The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-05-29

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surrounded thsmj the armies Of the rebellion over
powered, and conquered, and subdued, have sur
| rendered their arms and their persona and The
hopored and everfaithfuI loyal hosts have been
disbanded and exchanged the dread implements Of
war for the more oongenisl and accustomed imple-
A whole year and NOR. has passed, and yet We
have no reconciliation. 80 900.
According 10 one class Of statesmen, whose mo-
tiyes do not presume hero to impugn, the men
whom, with arms In their hands and intrenched be-
hind impregnabls Notifications, the power Of thu
nation did not fear and was able 10 subdue cannot
now, after having acknowledged the supremacy Of
the Government and submitted 10 all Of It's laws
and requirements be trusted with any voice In the
halls Of national legislation They are In the exer.
else Of all the functions Of organised States. they
are invited TO consider and adopt amendments to
the organic law-to that Consultation the integrity
Of which they so recently and stubbornly contested
they subject to all the burtbens and obligations
imposes and yet they are not permitted to enjoy
Its privileges and Its protection beyond the limits
| of'their own States. They can be entrusted with
no voice In the national council, no matter how
loyal their representative, what evidence he may
adduce Of sacrifice made or privation endured In
support Of the national Union, lest the precedent Of
the admission Of ono should enable another Of false
faith to obtain seat BY the preparation Of per-
| jury
IL this wise or q Just policy Can Il DO sus.
tanned on any rational theory Has this Union
for whose preservation so many prayers Of thank.
fulness have assembled to Heaven. been really dis.
solved so that large proportion Of its States are
| now to be treated as subjugated proyinoes2 The
Union was not dissolved at the clote Of the war Il
vindicaed and sustained by the strong arms and
brave hearts Of the people. Il what they won In
the field to be lost In the FORUM Heaven, in It's
mercy, forbid! Do. 49, ..."'
A more enlightened and conservative policy is
that Of the President, sustained by nearly every
member Of his Cabinet. Instead Of fostering Sec
tonal animosites instead Of fructfying and sowing
broadcast this baleful fruit from which terminated
the late DISASTROUS civil war; instead Of visiting with
vengeance these submissive and repentant rebellous
States they propose totreat them with the justice
md magnanimity due from the victor TO a subdued
and PROSTATE foe. Justly holding that the rebel
lious States and their lately deludod people were
rover cut Of tho Union, they propose at once TO
commence the work Of reconciliation by admitting
them under proper and reasonable safeguards, to
all the rights aud privileges to which they are en-.
titled under the Constii ution--a course which, II
seems, to my humble judgment Is in beautiful
harmony with the declarations Of the late lamented
President, and also with the formal and solemn
declaration Of Congress- during the tendency Of the
war, that II was waged "for the defence and main.
tenanco Of the Constitution and the preservation
Of the Union, with tho dignity, equality and rights
Of the several States unimpaired."
Such are the two policies now depending In refer.
once to the momentous question that divides the
people Of this Union, and divides also the exeou-
tive and legislative branches Of the Government.
In their decision the people Of this District have no
voice but, deeply interested as they are In the
peace and prosperity Of the whole country, they
will continue to offer up their earnest invocations
that reconciliation may be no longer Deferred that
II may begin with Congress and the Executives that
they may be able speedily to harmonic on Just,
reasonable and constitutional PLAN that the people,
laying aside all their party and sectional prejudices
and all their pride Of opinion may join their hands
and their hearts in the contamination Of this good
work, by practicing upon those precepts of Chris.
tiany which instructs us TO boar eich others bur
dons In times Of affection. and directing their
sympathies to soothing tho sorrows and mitigating
the suferings caused by this calamtous war, until
the country shall be blessed with both reooncilia.
tion and fraternity, securing to US a pence which,
like broken limb united, will grow stronger for
the breaking"
Again rendering to you, gentlemen. my thanks
and my best wishes for your prosperity, declare
this Council adjourned without day.