Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1866-05-03
ADDRESS OF THE NATICNAI
JOHNSON CLUB,
To the People Of the United States

To the People Of the United States.
One year ago the bloody civil war which
threatened the ruin of our happy government
closed. The generals and soldiers on both
sides met on the field of battle, and gave the
world tho highest example of magnnnimous
feeling, whtn the blood had ceased TO flow, that
was ever exhibited. There was not look Of
hostility interchanged The victors who were
were well supplied, gave 10 the vonquished
whatever was necessary to their comfort and
both, with a just appreciation OF the noble cour-
age and sense Of patriotism which had anima-
ted each army through the four years struggle
we're justly proud that they were kindred
race. and the offspring of the free institutions
which had made them heroes. They knew
what all the world knows, that i, was dark,
long brooded-over conspiracy, through which
wicked, ambitious politicians had secured con.
troll over the powers Of government in the two
remote sections of the country, North and
South, madly excited by the slave question,
that, producing collision, had brought the men
en- each part to the rescue Of the homes aud
the governments that were dearest and near
est to them.
Ought not such n close Of the war, under
such leaders as Grant and Sherman--tender,
ing friendship, peace and honorable terms to
their rivals Of the same school, Lee and John.
stOn for themselves, their enemies, and the
country, confirmed by pledges that the result
was accepted by the vanqni.hed as deciding
forever against them the issues upon which
the battle was joined bc considered cor stu
siye HAT nothing should be demanded but what
had been staked on the event ard has since
been fully surrendered.
Has not the righ, of secession been rcpudi.
aed ? Has net the institution of slavery been
rcnounccd aud the freedom of the slaves con-
Grmed by constitutional amendments State
and national ? Has not the confederate debt
been aurulled and the obligations of both sec,
,icns to pay the national debt been admitted
Have not the newly acquired rights of tic
freedmen been provided for by State legs'a-
ton as promptly as possible in the section late
ly in war and anarchy Have not the whole
people, with the exceptions o! fcw outcass,
robbers and cut.throats the shirks thrown
off by the embodied hosts that represented the
principle of the contest on either side as un.
worthy of the cause followed the example of
Of the war, as proclaimed by the National Leg,
isature aud Executive during its continuance
should be accomplished Aud now, wta'
binders the consumatiop of the main object
the communion Of the States in the happy
harmony which made the now continent the
glory of the world for almost century
There is a fragment Of party in tho North
east, which, like the jlnlO created by Calhoun
the Cataine of the South, were never con
tented with the Constitution Of the UniteC
States. The Essex junto of Boston DONNA
ted in New England, as the Calhoun unto o
| CnarlcStOn uOHllna cu over me SIbNC uiISdlCU1
of the South Both these foctons are im5uet
with the British principle at war with the spr
it of Democracy inhercot in our Constitution =
and how invariably tho instinct Q! ariStocrac.
works to the same end will bo seen at glanc
at the ccnduct Of these junlos Of Bostcn ant
Charleston in producing the severe ordcals II
which they have subjected the Constitution o
our country. The war of 1912 was the wa
brought on by the Essex j'nto, the Henry
Hartford convention conspiracy, as that of le
Gl was that of the Calhoun conspiracy, brough
10 head by the Charleston secession ordinance
The British government made The diticaIlc
with our government, in sympathy with th
macontcnis OF New England, whom the II
umphs Of the Democracy under Jefferson an
Madison had banshod from power. They be
came British fiction, beat on severiDg .h
. Union with the United States, unititg wit
Canada and prosecuting their upcmbaryocd irc
! trade under the British flag, the British ha'
, ing compelled the embargo restriction on o,
u govcrnmen, to produce The state of feeling
Q New England to enable the consprators
c drive the people to separation. The llar
. ford convention was the dsyelopemcnt Of tb