The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-12-01

show him sill the honors merited by his
distinguished services to his country
We have seldom seen such brilliant as
semblage In the course of the even
ing there were not less than ; 600 per
sons who passed through the hall. The
meeting was called to order at about IL
o clock. and Mr.. James Watlsworth call
ed upon General Butler to give his views
on the recent election, when he address
ed the people present as follows:
SPEECH OF GENERAL BtTLER
Nh WADswoRTH, LADIES AND GENTLE
/ MEN The citizens of New \ DIRK have
done me honor over-much. Their kind
ness, extended in every form known to
Christian Courtesy, oyerwhelms me.
That | should be supposed To he able 20
add anything TO their sum of intelligence
is u 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
nownel than war" and Of all the peace
full victories ever vet achieved III the III
terests of human freedom, that achieved
in the peaceful quiet which almost
hrooded over this land ON the Sth of
November is tue greatest. But before
we proceed for moment to look upon
its material results, let us look at its
moral. 1t has taught all the world who
shall look on and ii is not now to be
said that it is a vain boast that the eyes
of all the world are upon Us, } and that
we are able III the stress and strain of
civil war like this, which has never been
seen before, to carry on our institutions
in peaceful quiet, that we can change or
re elect our rulers as we weigh them in
the balance and find them either meri
torious or wanting, without so much of
trouble, disorder, riot or commotion as
pertain to a constable election in a par
ish in England. The moral then is, that
a government embalmed in the hearts of
the people, dependent upon the intelli
gence of the people, is the strongest
government on earth strong in the af
feetions, stronger still in the right arms
of the people. We have heretofore been
told that it was necessary there should
be either monarchy or despotism to
WELD bayonets, yet we see bayonets
welded by hundreds of thousands of
us, where other governments have not
been able to weld by hundreds, and find
them entirely subservient to the peoples
will. The natural results are not less
striking. First in the fact that all dis
puted questions which have divided the
country are now settled by an almost
unanimous verdict of the whole people.
Does any one complain that in the con
duct of military operations there should
be the arrest of traitors? That question
has been argued and settled, and the YER
dict is guilty. Cheers. Does any
one complain that the theory OF the Con
stitution in relation to arming the PEG
pie in defense of the country has been
carried out, which enrolls all able bodied
men to fight in defense of their country
life and liberties, and drafting as many
as are necessary? That question has
been settled, and hereafter it will be
more honorable to be drafted than to
volunteer. Laughter Does any one
complain that the Government in its
wisdom has organized troops irrespective
of color, and believes that the black
mans grave would fill as much space as
il his color was white, when he falls in
battle in defense of his country's liber-
ties? That question has been settled I
and has passed away forever. to be /
among the things of the dead past !
Does any one now claim, as we claimed /
L z
dent of a minority of the people of the /
Union? That question is now settled I
by an overwhelming majority. I Cheers /.
Let us consider moment the fact that ii
we count every rebel against him-as |
they were-every rebel sympathizer /
against hin-as they wcre-if we count /
every disloyal man against him as they 4
were-yet he is elected by n majority /
second only to that with which jackson 1
swept the country in a season of financial ,
peril. These material results have been .
achieved. Now, then. what is the duty .
of the Government in the present future: (
War cannot last always. The history of
nations shows-the experience of the .
world demonstrates-that war must come .
to an end. But how! In what way +
a war such as this, prosecuted for the
purpose of breaking down the power of
those opposed to the Government, and +
bringing them under the supremacy Of
its laws. must be terminated either by
reconciliation or suhjugation In view,
therefore, of the unanimity of the Ameri
can people, in view of the strength, the /
majesty, the might of the nation, may
it not be suggested that now is the time .
to hold ont to the deluded people Of the !
South the olive branch of peace. and say !
to them, Come back. come back. and
leave off feeding on Ausks. and share
with us the fat of the land. and bygones
shall be bygones, if bygones are by
cones, and in one country and with one
law, we shall live in peace hereafter"
/ Cheers. Are we not able to offer
them this now? Are we NOT strong
enough Do we not stand firmly, with ,
unanimity of sentiment enough, TO offer /
peace to all, if all will submit to the i
laws. There might have been some
complaints, / think. among proud and
chiyalrous people, that they would not
desert their leaders, by taking advantage
of the amnesty proclamation of Presi- !,
dent Lincoln, but none when we come
to them and say, Come back, and you ,
shall find the laws the same, save so far .
as they have been altered by the legisla 4
tive wisdom of the land-both for lead
ers and followers Can there be any ex-
cuse for either if they rebelliously remain 4
in contempt of the Government Are .
!. Z