Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-11-24

and wait-and you will catch your fish. +"
SPEECH OF HON. SCHUYLER rOLFAx-THE QUEs-
TONS OF THE DAY DISCUSSED.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 18.-This evening
a large crowd of the friends of Speaker
Colfax repaired to his quarters and COM
plimented him with a serenade. In re-
'spOnse to earnest calls, he appeared and
addressed them as follows
My friends: thank you for this pleas
ant serenade with which you welcome me
on my return to this sphere of public du-
ty. Since 1 left here, [ have travelled, as
you are all aware, many thousands OF
miles. My thoughts turn, this evening,
to the auspicious condition of our coun-
try now, as compared with the closing of
the last Congress. Then a hostile flag
waved over cities, and forts, and camps,
and regiments, and we went home in
March to assist In raising more troops,
called for by the President now there is
peace over all the land, and the flag of the
Republic waves unquestioned over every
acre of our national domain. Cheers.
We never knew the value of our insti-
tutions until the hour of their peril If
we had failed, there would have been ne
resurrection from the tomb of nations
Gibbon viii write the history of our de-
cline and fall. [Cheers. [ shall hail the
day when all the States shall Tevolve in
their appropriate orbits around the CEN
tral Government, and when we can behold
them distinct as the pillows, but one as
the sea- But we cannot forget that his
tory teaches us that it was for eight years
after the surrender of Yorktown, in the
Revolutionary war, though our fathers
were of one mind as to its necessity, be-
fore the Constitution was adopted and the
Union thus established. The ablest Con-
gress that ever sat, duriEg my knowledge
of public affairs, meet next month to face
and settle the mementous questions which
will be brought before it. It will not be
governed by any spirit of revenge, but
solely by duty to the country. l have no
right to anticipate its action, nor do l
place myself to any in6exible matereable
policy, but these ideas occur to me, and
speak of them with the frankness with
which we should always express our
views. 81
Last March, when Congress adjourned,
the States lately in rebellion were repre-
sented in hostile Congress and Cabinet,
devising ways and means for the destruc-
ton of the country. 1t may not be gen.
orally known, but it has been repeated on
the testimony of members of the social
ed Confederate Congress, that Gen. Lee,
the military head of the rebellion, declar-
ed last February, In his official character,
that the contest was utterly hopeless, but
that their Congress and Cabinet deter
mined to continue the struggle, and that
10000 ll,l fell after that time, on both
sides, In the battles around Petersburg
and Richmond.
Since the adjournment of the United
States Congress not a single rebellious
State has voluntarily surrendered, not an
army laid down their weapons, not regi-
ment abandoned their falling cause
But the Union armies conquered peace,
not by compromise or voluntary submis-
sion, but by the force of arms.
Some of these members of the So
called Confederate Congress, who, at our
adjournment last winter, were struggling
to blot this nation from the map of the
world, propose, | understand, to enter
Congress, on the opening day of its ses-
sion next month, and resume their former
business of governing the country they
struggled SO earnestly to ruin. They say
they have lost no rights.
| It seems the burning of the ships of our
commerce on the ocean, starving our
prisoners, and raising armies to destroy
/ the nation, would impair some of their
rights until their new governments. were
recognized BY Congress. I Cheers. The
Consf;tntio5nsss which seems framed fol
every emergency, gives to each House the
exclusive right to judge of the qualifca-
tions of the election returns of its mem.
bers, and I apprehend they will exercise
that right.
Congress having passed no law on re-
construction, President johnson pre-.
| Iscribed certain action for these States
which he deemed indispensable for theil
] restoration to their former relations tC
the Governments, which Ethink eminent
IIv wise and patriotic First. That theil
several Conventions should declare the
various ordinances OF secession null anC
void, not as some have done merely re
pealing them, but absolutely without am
4 effect. Second. That their Legislature
1shOuld ratify the Constitutional amend
iment abolishing slavery, that this caus
of dissension and rebellion might, be ut
! terIv extirpateda. Third. That they shal
formally repudiate the rebel debt, thougl
by its terms itWiIl bea long wi lie befor
lit falls due, as it was payable six month
after the recognition Of the. Confederac
, by the United States. CCheers.
z This reminds me of an old friend i
, Indiana. who said he liked to give hi
, notes payable ten days after convenience
1 tiTLaughter, and cries of good, good
! But there are other terms on which
; think there is no division among the loyi
men of the Union First. That th
Declaration of Independence must
: Recognized as the law Of. the land, an
/ lthat every man, alien and native, whit
: and black, shall be protected in the il
! alienable, Godrgiven rights. Of life, libe,
ty, and the pursuit of happiness. -'.
q Mr.. Lincoln, In the Emancipatio
3 Proclamation, which is the proudest thin
3 lin his chapter of fame, Echeers1 not on
) gave freedom to the slave, but declare
:. that the Government would maintain tn
1. freedom. TApplaus. We cannot aba
! ! ldon them and leave them aefenceless
y thn nerov of their former owners. Thl