Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1866-03-02

anu TeU6lllOu duu tTSdSuu-bud0 oiu man
would turn over in his coffin, he would
rise, shake off the habiliments of the
tomb, and again extend that long arm
and finger and geiterate the sentiment
before enunciated,, 1.-THE Federal Union,
it must be preserved" Cheers.] But
we witness what has transpired since his
day. We remember what he said in
1888. When treason and treachery,
and infdelity to the Government and the
Constitution of the United States stalked
forth, it was his power and influence that
went forth and crushed it in its incipi-
ency. 1t was then stopped. But it was
only stopped for a time, and the spirit
continued. There were men disaffected
towards the Government in both the
North and South There were peculiar
institutions in the country to which some
were adverse and others attached. We
find that one portion of our countrymen
advocated an institution in the South
which others opposed in the North.
This resulted in two extremes. That in
the South reached point at which the
people there were disposed to dissolve
the Government of the United States,
and they sought to preserve their peculiar
institutions (What say on this occa-
sion I want to be understood There
was portion of our countrymen opposed
to this, and they went to that extreme
that they were willing to break up the
Government to destroy this peculiar in
stitution of the South.
I assume nothing here to-day but the
citizen-one of you-who has been plead
ing for his country and the preservation
of the Constitution. Cheers. These
two parties have been arrayed against
each other. and | stand before you as |
did in the Senate of the United States in
1860. l denounced there those who
wanted to disrupt the Government, and
| portrayed their true character. | told
them that those who were engaged in the
effort to break up the Government were
traitors. | have not ceased to repeat
that, and, as far as endeavor could ac-
complish it, to carry out the sentiment
Cheers remarked, though, that there
we're two parties. One would destroy
the Government to preserve slavery the
other would break up the Government
to destroy slavery. Cheers. The
objects to be accomplished were different.
it is true, so far as slavery was concerned,
but they agreed in one thing-the de-
struction of the Government, precisely
what | was always opposed to; and
whether the dsunionists came from the
South or from the North, I stand now
where I did then, indicating the Union
of these States and the Constitution of
our country. Great cheering The
rebellion manifested itself in the South
| stood by the Government l said l
was for the Union with slavery | said
| was for the Union without slavery. In
either alternative I was for the Govern
ment and the Constitution The Govern
ment has stretched forth its strong arm,
and with its physical power it has put
down treason in the field. That is, the
section of country that arrayed itself
against tue Government has been con-
quered by the force of the Government
itself Now, what had we said to those
people? We said " No compromise :;
we can settle this question with the South
in eight and forty hours"
| have said it again and again, and
repeat it now, "Disband your armies,
acknowledge the supremacy of the Con-
stitution of the United States, give
obedience to the law, and the whole
question is settled" Cheers.
What has been done since? Their
armies have been disbanded They come
new to meet US in spirit of magnanim-
ity and say, 1--WE were mistaken; we
made the effort to carry out the doctrine
of secession and dissolve this Union, and
having traced this thing to its logical
r'i,' ,'~i. lresults, we now acknowledge
the flag of our country, and promise
obedience to the Constitution, and the
supremacy of the law" TCbeers.
| say, then, when you comply with
the Constitution, when you yield to the
law, when you acknowledge allegiance
to the Government, | say let the door of
the Union be opened and the relation be
restored to those that erred and strayed
from the fold of our fathers. TCheers. I
Who have suffered more than have
| ask the question. l shall not recount
the wrongs and the sufferings inflicted
upon me. 1t is not the course to deal
with whole people in spirit ofrevenge
| know there has been a great deal said
about the exercise of the pardon power,
as regards the Executive aud there is
no one who has labored harder than to
have the principals, the intelligent and
conscious offenders, brought to justice
and have the principle indicated that
=" treason is a crime" Cheers.
But, while conscious and intelligent
traitors are to be punished, should whole
and States be made to SUBJ
nit to the penalty of death? l haze
quite as much asperity, and perhaps as
much resentment, as a man ought to
have; but we must reason regarding
man as he is. and must conform our
action and our conduct to the example of
Him who founded our holy religion.
came into power under the Constitu-
ton Of the country, and with the appro-