The weekly union record., 1866-03-03
THE union RECORD:
OROvILLE. SATURDAY. MARCH Sd.

UNION MEErISs AT SAeRAxsxro.-Als large,
enthusiastic and harmonious assemblage oi
Union men met in the Assembly Chamber, on
Saturday evening. February 24th. Cornelius
Cole, United States Senator elect, delivered an
able speech upon the condition Of the rebel
States, vindicating the action Of the Congress
ional majority upon the subject Of recoustrnc-
tion. A preamble and resolutions by Senator
Porter, Of Contra Costa, repudiatiog the
doctrine Of the Presidents veto message, we're
unanimously adopted. Wequote the following
paragraphs from Senator Coles speech
"On the very day of the assassination Of Mr..
Lincoln, the treatment of leading traitors came
under discussion at the White House. 1t
grew out of his visit to Richmond. and the
address of General Weitzel to the Virginians,
published that morning 10 the Washington
Chronicle The President remarked. 10 sub
stance, that since the war was ended, many
of the principal Secessionists we're acting as If
they had staked nothing on the contest, but be
(Mr. Lincoln) thought there was stake up on
both sides, and that the traitors had lost. He
of Weitzel, which invited many of the disloyal-
lists of Virginia. by name, to participate in
recognizing civil government 10 that State.
By reference to that proclamation, it will
appear that Mr.. Lincoln was, on the last day
Of his life, opposed to restoring the leaders Of
the rebellion to power. That the existence OF
the Government bad been at stake on the
Union side, everybody was conscious; but it is
in tho IUh nf
whether the Confederates lost anything 10 the
late conflict or not or, TO use the apt figure
of Mr.. Lincoln. whether there was really any
stake up on their side.
4 y
"But why such hot haste in this matter 1t
required many years to construct the Union,
and can it be reconstructed 10 day? -Four
years and over ihe seeded States remained
under another and hostile Government, and it
certainly cannot be injustice TO them should
they remain out one, two, or, if need be- four
years longer. The United States can easily
afford them a Government as benefcent as the
one furnished By Jefferson Davis, with which,
unfortunately, they were but too content. II
we are wise architects, our new Union, at no
distant period, will be ss much more magnif
cent than the old one as is the new Capitol at
Washington more magnificent than the old
eliice destroyed by the British. Like that,
erected upon the same site, it will be far more
extensive, more convenient, more beautiful, and
will be adorned by Liberty herself, as is the
new Capitol by the statue Of that Goddess. IT.
on the other hand. we proceed with too much
expedition, and fail to perfect our plans if We
do not lay well the foundations upon the rock
OF freedom, we must expect our structure to
crumble and go down, to the everlasting dis
grace Of its builders. Above all, let US see to
it that the qulcksands Of slavery are removed
from the foundations. Let US avoid the mis-
takes our fathers made, and ours shall be az
everlasting structure"
Our new Senator defines his position at great
length. He says, "The question of negro
suffrage is not, in any tangible form, before the
American people at this time, and with ID as
yet, we have but little to do. The first grea,
question is as to the present condition of th.
several States that were lately coufederated to
gether in the crime of destroying the republic.