The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-09-21
The Presidents Speech to the Scuthern
DELEGATIONS.

son to delegations from the Southern States ,
GENTLEMEN We have passed through |
this rebellion. say zoe, for it was us who |
were responsible for it. Yes, the South |
made the issue, and know the nature oil
the Southern people well enough to kno" |
that when they become convinced OF an err
ror they frankly acknowledge 1t IN direct |
manner. and when in the performance Of
dutv or indeed any act they undertake to
perform, they do it heartily and frankly ); ,
and now that they come TO me, | under
stand them as saying that, Owe made the |
issue-we set up the Union Of the States |
against the institution of slavery-we selec- |
ted the arbitrator-the God Of battles. The
argument was the sword-the issue was
fully and honorably met. Both the ques-
lions presented have been settled against us
and we are prepared to accept the issue
| find that on all sides this spirit of candor
and honor prevails-that the Southern peo-
pie say: '"Ihe issue was ours, and the
Judgment has been against US land the de-
cisi0n having been made against u.s. we
feel bound in honor to abide by the arbitra
ment. In doing this we are doing our
selves no dishonor, and should not feel hui
inflated or degraded, but remember that We
are ennobling ourselves by our action, and
we should feel that the Government has
treated us magnanimously, and we meet
TIE Government upon the terms it has so
magnanimousIy protfered US"
So far as | am concerned personally, |
am uDinfuenced by any question whether
it affects the North or South, East or West.
stand where did of old, battling for the
Constitution and the Union of these States
In doing SO | know opposed some of you
of the South when the doctrine of secession
was being urged On the country, and
the declaration Of your rights to break
up the Government, and disntcgrate the
Union, was made. | stand to-day, as |
have ever stood, firmly in the opinion that
if a monopoly contends against this coun-
try, it must go down, and the country 60
up. Yes, the issue was made by the South
against the Government. and the Govern
ment has triumphed aud the South, true
to its ancient instincts of frankness and
manly honor comes forth and expresses its
willingness to abide the result of the de, Is
ion in good faith.
While think that the rebellion has been
arrested and subdued, and am happy in the
consciousness of a duty well performed, |
want not only you but the people of the
world to know that while | dreaded and
feared disintegratiOn of the States, | am
equally opposed to consolidation or concen-
tration Of power here under whatever
guise or name they bear, and if the issue
is forced upon Us, L shall still eudeavor to
dssuade FROM this doctrine of running to
extremes. But | say, let the same rules
be applied
AS | have before remarked to you. | am
gratifed to see so many of you here to-day.
1t manifests spirit | am pleased to OBJ
serve. | know it has been said of me that
my asperties are sharp; that mad vindic-
tive feelings to CRAFTY and that | should
not fail to avail myself Of the opportunities
that would present themselves to CRAFTY
such despicabIe feelings Ifmy acts will not
speak for me anG for themselves, then any
profession mightnow make would he equal
ly useless. But gentleman, ifI know my
self, as | think do, | know that am Que
Of the Southern people, and | love them,
and will do all in my power to restore them
to that state of happiness and prosperity
which they enjoyed before the madness of
misguided men, in whom they had reposed
their confidence led them astray to their
own undoiug. If there is anything that
can be done on my part, on correct princi-
ends, be assured it shall be done
Let me assure you also that there is no
disposition on the part Of the government
to deal harshly with the Southern people.
There may be speeches published from va
rious quarters that may breathe different
spirit. Do not let them trouble or excite
you, but believe that it is the great object Of
the Government to make the Union of
these Uuited States more complete and per
feet thau ever, and to maintain it on con-
stltutlonal principles, if possible, more firm
ly than it has ever before been
Then why cannot we all come up to the
work in a proper spirit? In other words
let us look to the Constitution. The issue
has been made and decided Then as
wise men, as men who are determined to
follow it as fathers and brothers, aud as
men who love their country in this hour of |
trial and suffering, why can't we come up !
and help TO settle the questions of the hour |
and adjust them according to the principles |
Of honor and Of justice? The institution
Of slavery is gone. The former status of
the negro had to be changed and we as
wise men must recognize so potent fact |
and adapt ourselves to circumstances as |
they surround us.
Notes.-The are willing to do SO. Yes |
sir, we are willing to do so."7
| believe you are. | believe when your |
faith is pledged when your consent has
been given, as | have already said, | believe |
it will be maintained in good faith and ev-
cry pledge or promise fully carried out.
[Cries: 1T will
All ask OF desire of the South or the !
North, the East or West, is to be sustained |
in carrying out the principles of the Con
stitution. 1t is not to be denied we have
been great sufferers on both sides. Good
men have fallen, and much misery is being
endured as the necessary result of so gigan- |
tic a conflict. Why, then, cannot we come |
together and around the common altar of /
our country heal the wounds that have been
made Our country has been scathed all |
over; then Why cannot we approach each |
other on principles which arc right in them,
selves and which will be productive of good
to all.
The day is not distant when we shall feel
like some family that has had deep and |
desperate feud, the various members of |
which have come together and compared the |
evils and sulferings they had inflicted on |
each other. They had seen the influence of I
their error and its result, and governed bv |
a generous spirit of Cancellation they had !
become mutually torbearing and forgiving, /
and return to their old habits of fraterna
kindness and become better friends than ev-
err Then let US consider that the fcud |
which aIieuated us has been settled and ad-
justed to mutual satisfaction that we
come together TO be bound by frmer ponds
Of love, respect and confidence than ever
The North cannot get along without the
South, nor the South without the North, the
East without the West nor the West with
out the East and say it is our duty to do
all that within our power lies to perpetuate
and make stronger the bonds Of our Union,
seeing that it is for the common good of all
that we should be united. feel that this
Union, though but the creation of a century.