Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-02-27
efforts could 60, to carry out the sea timent

] rnen uttered.--l Cheers. -------.-
have already remarked that there were
two parties-one for destroying the govern
lnent to preserHe.sIavery, aud thc EotRer for
breaking up fhe government TO destroy
slavery. TIE. objects 10 be accdaa olshed
were different, 1T is true, SO far as slavery Is
concerssd. Bat they agreed in oa4 thiug and
that was THE breaking up of thegoverument.
They agfeea'oh the destruction of the gov
eminent, the precise thing which have al.
ways stood up to oppose. Whethe>>the dis
unlonist comes from the South or fr0A the
North, | stand now where did tsen, 70 vim,
dictate the Union Of these S.ates aud the c,jfF
stitution. [Applause,l
w hen rebellion or treason manifested IL
self in the SOafli, stood by the govern
ment. l said i was for the Union " tn siav-
cry. or l WAS for the Union withont sla,.rrS.
In either alternative was FOR thy Govern
naent and the constitution. 4 AIplauSe ! The
government has stretched forth its strong
arm, and with its physical power has pat
down treason in the field. Yes, the 2sction
Of country which has arta!ed Itself against
the government. has been pat down by tie
government irseH.
Nov, what do these Peop leYsy? We said
| no Comprehensive eau settle this question
with the South in eight and forty 'hohfs-s4
How! Disband your armies, acknowledge
the constitution of the United States and
obey the laws. aud the whole question is set
| tied.
Well, their Hrtnfes have been abandoned
hey come forward now in a spirit Of mag
nani1nity and say: "We were mistaken-we
made an effort to carry out the doctrine OF
secession and dissolve the Uni"n-tlat We
have failed, and having traced this thing to
It's logical and physical consequences and re-
suits, we now again cume forward aud ac-
knowledge thessfag of our country, and ODE
dIence to the constitution aud the supremacy
of the laws" [Chec1e.
say, t4ren, when y"u have yielded tt tile
I laws wien You ack nUNledge Your allegiance
to the government, | am ready to orcn the
| doors OF The prison and store You to your
old relations to the government "f our fathers
Prolonged applause Who, 1 ask has suit
Tered more for the Union than | nave?
shall not Low repeat the wrongs and suffer.
| lngs inflicted upon ne, but it is not the way
to deal with whole people in the spirit Ut
! revenge.
know much has been said about the OK
ercisc OF the pard"ning power. So far us
the executive il concerned, there is no one
VINO has labOrcd harder than h we to have
principal, conspicuous and intelligent tr,litnes
brought t. Justice, 10 have the law yindi.
SN~'SN olN cat IHCi NInuICuIeu mat tfea-
son re crime, than | who stand BET re Won
to-day. Yet. while cunsr Gus. Intelligent
traitors are to be punished, should whole
States, communities and people be made to
submit to anu bear the penalty Of DEATH
have. perhaps, as much hostility and as
much resentment as man ought to have.
but We should conform our action and our
conduct to the example OF Him who founded
our holy religion. Not that l mvald likcu
this to it, Or bring any comparison for | am
not going to dcta!n YOU long But. gentle
men, came into power under the cOnstitu-
ton of the country and by the appreciation
OF the PEOPLE; and what did find =! found
eight millions of people who we're, in fact,
condemned und the law, and The PENALTY
was death. Under the idea Of re cnre and
resentment they were to be annihilatcd and
destroyed. ., how different this from TIM.
cxanP!e set by the holy founder IF our re-
islon, whose DIVINE ~ IN touches the horizon
and embraces the whole earth. Yes, He
who founded this great scheme came into the
world and found cur race condcmrCcd under
the law. AMI the sentence was death. What
was lis example?
Instead 1T putting the world or nation to
Death lie went fUrh with grace aud attestcd
by his blood aud his Wounds flat he could
die and let the nation live IAppIau>c.7 Let
''Sih auI ISL InSn ickt'IWiIJInI their
allegiance. Let them bcc,,,nc lovai and Sill.
Ing supporters aud defenders Of Or rInrious
stripes and stars. aud the constitution of urr
country. Let their leadcrs-the Conscious,
intelligent trnitcrs suffer the penalty Of the
la@ but t5f the GREAT rtiass 5Hli6 have beeh
forced lato this tebelliOh and tniSled By their
leaders. l say. ithiency. kinintss; trust mud
confidence. Enthusiastic cheers I
but, my couDtrJ1nth after having passed
through the re elli"n and given such evil
dcncc as have, though men croak a great
deal about it now, Daughter when [ look
back through the battl: fields and see MANY
OF these brave men, in whose company I WAS
III parts OF the rebellion where it was most
d'thcuIt and doubtful to he found, LeiOre the
smoke OF battle has scarcely passed away. be-
fore the blood shed has scarcely copreu!ed-
what do we find ? True. the rebellion is nut
down by the strong ann Of the government in
the field but is that the only way in which
we ca" have rebellion? They Struggled for
the breaking up OF your government but be-
fore they are scarcely out OF the battla,fie
and before our brave men have scarreIv rcI
turned to their homes to renew the ties Of
affection and love. we find ourselves almost II,
the MIDST o. another rebellion
O"e war to suppress one rebellion was TO
prevent the separation of the States and there!
ny change the character of the 20. eminent
and weaken tts power. Now what is the
struggle! There is an attempt to eoncen-
trate the power of the government in the
hands of the few. and thereby bring about
consolidation which is equally dangerous and
ohjection": le with separation. Enthusiastic
a"Plnuse,I Ne find that powers are rs. ured
and attempted TO be exercised Of u most OK.
truordInary character. What are they
We lind that the government ran lie revo
lIt'o"izcd and be changed without going into
the battle field.
Sometimes, revolutions the most disastrous