New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-10-16
THE THREE PERIODS OF RECENT HISTORY,
Tie Things which are Now to be Done
HEADLONG HASTE NEITHER JUST NOR WISE
Solemn Obligations to The Freedmen.

pvxcurR ON the political issues Of the DAY. how
ever political meeting but vast assembage OF intelligent
people attracted by intellectual feast and we venture to say
shat no finer audience assembled within the walls of an
erbouse At 80 ocock the meeting called to order
BY Mayor LAMBERT who nominated for Chairman the Rev.
~ '''''' REMARKS OF THE REV DR. sroRRs.
On taking the chair DR. SIoRRs said: accept with great
pleasure though with much dfhdence an once wmch is Iler
an honorable than responsible aborous oce-that OF pre-
sdg In this meeting-which needs presidency other tan
s ss Of rirbt and its instincts Of propety. We
.mid mis- evening understand IL not as connected e1
rpsiyey with either OF the two great parties Wheh are no"
anvope the country and presenting their measures prne
va I'd men or The ufraeds Of the nation Some Of us
Doubt many are attached integenty and enthusiastically 10
1t SadSsipg to be confident subject infer that there
are number present Renewed applause and laughter There
nav we'll hope there are who are attached as earn
sty to the policy and the candidate Of the Democratic party
Hear hear Kisses and aPPsuse who are confident Tor
themselves that the interests OF the country VII De saes. ~ Nv
FuaaDsbp and there some no doubt who are accustomed
stand outside Of all party haes 5d s,b PmS OF
Popular will and ready TO act with one or another as
what is best and nobe IN public pohey iAppause nor
there class entirely unrepreented hes - m
this institutions nodded and policy determined by
fnbic opinion and especially in emergencies Ike those which
low surround this nation indifference public affairs and the
principles which undeTe them IN man OF woman IN SeIg!
We are assembled here then not fellow Democrats Re
pubcans but fellow citizens residing IN this pleasant town
prosperity and the progress of the State and the Nation and
We assembled TO hear full and large uteranee On ne Rar o.
one Of distinguished and eloquent OF the deliberate
and matnred views he holds concerning the puDhc polc!
would be mere imPertinenec FOR me q & @ m a oct
Cor bin eager attention that candid and intelligent aen
n which audience like this assembled before me Is sure 70
sye him His presence and his ueance can never be other
wise than welcome any platform around when american
sitSens are gathered TO discuss public affairs Applause
r., 90 an en- n never he otherwise than welcome in tins
town where he resided long and where more than any
sipded as stand here to night the last time bad the
yppounity-I hardly say the fortunate 9pportun!Io
ssand for few moments between MN ana r.s
audience that was eager to hear BIN ia was
the occasion Of his return three years ago nioE wa
three years this very monh-rom lat strange ano anu
American campaign which he single handed had uaeu ana
sOnducen England Pi god %S1 h had oSd%ca
there signal and extraordinary success hear heal re-
.s English opinion S S s We %es them ense you
him then audience ike this which see before me th
swimming the reel Of the waves tbn might put upon
bis honod head the crown Of your unanimous ana
tbs evening eager attention you gave him the nave
little doubt whether you al wholly agree with all he sha
saw or not that you win give him the tribute as then OF
your unanimous personal admiration and respect and have
be doubt that when he shall have finished tonight that {oa
dies and gentlemen am entirely that you are here to
ther preface have the honor to introduce 10 you the Rev
HENRY WARD BEEcHRR
SPEECH OF Mr.. BEEcHER.
Mr. BEECHER welcomed with generous enthusasm He
said;
PILLOW CITIZENS Our recent history divides itself into three
great and well characterized periods that Of discussion by
which there secured great moral awakening IN this ma
ton TO the principles OF liberty that had umbered TO the eno
mites slavery that had been CLOSED over by every dee
Zion Of guse and disguise This the first great peod and
se longest The second that of martial conflict The
<d is that Of reconstruction and when fourth shall be
added that Of restored unity and peace he historic circle will
Be completed But we actors in the third and res
lively important period Of our recent history What are
s duties Of that period That must be known before we are
N position determine which the best instrument and
which party and ympsthes history and gen
Ia
s1Ypction
These then are IN general the things that TO be done
First the utter destruction Of Slavery root and branch which
Sa been e fundamental Of national dscord treason and
war Second the purgaton Of the Constitution Of all infu
sooes derived from Slavery and the purgaton Of the laws
ead evil Of all and proceedings derived from
Slavery infected with H. Thirdly the esdustment OF the
sussed political relation Of States long the condition Of
pended animation Fouhy the secury the education and
ss sahement Of the negro population happily now made
hss Lastly resstablshment Of good will and cordially
sosg Aenacd citizens the revival Of he sentiment Of unity
o. national life the renewal Of enterprise Industry and COM
soe which like the circulation Of blood in the body places
che whole nation under influence OF central vital
MA Some mghtbe inclined perhaps to add sixth head 10 tire
tues to-day namely foreign relations and their adjust
ent; but fellow citizens long are at peace at home
We have no foreign relations No foreign nation chooses to at
tack long at peace among ourselves and we
csanly DO not intend attack them What further is there
fheut America is the worlds host This continent
ME bosptabe mansion stands with doors wide open and
Tie United States alone Of all the nations offers generous enter
tanment to citizens Of every nation on the globe ou
sxpgn relations might be almost written In sentence Room
enough; come and welcome" lApplsuse Now, 1t Is CON
blamed that the duties Of the reconstructed period which have
briefly sletched n heads to you tn number more
varied and complicated subtle and dicut than has eve
fere been submitted TO the decision OF free aeope Ihel
0 b. considered knots which the teeth OF Bsnsr
could not unite which even the subtle Napoleon might well
pe at but shall show 70 the world that an educated an
s people are better al diplomacy and to settle public ques
oa. constructed single head OF any statesman
The face Of the earth Appause Yet we should not ogus
om ourselves called the consideration OF ques
HoRs profound and many OF tbom question
scarcely before brought adjudication before the people an
kat viii tai the patience and task the wisdom even OF a.
Intelligent democrsc community 10 settle them Alright Ike
sonsueon 70 be effected in part by the application OF POM
part by the application Of industrial and commercial influences
but after our best sagacy must @ left to time Is it poss
lie win any ply sican tel you that II body simple huma
body had suffered long Of chronic disease sharply Of aeut
disease that Il can ee reoEed at touch The days OF mTs
90 proportion TO the ug q sickness and tse 5y9ges o. ~
Mat collective agd exqus,ey complicated body called Stat
and when H. disease has been chronic sayerythe
disease since The times OF exocss that infected naont
and sftef n has had likewise accue Of war
ven efpect 10 eject and its disease In day by law by
soi'on Soa eS 90 and m he the best doctor Hence K
Ne expected great subject ana SUBJECT winch touch
49, I'm Ic a diversity Of Judgment good and patriot
men afSRg from differences Of temperament ana nspOs0
oa,ys nd confding or phlounatic and calculating
IN principles and disagree e. 70 we IInous o h
he which, te.e objects are 10 he gained w.
Therefore regard such variation Of sentiment a. hRou
bot az the only ard Of reaching ulh ~ h on
10 h tolerated a IL 10 be encouraged II is the duty OF eve
citizen part then in This great complex ana ho' ga
wofk o. As 30 the no man eouu hlpo
Ansef In bis own conscience, or be- good eUen VINO W
Indifferent 10 that struggle, and dd no-eised ~ f y