The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1866-08-31

terrible as have been the bereavements
and the losses of the war, they have fallen
exclusively upon neither section and upon
neither perry; that they have fallen. in
deed, with far greater weight upon those
with whom the war began That in the
death of relatives and friends; the dis
persion of families the disruption Of
social systems and social ties; the over
throw OF governments of law and order
the destruction of property, and of forms,
and modes, and means of industry the
loss of political, commercial and moral
Influence in every shape and form which
great calamities can assume,--the states
and people which engaged in the war
against the government of the United
States have suffered tenfOld more than
those who remained in allegiance 10 its
constitution and laws.
These considerations may not, as they
certainly 90 not, justify the action of the
people of the insurgent states bat no
just or generous mind will refuse to them
\ very considerable weight in determining
the line of conduct which the government
of the United States should pursue tow
ards them. They accept, if not with
aiacriiy, certainly without suIlep resent
ment the defeat and overthrow they have
sustained. They acknowledge and ac-
! quiesce in the results, to themselves and
the country, which that defeat involves.
They no longer claim for any state the
right to secede from the Uoion. They
nc longer assert for any state an allegiance
| to h.y vrI,, H.
general government. They have accept,
ed the destruction of slavery, abolished it
by their state constitutions and concur
red with the states and people of the
whole Union in prohibiting its existence
forever upon the soil, or within the juris~
dicton OF the United States They indi-
cate and evince their purpose, just as fast
as may be possible and safe, to aGapt
their domestic laws to the changed con-
dhion of their society, aud to secure by
the law of lis tribunals equal and in
par;ia! justice to all of their Inhabitants.
They admit the inyaiility of all acts of
resistance to the national authority, and
Of debts incurred in attempting its overs
throw. They avow Their willingness to
share the burdens ard discharge all the
duties and obligations which ret upon
them, III common with other states and
other sections of the Union and they re-
new, through their representatives in this
convention, BY all their public conduct in
every way, ard by the most solemn acts
by which states and societies can pledge
their faith, their engagement to bear true
faith aud allegiance, through all time to
come, to the constitution Of the United
States, and to all laws that may be made
in pursuance thereof.
Fellow counuymen, we call upon you,
in full reliance upon your intelligence
and Your patriotism, to accept, with gen
erous and ungruAging confidence, this full
surrender on the part of those lately in
arms against your authority, and to share
with ;hem the honor and fenown lha.
await those who bring back peace and
concord to jsuing states.
The war just closed, with all its sor>
rows and disasters, has opened new ca-
reer o. glory to the nation i; has saved
It has swept away The h0stiIities Of sem
liment and o! interest which were a stand
ing tner ace to its peace. 1t has Destroy
ed the institution Of slavery, ALWAYS The
cause Of sectional agitation and strife, and
has opened for our country the way to
unity OF interest, Of principle, and of ac,
ton, through ali the time to come. 1t
has developed, in both sections, military
capacity, an aptitude for achievements
Of war both by sea and land, before M
known even to ourselves, and destined to
exercise hereafter, under united courses,
an important Influence upon the character
and destiny Of the continent and i
world. And while it has thus revealed,
disciplined, and compacted our power,
it has proved 10 us, beyond controversy or
-doubt, by the course pursued toward both
coutendlrg sections by foreign powers.
that We must be the guardians Of our own
independence, and that the principles Of
republican freedom we represent can fro
among the nations Of the earth no friends
or defenders but ourselves. We can call
upon you, therefore, by every cousidera-
ton Of your own dignity and safety, and
in the name Of liberty throughout the
world, to complete the work of restoration
and peace which the president Of the Uni
} ted States has SO we'll begun and which
the policy adopted and the principles as
} serted by the present congress alone Oh
struct.
, The time is close at hand when mem
} bers Of a new congress is to be elected
If that congress shall perpetuate this
policy, and by excluding loyal states and
loyal people from representation in its
halls, shall continue the usurpation by
, which the legislative powers of the govern
ment are now exercised, common prudence
compeIs us to anticipate augmented dis
, conten:meuts a su!len withdrawal from
: the duties aud obligations Of the federal
: government internal dissension, and a
general collision of sentiments and preten-
sons which may renew, in a still moro
: fearful shape the civil war from which We
} have just emerged.
; We call upon you to iuterpose your
power to prevent the recurrence Of so
! transcendent calamity. We call upon
) you in every congressional district Of every
J state, to secure the election OF members
who, whatever other differences may char
acterize their political action, will unite
IN recognizing the right Ct every state of
the Union to representation in congress,
: and who will admit TO seats, in either
I brapcb avory loyol roprasopt,fiva from