Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-11-16
speech of General Butier-usoeption at
the FInh Avenue Hotel.

at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, last evening, wa,
attended by very large number of our best
citizens. For three hours q throng of ladle,
aud gentlemen paid their respects to the Gen.
eral, who made the following speech, in re.
sponse to an address Of welcome BY Mr.. James
wadsworth;
Mr.. UddUorh. Ladies and GOItlen.eH The
citizens of New York have done me honor,
overmuch. Their kindness, extended 10 every
form known to Christian courtesy, ovorwhelms
me. That should be able TO add anything to
the sum of intelligence Is still greater honor.
That entertain very distinct views upon the
subjects to which you have adverted is most
true. Peace hath her victories no less re-
nowned than war; and OF all the peaceful VIC
tories yet achieved ln the interests of human
freedom, that achieved in the peaceful quiet
which almost brooded over this land on the
9th of November was the greatest.
Before we proceed for moment to look at
the material results, let us look at the moral
II has taught the world who shall look on
and It can now be said that II is no vain boast
in America that the eyes of the world areupon
her-lt has told all the world that we are able,
In the stress and strain Of civil war like that
never seen before, to carry our institutions in
peaceful quiet, change or re-elect our rulers as
we weigh them in the balance to find them
either meritorious or wanting, without so much
of trouble or disorder or riot or of commotion
as attends constable's election in q parish In
England.
The moral, then, is, that the Government
embalmed In the hearts Of the people, depend
ent on the intelligence of tho people, 10 the
strongest government on eArth-strong In the
affection, stronger still In the right arm OF the
people. And when we have been told hereto
fore that 1t was necessary that there should be
either monarchyor despotism to WELD bayoncts,
we Gee bayonots welded by hundreds of thou
sands where other countries have been able 10
WELD them by tens, and they entirely subser-
Went TO the peoples will. Applause.
The material results arc not less striking
first In the fact that oil disputed questions
which have divided the country are now settled
by the almost unanimous verdict of the coun-
try. Does any one complain that In the con-
duct OF military operations there should be an
arrest of a traitori That question has been
argued and settled, and the verdict is guilty
arrest him when he is guilty. ["Brsvo."l |
Does any one complain that the true theory OF
our Constitution has not been carried out
which enrolls all able.bodled men and holds
them to military duty in defence OF their coun-
try's life and liberty! That question has been
settled, and hereafter II will be more honorable
to be drafted than to volunteer. Laughter. |
Does any one complain that the Government,
iu its wisdom, has organized troops irrespect-
i've OF the color, and believes that a black man
would fill as large grave as though his color
was whittier, when he falls 10 battle In defence
Of his country's liberty That question is set
tied, and has passed away forever to be among
the things Of the past. Docs any one now
claim, as was claimed in 1860. that Abraham
Lincoln is the President of minority That
question NJ settled by an overwhelming ma or
| ity. Applause.
Let us look for a moment at the fact that II
we count every rebel against him, as he was; II
we found every sympathlzer with rebels against
| him, as he was; if we count every untrue and
disloyal man against him, a. they all we're; yet
| he is reelected by majority only second TO
that with which Jackson swept the country in
the hour of financial peril. Those material
results have been achieved. Now, then, what
is the duty Of the Government In the present
future! War cannot always last.
The history of nations, the experience Of tho
world, has shown this. War, therefore, must
come 10 an end: but how? In what wayl A wal
of this kind is 10 be prosecuted for the purpose
of breaking down the power OF those opposed
| to tue Government, and bringing them into the
fold of the Government, under the supremacy
of lts laws. In view, therefore, of the unanim.
| itY Of the American people, in view Of the
strength and majesty Of the law, in view Of the
might of the nation, might Il not be suggested
that now Is a good time for US once again &c
hold out TO the deluded InGn Of the South tn,
olive branch Of peace. and say to them, "ComI
back, come back now. This is the last time o
asking. Come back, and leave the feedinl
upon the husks, and come with Us 10 the fat o
the land, and let by'gOnes De by-gones, II by
goues are Dy-goncs, and our country will liY,
in peace hereafter" Loud applause.
We're We not able to afford that now D,
we rot stand strong enough Do we not stan,
with Union enough to be able to afford that L
= the leaders and 10 all There might have beeI
: reasons, think, among proud and chivalrou
people that they would not desert their leader
In answer to the amnesty OF President Lincoln
but now has come an hour when we can say
: "Come back, come back, and submit TO til,
. laws, and you shall find exactly such laws a
before, except so far as they are altered by the
good Judgment Of the legislatures ofthe land"
Applause.
We ae in condition now, not taking coun
sci from our fears, not taking counsel from ou
weakness, but taking counsel from our mag
nanlmity and our strength, again to make al
otter for the last time; TO call upon themi AM
then shall we not, in the eyes of the country
have exhausted all the resources of statesman
ship in the effort TO restore peace to the country
Laughter. Who shall hinderi Not for the rebt
10 come back again after he has fought as long q
be can and then chooses to come; but to set som
, time, perhaps the sth Of January, for the assc
citation will be as good as any, for all to CON
9 back, Add when that time las come TO ever
man, who shall scout the prottcred amnesty
a great and powerful nation Speaking
love, in charity, In kindness, In hope of peat
q and quiet forever, we saw 10 them, to him WI
r, scouts that proiIered love and kindness, let
" meet him with sharp, quick, decisive war, th
n shall bring the war to an end, to the eXtil
" guishmerL of such men wherever they may b
n Applause.
" But how is that 10 be doncl Blood and tre
S sure have been poured out, spent without me
C sure, until taking advantage of supposed depl
# ton of treasure, first, bad men have bandC
n together by speculatlng In that which ought
= be the circulating medium, and raised upC
d the poor men the price Of the Goals upon h
c hearth, and the bread upon his table. l.
~ some measures be taken to stop that, or pc
haps a better meA.ure than any other Is to !
L 1t be understood that hereafter we pay no mo
bounties from the taxes of the North, but Ia
ing counsel from the Roman method of carr
ing on war, we say TO the young men, look
the fair fields OF the sunny South, and unle
they take our amnesty, let us go down there al
you shall have whatever you get by . fair di'
sion; VIC will open new lard Offices wherey
our armies march, distributing lands smo
the soldiers, to be theirs and their heirs, f
ever.
IL harsh measure, everybody will say; but
es 1t not quite as Just as It is that we should I
he ourselves, aud raise the prices OF the neccs'
ries of life for the purpose Of giving bOunti
C. and support to the soldiers in fighting th'
men whom w have three times over solemn
rv called to come and be our iTiends In 1862,
come in June; in 1868. 10 come In Septemb
III and in 1861, to come by the Sth of Janua