitution and
and We said that our fellow-citizens who,
against the guarantees of the constitution, de-
sired to interfere with those rights. were med
ding whth that which was none OF their bust.
ness. Suppose those loyal people want to reg
ulatc these institutions for themselves. have
you any objection! because II strikes me, IL
you have, you are occupying precisely the
ground of the old fashion abolitionists.-
daughter and applauso)
Now whatever may think of the forfeiture
these men have made, by their own repulia-
tions Of tho Constitution, of any rights and
guarantees they had under IL whatever may
think Of this as q political question as practi-
cal question there is no difficulty In answering
il. This Is n question which the rebellion has
settled that you cannot negotiate those men
back INTO sidpery irho hare once corn the uni
form Of the United States. Immense ap-
plause. This power is set out Of the reach Of
politicians by the rebels themselves. Still |
have no hesitation in saying here and any,
where, that If, In the settlement of this contro.
versy, the loyal men In determining for them
selves the conditions upon which they will
come back into the Union, should come upon
such conditions and with such Constitution
that we could see that that which has been such
n fruitful cause of disunion in the past, which
Is the cause Of disunion now, should be ques-
ton settled by them-by their own act-and
they should not leave this quarrel rs q heritage
10 our children and our childrcn's children for
another civil wnr-for another war OF carnage
and death-I should hold up both my hands
and rejoice thereat. tGrcat applause. So
long as they were in the Union | was in favor,
as / am in favor now, of leaving them--thc
loyal men-to determine this question for them
selves. l am willing to trust II in their hands.
Now, fellow.cit1ens, much has been said
about Louisiana We have heard much Of
late from the papers thar Louisiana has offered
to come back to the Union; that the State Of
Louisiana had sent q committee to the Presi-
dent proaering return to the Union upon the
basis that he would Withdraw his emancipa-
ton proclamation, and order the military gov
ernment OF the State 10 convene the Legislature
OF Louisiana upon the basis OF the constitution
of '52. There Is no question about which there
has been 20 much ignorance and misconception
In the public mind as this. approach the dis
cussion of this question with some deg,ee Of
with some reluctance, because the
gentlemen who composed that committee are
some of them my friends and acquaintanses;
who In private life ! respect; men whose char.
acter and motives do not intend to assail.-
And II Is but justice TO these men to say tho
that has been made with 70.
gard to the authority and objects OF their mis-
sion, have not proceeded from them. Them
has been no effort made by the State OF Louis
lana, rs State. TO return TO the Union. There
has been no public meeting in Louisiana. or any
meeting known to the cl',,ns Of n,aSs
T vas M that time at the head Of the civil gov
ernment of the State which delegated this conl-
miiise There has never been meeting that
,hsse men attended 10 accomplish any object
.bat embraced over twenty individuals. and
these coming from not over three or four out
of the forty. eight parishes in the State. They
state that they came as COMMITTEES OF plant
r. Twenty planters happened 20 be, as AN