The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-14

represent SO many States. men L eX-
pressed as l did my willingness to see
at any time SO many of you as chose to
do me the honor to call upon me, and
stated that / should be gratified at re-
ceiving any manifestations of regard
you might think proper to make, L was
totally unprepared for anything equal to
the present demonstration. L am free
to saw il eXcitcs in my mind feelings
and emotions that language is totally
Inadequate to express. When L look
back lipon my past actions and recall a
a period scarcely more than four short
wears ago, when / stood battling for
principles which many of you opposed
and thought were wrong, L was battling
for the same principles that actuate me
to-day, and which principles ! thank
God you have come forward on this
occasion to manifest a disposition to sup
port. / say now, as | have SAID on
many former occasions, that L entertain
no personal resentments, enmities or
animosities to any living soul south OF
Mason and Dixon's line, however much
he may have differed from me i'm princi-
pie. The stand / then took l claim to
have been the only true one. ] remeni-
Der how ! stood pleading with my
Southern brethren when they stood with
their hats in their hands ready to turn
their backs upon the United States how
| implored them to stand with me there
n maintain our rights and fight our
battles under the laws and constitu ion
OF the United States. l think now, as /
thought then, and underworld to induce
them to believe, that our true position
was under the law and under the consti-
tuition of the Union with the institution
of slavery in it but If that principle
made an issue that rendered a disintegra-
ton p~ossible-if that made an issue
which should prevent us from
transmitting to our children a eoun
try as ~bequeathed to us Dy GU
fathers-I had nothing else to az
but stand by the government, pe tHe
consequences what they might; L SAT-
then, what you all know, thaJ | was 10
the institutions of the country as guar
anteed by the constitution, but aboW
all things ! was for the Union OF tn
States. | remember the taunts, TIL
ieers. the scowls with which l wa
treated. [ remember the lrcle ina
stood around me, and ren4 III
threats and intimidatiols that ire iree
ly uttered by the men who opposed me
and whom ] wanted 10 DelrieLd an.
guide by The light that lei me; DLC feel
ing conscious in my own integrity, ah'
| that | was right, | needed not what the!
might say or do to me, n was inspire,
and encouraged to do my duty regard
| less of augbt else, and have lived to SCI
, the realization of my predictions and tn
fatal error of those whom | vainly es
saved to save from the results / coult
not but forsee. Gentlemen, we hav
passed through this rebellion. l say W.
/ for it was we who are responsible for ]
Yes. the South made the issue, ana
know the nature .of the Southern pee
pie well enough to know that when the
have become convinced OF an error the
frankly acknowledge it,, in a manly
omen. direct manner: and now, III tn
performances OF that duty, or, indeed,
any act they undertake to perform, the
do it heartily and fraGlkly; and now I'M
they come TO me I undei"s tah9 thehi !
saying that: I'VE made Ia issue. w
set up the union of the States asaIliI
the Institution of slavery; we seIec,,N ~
] arbitrator the God of battles; and arb.
trament was the sword. The issue wa,
fairly and honorably met. Both the
questions presented have been settled
against us, and we are prepared to nc.
cept the issue.n ! find on all sides this
spirit of candor and honor prevailing.
1t is said by all The issue was ours,
and the Judgment has been given againsI
us and the decision having been made
against us, we feel bound in honor tc
abide by the arbitrament. In doing this
we are doing ourselves no dishonor, ant
should not feel Inundated or degraded
but rather that we are ennobling u
selves by our action, and we should fee
that the government has treated us mag
/ nn,in,pnpIXy and p,Anf fJ,n ~ u,nni
upon the terms it has SO magnanimous
ly proffered us. So faras am concerned
personally, / am u~ninfluenced by any
| question, whether it affects the North
or the South, the East or the West. ]
| stand where | did of old, battling for
| the Constitution and the Union of th ase
| United States. IN doing so | know
opposed some of you gentlemen of the
| South when this doctrine of secession
was being urged upon the country, II
the declaration of your right TO break
up the Government and d~isintegrate the
Union was made. / stand to-day, as
have even stood, firmly in the opinion
| that il a monopoly contend against thls
country the monopoly must go down,
and the country must go up. Yes, tIe
issue was made by the South against the
Government aud the Government has
triumphed and the South, true 10 her
ancient instincts of frankDess ana man
" honor, comes forth aud expresses her
Willingness to abide the result OF the
decision in good faith. Winnie i thlnk
that the rebellion has been arrested and
subdued. aud am happy in the con-
seriousness of a duty well performed, l
want not only you, but the people of the
world. to know that while L dreaded
and feared disintegration of the States,
I am equally opposed to consolidation
or concentration OF power here, under
whatever guise OF name; and if the is.
sue is forced upon us, [ shall still en-
deavor to pursue the same efforts to dis
shade from this doctrine of running Il
extremes; but | say let the same rule.
be applied. Let the Constitution be GU
guide. Let the preservation of that ant
the Union OF the States be u principa
aim. Let it be u hope that the Gov
eminent may be perpetual, and that th'
principles OF the Government, founded
as they are, on right and justice, ma.
be handed down without spot or blem
ish to u posterity. AS L have beior
remarked to you, j am gratlned 10 sc
so many of you here to-day. 1t man
tests a spirit [ am pleased TO observe
/ know it has been said OF me that m,
asperities r. sharp, that l a Vlhdictlv
feelings to crafty, and that should no
fail to avail myself of the oplortuni1ifS
that would present themselVeo tosa !