The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-09-19

| to our children country as beQueath-
ed to rs by our fathers-I had moth
lrg else TO do but stand by the Gov
ernment, be the consequences what
they might. I said then, what you
all know, that 1 was for the 'institu-
tions of the country as guaranteed by
the Constitution, but above al things
L was for the Union Of the States. [
remember the taunts, the jeers, the
scowls with which l was treated. [
| remember the circle that stood around
| me, and remember the threats and
lntlmidations that were freely uttered
by the men who opposed me, and
whom wanted to befriend and guide
by the light that led me; but, feeling
conscious i'll my own integrity, and
tthisstt 7 ~s~' right, I iios;;l,od not what
they might say or DO to me, and was
inspired and encouraged to do nv
duty regardless Of ,aught clse,, and
have lived to see the realization. of nv
predictions aud the fatal error of
those wl llom L vainly essayed to save
from the results j could not but fore
see. q Gentlemen, we have passed
through this rebellion, I s;xwe for
1T was we who'aIe responsible for it.
Yes, the South made the issue, and
know the nature of the Southern
people h t, well enoush~to know that
when they have become convinced OF
an error they frankly acknowledge it,
In q manly, open, direct manner; and
now, in the performance of that duty,
or, indeed, in any act they undertake
to perform, they do it heartily and
frankly; and now that they come to
me L understand them as saying that:
''We made the issue, We set up the
union Of the States against the insti-
tuition of slavery; we selected rs ar-
bitrator the God, of battles; the az
bltrament was the sword. The issue
was fairly and honornbly met Both
the questions presented have been set
tied against us, and we are prepared
to accept the issue ~
l find on all sides this spirit OF can.
dor and honor prevailing. 1t is said
by all-the issue was ours, and the
Judgment has been given against us,
and the decision having been made
against us, We feel bound in honor to-
abide by the arbitramcnt In doing.
this, we are doing ourselves no dis
honor, and should not feel hamiliated
or degraded, but rather that we arc
ennobling ourselves by our action;
and We should feel that the Govern
ment has treated us magnanimously,
and meet the Government upon the
terms 1T has so magnaninfo,e,ly prof
fered us SO far as / am concerned.
personally, | am .uninhuencesl by any
question, whether it affects the North
o.: the South, the East or the West.
l stand where l did of old, battling
for the Constitution and the union Of
these United States. In doie9 so, [
know [ opposed some Of you gentle
men of the South when this doctrine
OF secession was being urged upon
the country, and the declaration of
your right to break up the Govern.
ment and disintegrate the Union was
made. | stand to-day, us 1 have ever
stood, firmly in the opinion that il :.
monopoly contends against this coun-
try, the monopoly must go down, and
the country must go up. Yes, the
issue was made by the South against
the Governments and the Govern
ment has triumphed; and the South,
true to her ancient instincts of frank
ness and manly honor, comes forth
and expresses her willingness to abide
the result of the. decision in good
faith. While ] think that the rebel
hon has been arrested and subdued,
and am happy in the consciousness of
IL duty well performed, [ want not
onlysyou, but the people of the world
to know that while 1 dreaded and
feared ,disintegration of the States, [
am equally opposed to consolidation
or concentration of power here, under
whatever guise OF name; and if the
issue is forced upon us, / shall still
endeavor to pursue the same efforts to
dissuade from this doctrine of run
ing to extremes; but I say let the
same rules be applied Let the Con-
stltution be our guide. Let the pre-
servation Of that and the union of
the States be our principal aim. Let
1t be our hopeethat the Government
may be perpetual, and that the prin-
clples of the Government, founded as
they are on right and justice, may be
handed down without spot or blemish
TO our posterity. AS 1 have before
remarked. to you, L am gratitied to
gee 50 many of You here to-day. 1t
manlfests spirit / am pleased to OBJ
serve. know it has been said of me
that my asperities are sharp, that I