The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-03-06

tG destroy slavery. Cheers The OBJECTS fc
be accomplished were different. it is true, so fal
as slavery concerned, but they agreed In
one thing-the destruction of the Government
precisely what was always opposed to; and
whether the disunionists came from the South
or from the North, I stand now where did
then, gindicating the Union of these States and
the Constitution of our country. Great cheer
ing THE rebellion manifested itself in the
South. stood by the Government, said |
was for the Union with slavery, said was for
! the Union without slavery. In either alterna-
tive [ was for the Government and the Consti-
tuition The Government 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 the
Government has been conquered by the force of
the Government itself Now, what had we said
to those people? ''No compromise; we can set
tie this question With the South in eight and
forty hours"
l have said it again and again, and I repeat
it now, "Disband your armies, acknowledge the
supremacy of the Constitution 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 now to meet
US in spirit of magnanimity and say, awe
were mistaken made the effort to carry out
the doctrine of secession and dissolve this Union,
and having traced this thing to its logical and
physical results, we now acknowledge the flag
of our country and promise obedience to the
Constitution, and the supremacy of the law
[Cheers
[ say, then, when you comply with the Con-
| stitution, when you yield to the law, when you
acknowledge allegience to the Government, I
say let the door of the Union be opened and the
| r1Vo b. A. Al L
had strayed from the fold of our fathers
Who has suffered more than I have? [ ask
the question. [ shall not recount the wrongs
and the sufferings inflicted upon me. 1t is not
proper to deal with a whole people in spi-
rit of revenge, [ know there has been great
deal said about the exercise of the pardon pow
er, as regards the Executive; and there is no
one who has labored harder than to have the
principals, the intelligent and conscious often
ders, brought to justice and have the principle
vindicated that 'treason is a crime" Cheers
But, while conscious and intelligent traitors
are to be punished, should whole communities
and States be made to submit to the penalty of
death / haYe quite much asperity and
perhaps as much resentment, as 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 Constitution of
the country, and with the appreciation of the
people, and what did find? [ found eight
millions ofpeope who were convicted, condemn
ed under the law, and the penalty was death
and through revenge and resentment, were they
all to be annihilated Oh may not exclam,
how different would this be from the example
set by the Founder of our holy religion, whose
divine arch rest it's extremites on the horizon,
while its span embraces the universe. Yes, He
that founded this great scheme came into the
world aud saw man condemned under the law.
and the sentence was death. What was His
example? Instead of putting the world or
nation to death, He went forth on the cross and
testified with His wounds that He would die
and let the world live Let them repent; let
them acknowledge their rashness;, let them be-
come loyal, and let them be supporters of our
glorious stripes and stars, and the Constitution
of our country. [ say let the leaders, the con
scous, intelligent traitors, meet the penalties of
the law. But as for the great mass who have
been forced into the rebellion -mised in other
instances-let there be cemency anc kindness,
and trust and confidence in them. But, my
countrymen, after having passed through this
rebellion. and having g iven as much evidence of
eDmity to it as some who croak great deal
about the matter cheers when | look back
over the battlefield and see many of those brave
men in whose company | was, in localities of
the rebellion where the contest was most diff
cult and doubtful, and who yet were patient
when | look back over these fields, and where
the smoke has scarcely passed away; where the
blood that has been shed has scarcely been alb
sorbcd-before their bodies have passed through
the stages Of decom position-what do I fod =
The rebellion is put down by the strong arm Of
the Government, in the field But is this the
only way in which ge have rebellions =
This a struggle against change and rev.
olution of the Government, and before we fully |
get from the battle-felds- our brave men !
have scarcely returned to their homes and re. t
newed the ties Of affection and love to their
wives and their childrcn-re are now almost |
inaugurated iGto another rebellion. Cheers. |
One rebellion was the effort of States 20 secede, /
and the war on the part of the Government was
to prevent them trom accomplishing that, and !
thereby changing the character Of our Govern !
ment and weakening its power. When the .
Government has succeeded, there is an attempt
now to concentrate 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 its dissolution We +
fnd power assumed and attempted to be
ercised of Il most extraordinary character. We .
see now that governments be revolu
tionized without going into the battle field; and
sometimes the revolutions most distressing to
people are effected without the shedding Of
blood. That is, the substance of your Govern
ment NAV be taken away while there is held out +
to YOU the form and shadow. And now, what
are the attempts and what is being proposed
We find that by irresponsible central dlree-
tory nearly all the powers of Congress are as