The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1866-08-29
errlng Providence is in this great move

errlng Providence is in this great move
ment.
The nation is in peril. We have
just passed through mighty, bloody,
a momentous ordeal, and yet do not
find ourselves free from the difficulties
and dangers that at first surrounded US.
While our brave soldiers, both officers
and men turning to General Grant,
who stood at his right,) have by their
heorism won laurels imperishablc, there
are still greater and more important
duties to perform; and while we have
had their cooperation in the field, now
that they have returned to civil pursuits
we need their support in our efforts to
restore the Government and perpetnate
peace Applause. So far as the Exc
cutive department Of the Government
is concerned, the effort. has been made
to restore the Union, to heal the breach,
to pour oil into the wounds which were
consequent upon the struggle, and Ito
speak in common phrase,) to prepare,
as the learned and wise physician would
a plaster, healing in character and CO.
extensive with the wound. (Applause)
We thought, and We think, that we had
partially succeeded; but as the work
progresses, as reconciliation seemed to
be taking place, and the country was
becoming reunited, we found a disturb
ing and marring element opposing US.
In abiding to the element | shall go
no further than your Convention and
the distinguished gentleman who has
delivered to me the report Of it's pro-
ceedings. I shall make no reference
to it that do not believe the time and
the occasion justify.
We have witnessed in one department Of
the Government every endeavor to prevent
the restoration of peace, harmony and Union.
We have seen hanging upon the verge of the
Government, as it were, a body called, or
which assumes to be the Congress Of the
United States" while in fact it is Congress
of only part Of the States. We have seen
this Congress pretend to be for the Union,
when its every step and act tended to per-
petuate disunion, and make disruption Of
the States inevitable Instead of promoting
reconciliation and harmony, it's legislation
has partaken Of the character of penalties,
retaliation and revenge. This has been the
course and the policy of one portion of your
Government. The humble individual who
is now addressing you stands as the repre>
sentative of another department Of the Cow
ernment. The manner in which he was
called upon to occupy that position shall
not allude to on this occasion. Suffice it to
say that he is here under the Constitution Of
the country, and being here by virtue Of its
provisions, he takes his stand upon that
charter of our liberties as the great rampant
of civil and religious liberty. Prolonged
cheering.l Having been taught in my early
life to hold it sacred, and having done so
during nay whole public career, shall ever
continue to reverence the Constitution of
my fathers, and to make it my guide. Hearty
applause,l
permitted to indulge in the remark) that the
Executive Department Of the Government
has been despotic and tyrannical. Let me
ask this audience of distinguished gentlemen
to point to vote ever gave, to a speech
ever made, to single act of my whole pub>
lie life that has not been against tyranny and
despotism. What position have I ever oc-
cupied-what ground have I ever assumed
where it can be truthfully charged that I
failed to advocate the amelioration and ele~
vation of the great masses of my country
men? [Cries of "Never," and great ap-
plauSe.l
So far as charges Of this kind are con>
cerned, they are simply intended to delude
the public mind into the belief that it is not
the designing men who make such accusa>
tionS, but some ore else in power, who is
usurping and trampling upon the rights and
perverting the principles of the Constitution.
It is done by them for the purpose. of coVer>
ing their own acts That's so and applausel
and have felt it my duty, in Vindicatiou
of principles, to call the attention of my
countrymen to their proceedings. When we
come to examine who has been playing the
part of the tyrant. by whom do we find des
potism exercised? AS to myself, the ele
ments of my nature, the pursuits of my life,
or in my practice, oppressive. My nature,
on the contrary, is rather defensive in its
character. But having taken my stand upon
the broad principles OF liberty and the Con-
stitution, there is not power enough on earth
to drive me from it Loud and prolonged
applause.) Having placed myself upon that
broad platform, have not been aWed or
dismayed, or intimidated by either threats
or encroachments; but have stood there in
conjunction with patriotic spirits, sounding
the tocsin of alarm when I deemed the cita<
del of Liberty in danger (Great ap>
plause.)
said on previous occasion, and repeat
now, that all that was necessary in this great
contest against tyranny and despotism was
that the struggle should be sufficiently audi
bic for the American people to hear and
properly understand the issues it involved.
They did hear, and looking on and seeing
who the contestants were and what the strugS
gle was about, determined that they would
Settle this question on the side of the Consti-