Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-03-01

crnlnent Of the United states, and they sought 10
preserve their peculiar institutions. What say
on this occasion want to be understood There
was portion Of our eoontrymen opposed 70 tins,
and they went to that extreme that they were wiz
ding to break up the Government to destroy this
peculiar institation Of the South.
assume nothing here today but the citizcn-one
Of you-who has been pleading for his country and
the preservation d 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 1850. l denounced there
those who wanted to disrupt the Government. and
l portrayed their true character. told them that
those who were engaged IN the effort 70 break up
the Government we're traitors. have not ceased
20 repeat that and as far endcayor could accom-
plish Il. 20 carry out the sentiment. Cheers /
remarked. though, that there were two parties
One would DESTROY the Government to preserve sla-
very the other would break up the Government 10
destroy slavery. Cheers. The objects % be ac-
cOmpshcd were different, is true, IA as slave
~ was concerned. but they agreed in one hing-the
destruction Of the Government, precisely what l
Was ALWAYS opposed 10; and whether the disuniOn-
lists came from the South from the North, stand
now where did then. indicating the Union Of
these States and the Constitution OF count "
lGreat chcering.l The rebellion manifested its.lf
In the south. I stood hy the Government. l SAID
I was for the L MON with slavery ] said was for
the Union without slavery. Ina either alternative
MAS for the Government and the Constitution. The
Government has stretched forth its strong arm, AID
with its physical power il has put down treason IN
abe field. That IS the section of the country that
arrayed itself against the Government has been
conquered by the force Of the Government ITSELF
Now, what had We said 10 those people, We said !:
Z" No compromise; we can settle this question with
the South in eight and forty hours"
l have said il again and again, and repeat it
now s.Disband your armies, acknowledge the SUI
premacy Of the Constitution of the United States
give obedience 10 the law, and the whole question
Is settled" lChcers.l
What has been done since? The armiea have
been disbanded. They come now TO meet u in a
spirit Of magnanimity, and say, I'VE were mista-
ken made the effort t. carry out the doctrine
Of secession and dissolve this Union, and having
traced this thing its logical and physical results
we now acknowledge the flag of our country, and
promise obedience To the Constitution, and the SUI
premacy of the law" lCheers.l Isay, then, when
you comply with the Constitution, when you yield
% the law, when yOuacknOwlcdge allegiance tn the
20 the Government, say let the door OF the Union
be opened and the relation be restored "a those that
had erred and had strayed from the folds Of our
fathers. Cheers.
Who has suffered more than have? / ask the
question. shall not recount the wrongs and SUIT
ferings inflicted upon me. Ii is not the course to
deal with whole people in spirit of revenge. /
know there has been great deal said about the ex-
ercise Of the pardon power, as regards the Execu-
tive; and there is no one who has labOred harder
than to have the principals, heinteigent and
sciOus offenders, brought to justice and have the
principle vindieated that ''treason is crime. >
tCheers.1
But, while cOneious and intelligent traitors are
to be punished. should whole communities and
States be made 10 submit to the penalty Of death
/ have quite as much asperity, and perhaps 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 10 the example Of Him
who founded our holy region.
came into power under the Constitution Of the
country, and with the appreciation Of the people,
and what did find? found eight millions 0fpeO-
pie who were convicted, condemned under the law,
and the penalty was death and through revenge
and resentment, were they all to be annihiatedy-
OH may not exClaim, how different would this
be from the example set by the Founder Of Ourholy
religion, whose divine arch rests its extremities on
the hOrisOn, while its span embraces the universe!
Yes, He that founded this great scheme came into
the world and saw men condemned under the law,
and the sentence was death. What was His exam
pie Instead Of putting the world nation to
death, He went forth the cross and testified with
His wounds that He would die and world live.
Let them repent; let them acknowledge their rash
ness; let them become loyal, and let them be sup
pOrters Of our glorious stripes and stars and the
Constitution Of our country. say let the leaders,
the conscious, intelligent traitors meet the penal
ties Of the law. But as for the great mass no have
been forced into the rebelliOn-misled in other in
stances-let there be clemency and kindness and a
trust and a confidence in them. But, nv country
men, after having passed through this rebellion, and
having given as much evidence of enmity 20 il as
some who crOak a great deal about the matter
(cheerS when / look back over the battlefield
and see many Of those brave men in whose cOmpa-
ny was, in localities of the rebellion where the
contest was most difficult and doubtful and vet were
patient; when look back over these fields and
where the smoke has scarcely passed awav where
the blood that has been shed has scarcely been alb
aOrbed-befOre their bodies have passed through
the stages of deeOmpOsitiOn-whatd do find? The
rebellion is put down by the strong ofthe Gov
eminent, in the field. But is this the only way in
which we can have rebelliOns2 This was a strug-
gle against change and a revolution Of the Gov
eminent, and before we fully get from the battle
helds-when our brave men men have scarcely re-
turned 10 their homes and renewed the ties Of at
lection and love to their wives and their children
we are now almost inaugurated into another rebel
lion. One rebellion was the effort Of States to Sc
eede, and the war on the part Of the Government
was to prevent them from accomplishing that, and
thereby changing the character OfOur Government
and weakening its power. When the Government
has succeeded, there is attempt now TO concen-
trate all power IN the hands of few at the Federal
head, and thereby bring about a consolidation of
the Republic which is equally Objectionable with
It's dissolution. We find power assumed and at
tempted to be exercised Of most extraordinary
character.
We see now that governments can be revolution
lied without going into the battlefield; aud some
times the revolutions most distressing to people
areefected without the shedding of blood That's.
the substance Of your Government NAV be taken
away while there is held out b YOU the form and
the shadow. And now, what are the attempts and
what is being proposed? We find that by tn ir-
responsible central directory nearly all the powers
Of Congress are assumed without even consulting
the legislative and executive departments Of the
Government
BY aresOlutiOnrepOrtcGby a committee upon whom
and in whom the legislative power OF the Govern
ment has been lodged, that great principle in the
Constitution which authorizes and empowers the
legislative department, the Senate and House Of
Representatives,, to be the judges Of elections re-
turns, and qualifications Of its own members, has
been virtually taken away from the two respective
branches ofthe National Legislature, and conferred
upon a committee, who must report before the body
can act on the question Of admission Of members
90 their seats. BY this rule they assume State is
out Of the Union and TO have its practical relations
restored BY that rule, before the House can Judge
Of the qualifications Ofits own members. What pO-
sitiOn is that? You have been struggling for four
wears tO put down n rebellion. You contended at
the beginning Of that struggle that State had not
right to 90 out You said il had neither the right
nor the power to go out Of the Union And when
YOU determine by the executive, BY the military,
and bv the public Judgment, that these States can