The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-02-18
Weed,s War speech.

Mr.. Chairman had hoped, ana yes
hone. that this war Will cease, Jhat Inc ne,
cotiations of which we have recently aeaId q
50 much will be productive OF 11ul., anu
that 1he antagonist sections and States
shall orice more be brought together IN
communion and fraternal concord. Al II
be true. sir, that the President Of tie un1-
tad States and the Secretary OF state nave
zone personallYsto meet ambassadors, or
Representatives, or commissioners, as you
NAV please to call them, from Ricnmono,
], think that, instead OF this proceeding CO.
inr obnoxious to the censure which nave
heard bestowed upon it, they but follow the
precedent of Washington and Hamilton,
who, in similar emergency, Went tine one
president and the other Secretary OF the
treasury to treat with rebels who were
engaged in the whisky instruction, IN
Pennsylvania, in 1876. II, therefore, u pe
true that the President OF the United states
has made an honest effort 70 STOP Inns sneo-
ding of blood, this exhaustion OF the ener-
pies of our great country: il 1t be true that,
realizing his responsibility 10 his country
and his God, he has thus risen superior to
partisauship and the unfortunate int1uen-
ces which have surrounded him, say, all
thanks to him, and God speed him in the
work of mercy, and justice, and right.
/ know that rumor say - that these nego-
tiations, if negotiations there were, have
Pennsylvania (Mr. Stevensl, indicated in
his remarks this morning, that there had
been such failure. Sir, if this Is the fact,
il 10 to be regretted; but if they have failed
in consequence of an indisposition upon
the part of the rebel authorities to return
TO the Union; il they have failed because
those States, and those so.cAlled authori-
ties, refuse to re-uniie upon the basis OF q
common Union, under common Constl-
tuition, demanding recognition and sepaTa-
ton, then / say that, SO far as represent
the peace sentiment Of the North, we will
not and can not sustain them in that posi-
ton.
Sir, have been opposed to this war, be-
cause am opposed TO its effects and fear
its results. was opposed to it and to its
continuance until every coaciliatory MODE
II has been one Of the sources Of my com
plaint against this administration; it has
been one of the grayest charges which, in
my judgment car be properly made against
it, that instead of having proposed nego-
tiations, it has prevented any propositions
of peace being made to it, by denying ad-
mittance to this capital of any agent OF
emisss ~ Of the rebel Government. There
fore, until ! am satisfied that this Admins
tration earnestly desires peace, that it has
exhausted everything which, in honor, j,
could do, TO procure peace, consistent with
the Union and the maintenance Of thelawt
and the Constitution OF our country-unti
that time comes, sir, must retain my po
litical position in favor Of peace, and in IA
vor Of negotiation as against continued
hostility.
But, # these peaceful efforts have beer
made and exhausted, If the door to concil
iation and Union has been thrown open by
the President of the United States, and i
the ansWer to that has been recognition Of
separation, why, sir, SO far as my ieetlt
influence is concerned, 1t wsll be gtuen in Gie
Of our country, to maintain in every consts
tution0I acdy the national integrity. In tho
language of the immortal Jackson, "Tht
Union must be preserved; peaceably II ".
can, forci6ly II we must" Congressional
Globe.