Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-03-09

many instances, and in others have
been misled, [ say leniency kindles
trust and confidence. Great APP
.plause.)
My countrymen, when [ look back
over the history Of this rebellion | am
not vain when | ask you if [ have not
given as much evidence of my devo-
ton to the Union as those who croak
a great deal about it. When | look
back over the battle-feldS of the re-
bellion, [ think of the many brave
men in whose company | cannot but
recollect | was sometimes in places
where the contest was most difficult,
and the result the most doubtful, but
almost before the smoke has cleared
away-almost before the blood that
has been spilled has done reeking-
before the bodies of the slain have
passed through dccomposition-what
do we now find? The rebellion has
been put down by the strong arm of
the government, in the field; but is
that the only way you can have rebel
lion? Our struggle was against an
attempt to diSsever the Union; but al
most before the smoke of the battle
field has passed away-before our
brave men have returned home, and
renewed the ties of affection and love
to their wives and their children-we
find almost another rebellion inaugu-
rated. We put down the former re-
bellion in order to prevent the sepa-
ration Of the States, and prevent them
from flying off, and thereby changing
the character Of our Government, and
weakening its power; but when that
struggle on our part has been success
full, and that attempt has been put
down. we find now an effort to con-
centrate all power in the hands Of a
few at the Federal head, and thereby
bring about a consolidation Of the
Government which is only opjectiona-
bic with a separation. (NociterOus
applause We find that powers are
assumed. and attempted to be exeE-
ciSed Of d most extraordinary charac-
ter 1t seems that Governments may
be revoIutiOnized. Governments at
last may be changed without going
through the strife Of battle. | believe
it Is a fact attested in history, that
sometimes revolutions most disastrous
to a people are effected without the
shedding of blood. The substance Of
your government may be taken away,
while the form and the shadow re
main to You. What is now being pro-
posed? We find that in point Of fact
nearly all the powers Of the govern
ment are assumed by an irresponsible
controlling directory, which does not
consult the Legislative or the Execu-
tive departments of the government,
by resolutions reported from a com
|mittec in whom it seems that practi-
cally the legislative power of the gov
ernment Is now vested; that great
principle Of the Constitution which
authorizes and empowers each branch
of the legislative department, the Sen
ate and the House of Representatives,
to Judge for itself Of the election re
turns and qualifications of its own
members, has been virtually taken
away from the two branches of the
legislative department Of the govern
ment. and conferred upon a committee,
who must report before either House
can act under the Constitution as to
accepting the members who are to
take their seats as component parts
Of the respective bodies. b. this rule
it is assumed that there must be laws
passed recognizing a State as in the
Union or its practical relations to the
respective Houses under the Consti
tuition, can judge of the election re
turns, and the qualifications of theiI
own members. What Il position is
that? You struggled four years tC
put down a rebellion. You denied
in the beginning of the struggle that
any State could 90 out of the Union
You said that it had neither the right
nor the power to do so. The ISSUE
has been made, and it has been set
tied that the States had neither the
TIGHT nor the power to 90 out of tht
, Union. With what consistency, aftel
it has been settled by the militar,
arm Of the government, and by th'
public Judgment, that the States hac
no right to 90 out Of the Union, cal
any one now tnrn round and assum
that they are out-that they shall no
come in? | am free to say to you
as your Executive, that am not pre-
pared to take any such position
4 Great appIause.) said in the Ser
+ ate in the very inception of this rebe
: lion, that the States had no right t
e 90 out. | asserted, too, that they ha
:, no power to 90 out. That questio
:, has been settled, and it being settle
t | cannot turn around now and Civ
t the lie direct to all that | have prC
e tossed, and all that | have done fc
d the last five years. (Applause. J
t. When those who rebclled comply wit
d the Constitution; when they give su
? icient evidence of loyalty; when the
n show that they can be trusted; whe
y they yield obedience to the law thi
G. you and | acknowledge obedience t
n | say extend to them the right har
IS Of fellowship, and Union be restores
1t tremendous applause.) | foug
d traitors and treason in the South.
v, opposed the Davises, the Toombs, Il
1t SlidelIs, and a long list Of othe
lg which you can readily fill without II
h, repeating their names; now, when
y turn round, and at the other end {
lie the line find men-I care not bv VIII
at names you call them-who still stal
r opposed to the restoration of t
If Union of these States, | an free