Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-08
The Old Wings i'm Council-Speech of Washington

Hunt.
meeting of the Constitutional Union Commit.
tee was held in New York on the 18th ultimo Gov.
enor Hunt at the special invitation of the associa-
tion was present and delivered an eloquent address
of considerable length upon the present aspect of
political affairs. After thanking the committee for
the invitation they had extended to him, he said:
At the close of the war, we naturally supposed
that men of all sentiments and all parties would
hail the return of peace with feelings OF JOY with
rejoicings, with feelings of graduation such as
would not be excited by any other earthly gilt or
boon from heaven. But, alas there are those who
insist that there no peace and that there shall be
no peace. The violent men, the more radical and
determined men of that sectional organization which
originally involved the country in all its troubles,
which produced the war, which stirred up the strife
of sections and arrayed the people OF part
against the Other-tnese men still insist that
there is not and shall not be peace in this
land. The great question for the country now
Is whether we are TO have peace and Union on the
basis of the Constitution of the United States con-
slider it a matter for special cOngratuatOn for this
country that we have, under Providence q man at
the helm, Chle Magistrate elected in the din and
turmoil of arms before the conflict was terminated,
who sees the true position of the country and is de-
termined to discharge his whole duty in spirit of
LOYALTY and devotion to that Constitution which he
has sworn to protect. | rejoice to know that the
President has taken his stand and is determined to
maintain it; and | rejoice also in the fact that
large majority of the people OF this country, almost
the entire people, will sustain him in the discharge
of that high duty What do the men who have ar
rayed themselves against the President desire Are
they willing to hold out the fraterna hand to their
brethren in the South, who, under the influence of
strong popular delusion, were carried away and IN
duced to engage in great popular con-
vulsion and TO revolt against the Govern
ment? Do they show disposition to ex-
tend the protection of the Constitution over
that section OF the country and to restore the States
again to their rightful position IN the Union! No:
they insist that the country is still ut war; that the
military power is to be exercised indefinitely over
the whole Southern portion of the Unon-that those
States shall not be permitted to return until they
comply with conditions multiplied, so diversified
and some Ofthem incOmprehenslble that no people
ON the face of the earth could decide what it is that
is required before they will be restored TO the enjoy
ment of their old political rights. 1t is unfortunate
think that the interests OF this country should be
controlled to such degree, and its history guided
by men who seem to be incapable OF taking prac-
teal view of those great questions which concern
the welfare of the States and the Union. They are
dreamers Missionaries. biologists, who are utterly
unable TO comprehend that in the constitution of hu
man society, and in the formation OF governments
there must be a compromise OF conhcting interests,
that preiudices must be harmOnizcd. ana that we
must allow very wide diversity of opinion and
feeling upon variety of subjects. But the
men ruling Congress seem to have an idea that all
the States, and all the people are to be brought
down to one uniform level, and all feeling and sem
tment upon all the questions which now engage the
popular mind and having, rs they think, the power
they consider it good time to establish a system
which shall compel the people in future to subscribe
To their ideas adopt their distractions, and consent
that they and those who agree with them shall have
and are entitled to have the supremacy in this Gov
eminent. The position taken by the President in
this crisis is the only which wise patriot could
take and the only one which patriotic people will
sustain The duty that remains Tor us is clear; let
us 60 forward and discharge it fearessly. Let Us
sustain the President in this great conflict with
carnestness and zeal, and the day is not tar distant
when the true principles OF American liberty and
government will be restored TO their original ascen
dency and the blessings of this Constitution and the
Union based upon that Constitution will be per-