The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-12-29
SPEECH OF GEN. WILSON.

SPEECH VI GIN. WlLSON.
Below will be found u synopsis Of Senator
Wilson's speech in the Senate on Wednesday
last, in reply to Mr.. Stewart of Nevada, who
argued against Negro Suffrage in the cx-rcbel
States
Mr.. Wilson replied to the argument Of Mr..
Stewart, stating the necessity that existed for the
passage Of the bill before the Senate. The tcsii.
mony of the leading officers Of the army In the
South went to prove that great atrocities and
cruelties were perpetrated upon freedmen In the
South. Mr.. Stewart had questioned the truth OF
the reports respecting these crueltes; but he
might rs well doubt the cruelties Of Anderson.
vile, where eighty three per cent. OF the men who
entered the hospitals died, and where more Amer
lean soldiers lie buriel than tell in the whole Mex.
lean wsr-more Americans lie buried than fell Ia
Wellington's four great battles in Spain--mOre
than fell mt Waterloo, lnkermann, Alma and Sc
bastopol altogether. desire 10 say q word fur.
Their: we were told by Mr.. Salisbury yesterday
that there was an apprehension here that the Dem.
octatic party was 10 come back again To power
Through the agency Of the President Of the Unit
ell States, Sir, think the Senator from Della.
ware was altogether mistaken in regard To any
such proposition. | do not apprehend that the
Democratic party is coming into power TIN oueh
the agency Of the President Of the United States,
or through the agency Of anybody else n party
that has maintained the attitude Of the Democrat.
ic party during this great rebellion, and that has
allied itself with sinking and lost cause, Is not
likely hereafter 10 get control Of the Government
Of the United States. II needs reconstruction and
reorganization quite rs much rs the rebel States
OF this Union, and must have reconstruction, time
aud reorganization before II can govern this coun-
try through anybody.
As to the President, know there has been o
studied attempt, q systematical attempt, during
the last few m, nths, to separate him from the
great party that elected him. have never enter
tanned any fears In regard TO the matter. The
President Is bound to the men who elected him by
horror, by principle, and by interest. His fame
is to rest upon the great fact that he Is able TO-
complete the work which Abraham Lincoln COM
menced- the work OF restoring broken Union
and preserving the cause Of human liberty In
America; that the President Of the United States
is as conscious Ms any man living that his reputa-
ton now and his fame with posterity depend up
on moving right straight forward and onward In
the restoration Of the Union and tho security OF
the liberty Of all men-the securing OF equal. i'm
partial, and universal liberty, do not entertain
doubt. lie found the rebel States last spring
broken, shivercd, conquered, and suhjugated. Nc
people since the morning OF creation ever fought
drawer battle than the rebels, and no men ever
SO defeated, so subjugatcd, 80 conquered, conquer
o in the field, their ideas anihated forever, ma
ny ofthem ruined In the future. No body OF men
have ever been 50 conquered and so punished
Sir, have il not in my heart to seek their blood
or their lives But believe II to be the sentim mt
of the country that We should demand guarantees
for the future. But that while we demand these
guarantees we shall say nothing and do nothing to
humiate or degrade any body Of men In the
country. believe II to be in our power to secure
all that patriotic and lberty.loving men Of the
country require. believe that the President Of
the United States hsslsbored according to bis
sense OF public duty to prepare the rebel States
for admission into the Union, and to secure the
liberties Of the people OF the country. In some
things would have done differently to what he
has done; nothing Inconsistent with she Congress
of the United States; moving right Straight for
ward and onward In passing the necessary legis.
la,ion 10 complete the great work begun. He
has made no issue, with him. He does not un.
lertake TO dictate us; but he has pursued his own
| line Of policy and we ought to pursue ours, III
wc believe we should 60 further than he ha, gone
why let MS pass the needed legislation; and " then
| this President takes issue with us. why then the
issue will be made aud met. But do not think
any issue will be made. have an undoubting
faith that u we enact the needed legislation to se
cure the liberties Of all men In this country, and
bring these States into Congress In a proper man
ner, Il will receive the sanction md approval OF
the Executive Government Of the country. l
know that Il l. and has been the policy Of tho
inevitable conflict Is TO come between the Congr' ss
aud the President. II was so represented before
the country last autumn. We met Il In New Jtr
-cy, In Pennsy lvania. and In the great state OF
New York, and to-day. Sir, OF twenty-five loyal
States that have stood BY the country, twenty
three Of them are in harmony with US upon this
door-stronger to-day In our sentiments and opi-
MON than on any other day the sun ever ,hone
upon, and we will be stronger to. morrow. There
are some men, u seems 60 me, who arc more devo.
tel 10 the President than the mass OF theme who
elected him. think 10 TO be our duty to give the
Presidents manly, generous and honest support
.tolook on with hope and confidence, but TO be
M naexible As destiny itself with the cause OF
impartial and universal liberty in the country
cause Tor which SIS 900 Union soldiers slept Ia
their bloody graves to-day. A cause for which
more than 400. 900 SCARED and manned heroes
tread the soil Of the country. They have done
their duty. They have trampled the rebellion
down under the iron heel Of war. and Il y com
mtted not to the Pre- ident alone, not to the Con-
| Power BY the American people, to rcstore this
Union and 80 10 restore Il that there shall not DO
black Law In the country; that thcrc shall be no
oppression. and no rule or regulation that shall
loppress single man that We have made ire.
These are our wards, to use the language OF the
President Of the United States. Abraham Lincoln
pledged their emancipation, and to maintain their
liberties, and that pledge believe every depart
Measured by what existed last April, We have
made progress In some sections great deal, In
Others less. and In some perhaps, We have gone
backward, but there has been general progress
during the last ninc months, measured by vna'
existed when the President entered upon hu au'
ties, and what now exists In the country, taking
the whole rebel section into account We have
made proyrcxs but We have not made 20 much eS