Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-03-01

taken we made an effort to carry out the doctrine
of secession and dissolve this Union; in that we
have failed, and, having traced this thing to It's
logical and physical consequences and results, we
now again come forward and acknowledge the flag
of our country. obedience to the Constitution, and
the supremacy of the law. Cheers. l say, then,
when you have complied with the Constitution,
when you have Welded to the law, when you
knowledge your allegiance to the Government,
am ready to open the doors of the Union and
restore you to your old relations to the Govern
ment of our fathers Prolonged applause.
LENIENCN AND FORGIVENESS THE TRUE POLICY.
Who, I ask, has suffered more for the Union
than ] have? [ shall not now repeat the wrongs
or suferings inflicted upon but it is not the
way to deal with whole people in the spirit OF
revenge. know there has been great deal said
about the exercise of the pardoning power so far
as the executive Is concerned. There Is no one
who has labored harder to have the principal, i'll
tclgent conscious traitors brought to justice, to
have the law vindicated, and the great fact vlndl
Gated that treason Is a CRIME, than who stand
before you to-day. Yet while conscious, lntelll-
gent traitors to be punished, should whole
States, communities and people be made to sub
NIT to and bear the penalty of death? have,
perhaps, much hostility and as much resentment
as a man ought to have, but we should conform
our action and our conduct to the example to Him
who founded our holy religion-not that would
iken this to it, or bring any comparison, for am
not going to detaln you long. But, gentlemen
II came into power under the Constitution Of the
country and by the appreciation OF the people,
And what did [ find? [ found eight millions OF
people who we're i'll fact condemned under the law,
and the penalty death Under the idea of
revenge and resentment they were to be annlhlla-
ted and destroyed. O. how different this from
the example set by the holy founder Of our reli-
giOn, whose divine arm touches the horizon and
embraces the whole earth. Yes, He who founded
this great scheme came into the world and found
our race condemned under the law, aud the SEN
tence was death. What WAS His example? In
stead of putting the world or nation to death,
He went forth with grace and attested by His
blood and His wounds that He would die and
let the nation live. Let them repent, and let
them acknowledge their allegiance let them
become loyal and willing supporters and de-
defenders of our glorious stripes and stars and
the Constitution of our country let their leaders,
atty of the law, but for the great mass, who have
been forced into this rebellion and miscd by their
leaders, | say, leniency, kindness, trust and conf
dence. Enthusiastic cheers.
THE SECOND REBELLION.
But, my countrymen, after having passed
through the rebellion, and given such evidence as
Il have-though men croak great deal about 1T
now laughter when ! look back through the
battle-tields and see many of these brave men, i'll
whose company was, in localities where the
test was most difficult and doubtful, before the
smoke of battle has scarcely passed away, before
the blood shed has scarcely congealed what do
VIC find The rebellion is put down by the strong
aim Of the government in the field but is that
the only way in which can have rebellion 2?
They struggled for the breaking up of your gov
eminent. but before they arc scarcely out of the
battle field and before our brave have scarcely
returned to their homes to renew the ties of af
lection and love, VIC find ourselves almost in the
midst OF another rebellion. Applause. The
war to suppress one rebellion was to prevent the
separation of the States, to prevent them from
flying off, and thereby changing the character of
the government, and weakening it's power. Now
what is the struggle? There is an attempt to
e
hands of the few, and thereby bring about con-
solidation which Is equally dangerous and obiec-
tionable with separation Enthusiastic applause
We find that powers are assumed and attempted to
be exercised of a most extraordinary character -
What are they?
THE REvELUTIoNARY ACTION OF THE RADICALS IN
CONGRESS.
We find that Governments can be revolutionized
can be changed, without going into the battle
field. Sometimes revolutions, the most disastrous
to the people, are effected without the shedding of
blood. The substance of government may be ia
ken away while the form and shadow is still adj
hered to. Now, what the attempts What is
being proposed We find that In fact, by all IL
responsible central directory, nearly all the pow
ers of Government are assumed, without even
consulting the Legislative executive departments
of Government. Yes and by resolution re-
ported by committee, upon whom all the legis-
lative power of the Government has been confer
red, that great principle in the Constitution, which
authorizes ana empowers eacn Drancn OF the leg
isltvc department. the Senate and House of
Representatives, to be the judges of the election
and qualification of its own members, has been
virtually taken away from those departments of
Governments, and conferred upon Il committee
who must report before they act under the
Constitution, and allow members duly elected to
take their seats By this rule they assume that
there must be laws passed, that there must be
recognition i'll respect to State in the Union,
with all it's practical relations restored before the
respective houses of Congress, under the Consti-
tuition, shall Judge of the election and qualifca-
You have been struggling for four years to put
down the rebellion. You denied in the beginning
of the struggle that any State had the right to go
out you said that they had neither right nor
power. The issue has been made, and it has been
settled that State has neither the right nor the
power to go out of the Union and when you have
settled that by the executive and military power
of the Government and by the public Judgment,
you turn round and assume that they out and
shall not come in Laughter and cheers
HIS OWN POLICY.
/ am free to say to you as your Executive, that
am not prepared to take any such position. [
said in the Senate in the very inception of the
bellion, that States had right to go out, that
they had no power to go out. That question has
been settled, aud / cannot turn round now, and
give the lie direct to all profess to have done in
The last five years Laughter and applause. I
can do no such thing. [ say that when they com
ply with the Constitution, when they have given
sufficient evidence of their loyalty and that they
can be trusted, when they yield obedience to the
ship, and let peace and Union be restored. Loud
cheers.
HIS OPINION OF SUMNER, STEVENS & CO.-HE DoEsN T
MEAN TO DE BULLIED.
But then, gentlemen, swing round the
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