Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1865-09-28

break up the Government and dsinteerate the
Union was made. stand to-day, as hive
ever stood. firmly in the opinion that if o mo-
| noPoly contends against this country, the mo.
! nopoiy must 20 down and the country muat
6" up. Yes. the issue wns made by the South
against the Government. and the Government
was triumphant, and the South, true to her an,
Client instincts frankness aud manly honor.
comes ior'h and expresses her willingness o
abide the result Of the decision in good faith
while think that the rebellion has been ar
rested and subdued, aud am happy in the Coz
seriousness OF duty we'll performed. I want
not only you. but the people Of tho world to
know that while drended and feared disinte-
grafton OF the States, am equally opposed to
consolidation or centration of power here mn.
der whatever guisc or name aud If thu ;ssns
| Is forced upon us. ] shall still endeavor to mr.
sue the same efforts 70 dissuade from this doc.
tr'ne OF running to extremes; ; but I say. lot
the came rules be applied. Let the Const,u
lion be our guide. Let the preservation of
| that and the union Of the States be our nrinc;
pal aim. tit b. our hope that the Govern.
meat n'ay ne perpetual, and that tho princ,.
pies OF the Government. founded as thew ore
| on right and justice. may be h,ndcd dow
without spot or blenish to our posterity. As
l have hef"re rema' ked to you, am erat,fied
| t" see 80 many Of you here to .lay, Il mani.
| tests spirit am pleased to observe. know
| IL has been SAID of me that nv aaperities are
| eharP, that have vindictive feelings to vrnt.
| NY, and That should not fail 10 avail mvself
| OF the opportunities that would present them.
! selves to CRAFTY such despicalle feelings Gen.
| tiemen, if my acts will not speak for ME and
now make would be equally useless. But.
gentlemen, ii know myself, as | think do
| know that nun of the Southern peorle and
| love them aud will do all in my power 10
restore them to that state Of happiness and
prosperity which they ehjnyed before the ma ,
hess o. misguided men, in whom they had re.
| posed their confidence, led them astray to
their own undoing. IL there 10 anything that
can 'e done on my part, on correct principles,
on Tho principles of the Constitution, to pro.
mate these ands, be assured it shall be done.
Let me assnre you, also, that there is no dis
position on the part Of the Government to deal
| harsbiy with tbr Southern people. There uuy
be speeches published from various quarter.
that may brenthe "a different spirit. Do not
let them trouble or excite YOU but behave TINT
it is. as it is, tho great object Of the Govern.
m"nt to make the union oil these United States
more complete and perfect thnp ever and 10
maintain it OH Constitutional PRINCIPLES. If nos
sible. more firm thnn it has ever before be.n.
Then why cannot we al COME up to the work
IN proper apiritf In siher words let us
| Look to the Constitution. The issue has been
made and decided then. as wise men-as
men who see rig and are determined to fol-
low it as fathers and brothers, and as men who
| DI
sntferIng-why cannot we come. up aud help
to settle the question Of the hour and adjust
| them according to the principles of honor and
Justice The institution Of slavery is von. =.
The former status Of the negro had to be
! changed, and We, aB " isa men, must recognize
| "a paient fact and adapt ourselves to circuu :
etnnces ss they SURROUND us, [Nuices-We are
willing to do ao.] believe you are. ] bes
l'ese when yonr faith is pledged, when your
consent has been given. as have already said.
believe it will be Innntaine.. in good faith
and every. pledge or promise fully carriei out
! [Cries-It will
! All ask Or desire of the South or North
East or West. is to be :ustained in CARRYING
out the principles of the Consultation. II is
not TO lie denied that We l!aYe been great gu
fsrers on both sides. anil much misery is being
| endured as the necessary resuIt of 50 gigantic
contest"s Why. then. cannot We come Lose,I :,
| er, and around tho cOIpmon alter Of our cou,-
| Try heal the wounds that have been made :
Deep wounds have been inflicted. Onr coun-
try has been scnrred allover. Then why can
not We nprronch each other upon principles
| which nre right in themselves and which will
he productive of good % all The dag Is not
Instant wien We shall feel like some family
Tint has had deep and desperate feud, the
various members of which have come toaetber
and compared the evils and .suffcrings they haa
inflicted upon each other. They had seen She
Influence Of their error and it's result, and GOV
ernsd by generous aprit ofcnnciliation, they
had heceH's mutually farbearing and forgiv-
ing, and returning to theit told habits Of fra
terndl kindness aud BECOME better friends fhan
ever Then let u. consider that the f.ud which
alienated us has been settled sad adjusted te
eur mutual satisfaction. and that we come to
getiher to be bound by firmer bonds of Ave
respect,saud confidence than e yer. The North
canhot get along without the South, nor tie
South " ,thout North. East without the West
nor the West without Eastt and I say it il
our duty TO do : ellihat in epr power lies .c
perPrtuate and make stfanger the bonds o.
our Uuion. seeing that i il for The commor
that thiSUnion, though the creation Of centur,
is to be perpefaated.for all time, and that 4
cannot be destroyed except by the l.wise Coo
who created it. Gentlemen. repeat, ! sin.
eere!y thank you for: the rsapsct maniiestst
On this occasion and for tho expressions o
appreciation and confidence please accept M,
! thssks. -"'.,r