The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-24

EuDeet, and some Of our duties in reference to q
must, sooner or later, enter into confusion and
anafcl and deepotism have, as said should,
only Glanced at some general idoas now as 70 the
future prospect before on this branch Of the sub
joct I can add but little. You can form an idea
my views Of that from what has already been
said.
Would that could say somethln0 cheerful but
that candor which has marked that / have said
eompes me TO say that to me the future is far from
thick gloom curtains aud closes in the horizon all
arouId us 1hs much can say, my onlv hope Is
In the peaceful re-esabhshment of good govern
ment, and IFS peaceful maintenance afterwards,
and fu uther, the most hopeful prospect of this
age, now is the restoration of the old Union,
feel ng throughout its length and breadth. These
5es1ts results depend upon o. the people them,
as the South upon their virtue, intelligence and pa.
triotism, but for this l should have long since de-
SPARED; dark and gloomy as the present hour is do
not yet despair OF free institutions; let the virtue
intelligence, and patriotism OF the people throughout
the whole country be oroperly appealed To- aroused
The masses everywhere alike equally interested
the great object. Let Old issues, old questions old
differences, ana euds be regarded as fossils OF
another epoch. They belong TO what Will hereate
be considered the silurian period of our history.
Great views and living questions are before: .a
OF our country's trial and agony, that there was
party for Caesar, and party for Pompey and
patriots by whatever distinction heretofore styled,
rally in all elections. Everywhere to the support OF
",
with CONSTITUTION embiazoned on ITS foids Presl-
dent johnson is now, in my Judgment, the chef
great standard bearer of these principles and in his
efforts at restoration should receive the cordial sup
port OF every we'll wisher of his country.
In this consists really my only hopes. Should he
be sustain med, and the Government restored to its
former functions all the states brought back to their
practical relations under the Constitution, stu
aton will be greatly chanSed from what it was be-
FORE A radical and fundamental change, has
been stated, has been in that organic law We shall
have lost what was known as our peculiar instltu-
ton which so enter twined with the whole frame
werk OF our State body polite We shall have lost
nearly halt the accumulated capital of century but
shall have sui lett the essentials Of free Govern
tuition untouched and unimpaIred, as they came
from the hands of our fathers. With these, even If
we had 10 begin entirely anew, the prospect before
us would be much more encouraging than the pros
pect before them wnen they fled from the oppres-
homes in this then Wilderness land. The liberties
we begin with they had to achieve. With the same
enerGles and virtues they displayed we have much
rivaled in saiubr1ety, with soil unsurpassed in fer
tintyt and with products uneqUalled in value the
mineral Resources Ge Wo sha have S n&s %ucR s
to wed us to the good old land, with
good Government-the matrix from which clone
springs all great human acievements-we shall lack
nothing but our own proper eXertions, not only to
recover our former prosperity, but to attain much
higher degree of DEVELOPMENT than has ever bsiore
characterized a great, free, ana happy people. At
least know of no land tue sun shines on that offers
better prosI ects under these CONTINGENCIES The old
Union was based on the assumption that 1t was for
the best interests of the people of the United States
to be united thev were, each Stete faithfully per-
forming to the people of other States all their obga
tioDs under a common compact 4 always said that
this ASSUMPTION was founded on broad, correct,
and statesmanlike principles.
think so yet. It was only when it seemed to be
impossible further to maintain II without hazarding
greater evils than would perhaps attend separa-
ton, that yielded my assent, IN obedience to the
of Geo, Pla, to try the experiment Just result
ing so diastrouslY to Indeed, DUNG the whole
lamentabe conflict it was my opinion that however
ha oflif mil rTnin GO "a
the appeal to the sword was concerned, after q
while when the passions and excitemens of the day
should pass away an adjustment or arrangement
would be made upon constitutional principles, upon
general basis OF reciprocal advantage and mutual
convenience, on which the Union was first es;ab-
lished.
My earne't desire, however throughout all, was,
whatever might be done might be peacefully done;
might be the result ofcalm dispassionate, and en-
lj htened reason, looking to the permanent interest
and welfare OF all. And now, after the severe chas-
tfement of war If the general sense of the whole
country shall come back to the ackp owledgDent of
the original assumption that it is for the best ne
rests Of all the states to be go united, as trust 1t
will, the States still beng distinct the bllows,
but one as the sea, can perceive no reason why
under such restoraion-we, as q wnole, with
nations, and entangling alliances with none, may
not entel upon new career. exactIng increased
wonder in the old world by the grander
any heretofore attained, by the peaceful and har-
monlous workings OF our American institutions of
Of the people be right 1t Is my earnest wish to
see it. Fondly would indulge my fancy in gazing
on such o picture of the future With what
fathers would hail its opening scenes frou
their mansion above Such my hopes
resting on such contingencies; but IL, instead o
this, the passions Of the day shall continne bear
away, and prejudice shall rule the hour. it con-
lct of races shall arise, If ambition shall turn tn
scale; If the sword shall be thrown into the balance
against patriot M ii the embers of the late shall
be kept aglow until, with new fuel, they shall aamC
agaln, then our present gloom is but the shadow
the penumbra of that deeper and darker eclipse
which is to totally obscure this hemisphere, anC
blight forever the anxious anticIpations and expec
tations of mankind. Then, hereafter, by some bare
1t may be sung;-
The star of hope shines brightly in the West;
The hope of liberty the last. the best;
That, too. has set upon her darkened shore,
And hope and freedom light the earth no more.
May We not all on This occasion, on this anniyer
sary OF the birthday of Washington, jolu in a fer
vent prayer Heaven that the Great Ruler of events
may avert from this land such fall such fate anC
such requiem! Great applause l-Nelo YoH
Tunes