The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-24
,ssue Of victory won In war. 1t now hangs


receive the needed care in any emergency
at the hand of one President, Congress or
party, or at the hands of another.
I reasoned in this way about the tri-
rmrb &C the war. | reason in the same
way now in regard to Recommendation anu
peace. expect that In year hehce
shall he found to be right now, rs am now
admitted to have been right one year, TWO
wears. three years ago. don t thihK, now
:rnr Thai there is any necessity for separa-
tion between the President, the Congress,
and the party of the Union.
I admit that the iealousies and suspicious
or the last summer were only temporarily
allayed-not ENTHUSIASTICALLY the cleo
tions of November They have been
scdulonslv cherished and increased until
they have revealed themselves in infam-
matory debates in the press and popular
assemblies. | admit that the National
Union party in Congress has yet been una
bic either TO accept or reject the counsclS
of the President. 4 wide and enduring
separation cannot, however, be made be-
tween Congress and the President without
having for its groove serious difference
upon some cardinal political questions.
y
Yourselves what il is that we are desiring
TO see effected by the President and Con.
grcss. We all agree that we desire ami
seek Just what this nation needs at the
present iuncturc. We cannot accept less
than this, because il would leave us stu, II
not dc>olatc, nj least, II disturbed and DIS
tractcd country. We cannot require more,
because even if more were desirable, YET
that more is dcbatcablc, and must be the
study and the work, not of ourselves at
this particular period, but OF ourselves ana
onr successors hereafter. What, then, does
the country actually need Most persons
saw reconstruction | think 1t needs no
such thing. The country is reconstructed
already. 1t was constructed in ISL. AS
then. constructed il was a Union of thlr-
teen States. since multiplied to thirty-slN
free. equal, separate, sclt-actlng, and, IN
regard 10 internal affairs, Scll-governlng
States. We do not reconstruct that which
has not been destroyed. There has, in
deed, been an attempt al destruction, put
il has failed.
The political system of l7S7, construct
ed bv our torefathcrs, stands now firm,
COMPACT, complete and perfect, just as 1t
came from the builders hands. 1t was
constructed not for eighty years only, nor
vet for period of civil war only, but for
all alternating conditions Of peace ana war,
and for all ages and all time.
! Others say, what the country needs Is
. the restoration Of the anatomy oi the ma
ton. think it needs no such thing. We
have passed that point. The southern
States. during four years, were dcranged
and disorganizcd equally Ill their conStltu-
tional relations to the Union. They have,
however, since that time rcOrgamHcd.
Their organic powers and functions have
been renewed, and they have resumed
their constitutional relation of allegiance
To the Union. What, then, does the nation
need II needs just what | have dwelt
upon SO much and 80 earnestly III these re-
marks. 1t needs reconciliation, and Just
now needs nothing more. 1t needs, more
over. a very little OF this. 1t needs re-
cancellation between the Senators OF the
/ Emitted States who are now acting ana
/ those Senators who, being loyal and quail
fled for membership OF the Senate, had
. been already, or may hereafter be, elected
bv the people of the several States which
were lately involved in the rebellion. 1t
needs n reconciliation Of the same kind be-
/ tween the members OF the House OF Re-
representatives. who are now acting and
/ ioval members already elected, or to be
elected. by the people in the samc'hcforc-
mentioned States. 1t needs just this con-
crc>>ional reconciliation, and nothing more.
or course, | recognize the fact that the
separation which exists between the acting
Senators and acting Representatives and
-. aud tpnrt
who are already, or may hereafter be,
elected in the southern States IS under
stood 10 indicate Il corresponding ailcna-
ton between the constituents OF these par
ties respectively: but this does not affect
the view have taken of the case. ltonly
shows what is wanted is rcconclllatl' Il be-
tween the alicuatcd constituents, rs wei
aS between separate representatives. Let
the reconciliation be made first, either Ill
Congress or in any ofthc constituencies, and
I it will follow in the other place immcdl-
atcly.
The country cXhibitSat this moment this
extraordinary and interesting phenomenon
II nation OF States not only Kindred, but
allied. vet hostile to each other. For such
4 condition mutual reconciliation is the
only practical remedy. We are prepared
now to ask what hindcrS the application OF
the remedy in the legislative councils
. The President position iSabsolutcl ~ taken,
we'll defined, and universally understood.
/ 1t is this, namely: That so far and 50 fast
as the mreprcscntcd States present them
selves in a loyal attitude by Representa-
tivcs unqucStionably loyal, they are en-
titled to representation in Congress, equal
/ IL with all other States, and just as well as
! if there had been no rebellion. The Re-
representatives. of the National Union party
in Congress do not agree with the Presi-
dent, but think they differ only in regard