The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-28

passed, of our country's trial and agony
that there was party for Caesar and ,
party for Pompey, and party for Bru
tus, but no party for Rome but all pa
triOts by whatever. distinction here
tofOre styled, rally in all elections, every
where to the support of him, be he whom
he may, who bears the standard will
Constitution emblazoned oil its folds
President Johnson is now, in my judg.
ment, the chief great standard bearer
Tor these principles, and in his efforts al
restoration should receive the cordial
support of every well-wisher of his
country. In this consists really my only
hope. Should he be sustained, and the
Government be restored to it's former
functions, all the states brought back To
their practical relations under the Con.
stitution, our situation will be greatly
changed from what it was before. 4
radical and fundamental change. as has
been stated, has been in that organic
law. We shall have lost what was
known as our peculiar institution, which
SO entertained with the whole frame
work of our state body polite. We shall
have lost nearly half the accumulated
capital OF century, but shall have still
left the essential of free Government
contained and embodied in the old Con.
stitution, untouched and unimpaired, as
they came from the hands of our fathers
With these, even If we had to begin en-
tirely new, the prospect before us would
be much more encouraging than the
prospect before them when they fed
from the expressions of the old world,
and sought shelter and homes in this
then wilderness land. The liberties we
begin with they had to achieve. With
the same energies and virtues they dis.
played, we have much more to cheer us
than they had. With climate unri-
vailed in salubrity, with a soil unsur-
passed in fertility, and with products
unequalled in value in the markets of
the world, to say nothing of mineral re-
sources, we shall have much still to wed
us to the good old land, with good Gov.
ernment-the matrix from which alone
springs all great human achievements
we shall lack nothing but our own
proper exertiOns, not only to recover our
former prosperity, but to attain a'much
higher degree of development than has
ever before characterized great free
and happy people. AT least L know of
no land the sun shines on that offers
better prospects under these contingent
cles. The old Union was based ON the
assumption that it was for the best inter.
ests of the people of the United States to
be united as they were, each state faith.
iuily performing to the people of the
other states all their obligations under
common compact. | always said that
this assumption was founded on broad
correct and statesmanlike principles.
think 80 yet. 1t was only when if |
40 alnaI tn ha m pnco hln n, -
tain it without hazarding greater evils
than would perhaps attend a separation.
that / yielded my assent, in obedience
to the voice of Georgia, to try the ex-
pertinent just resulting so disastrousIy
to us. Indeed, during the whole lament
able conflict, it was my opinion that
however the pending strife might ter.
so far as the appeal to the
sword was concerned, after while
when the passions and excitement of
the day should pass away, an adjust
ment of arrangement would be made
upon continental principles, upon a gem
eral basis OF reciprocal advantage and
mutual convenience OH which the Union
was first established. My earnest desire,
however, throughput all was whatever
might be done might be peacefully done;
might be the result of calm, disposition
lte and enlightened reason looking to
he permanent interest and welfare of
I'll. And now, after the severe chastise-
nent of war, if the general sense of the
Whole country shall come back to the
of the original assump-
ion thatit is for the hest Interests ofall
be states to be so united ;s trust it
viii, the states still being distin OF as the
pillows, but one as the sea. can per-
'eive no reason why, under such restora-
ion, we, rs whole, with peace, COM
nerce and honest friendship with all
lations, and entangling alliances with 7
zone, may not enter upon a new career, a
xacting increased wonder in the world c
" the grander achievements hereafter a
0 be made than any heretofore at {
aimed, by the peaceful and harmonious
workings of our American institutions
I government. All this Is possible.
the hearts of the people be right. 1t I
my. earnest wish to see it. Eondly
7ould | indulge my fancy in gaSing Oh
lch picture of the future. With s
hat rapture may we not suppose, the
pirits ofour fathers would hail its OPEN
lg scenes from their mansions above !
UGH are my hopes, resting on uch con-
ngencies but, if, instead of this, the
assions Of the day shall continue to
ear sway and prejudice shall rule the
our, if a conflict Ofraces shall arise, if
nbition shall turn the scale; if the
word shall be thrown into the balance
sainst patriotism If the embers of the Cl
tie war shall be kept aglow until, with I
ew fuel, they shall flame again, then
lr present gloom is but the shadow the
,numbra of that deeper and darker
lipse which is to totally obscure this 4
and blight forever the
lxious anticipations and expectations
mankind. Then, hereafter, by some Z
rd it may be sung:
The star oshope shown brightly in the West;
The hope Of liberty the last the best;
That too, has set upon her tarkened shore,
And hope and freedom light the earth no mora
May we not all on this occasion. Oh
is anniversary of the birthday of ~
ashington, join in fervent prayer to G.
eaven that'the Great Ruler of events
ay avert from this land such fate,
n .raI,