The weekly standard. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-28

OF The nation! Where is he, In public
or private life, who has sacrificed more
or who has devoted more of his time
and energies, to the accomplishment O
the great end, than I? And I have
done it from the promptings of my own
heart. l believe it was right; and, with
your hearts and your countenance and
your encouragement, 1 shall go thro
on that line. Cheers.
And when I, sailors and soldiers
come to talk about this to be done, and
that to be done. all I want is for you tc
wait and see, as far as you are concer-
ned-wait and see if I don't stand by
you-although every other man may
falter and fail. [Cheers.l
Iwant to see measures of policy brot
forward that will advance the interests
of the people, and of that portion OF
the people who constitute the gallant
and brave men who, in both branches
of the service, have upheld the. Nation
al flag and sustained the country, in
the recent struggle.
| thank you gentlemen, for this en-
couragement. I thank you for your
countenance on this occasion. Tt cheers
me on, and gives me strength to per-
form the work before me. If we are
true to ourselves, we are true to the
Constitution. The day is not far dis
tant, when this Government will be re-
stored. Let us go on and restore the
Government. Let US, gentlemen, en-
large the glorious arch of our com
merce and trade, and let us not only
inspire confidence at home, but respect
abroad, by letting the nation re-assume
its career of greatness. I know that
some will find fault with me and say I
am too lenient, too kind, and all that.
Ii we were all to be put to death, or
punished, or thrown away for one Of
fense, or for the second ofense, and
were to be lost and excluded from So
ciety and communion with our fellow
men, how many-who would be left?
1t time of war it is right to burn vii
lagos, sack cities and devastate fields,
to lay waste a country, and cripple and
reduce the enemy, but in time of peace,
the reverse of that course is precisely
5he right one, and the true policy of a
nation is to. rebuild its cities, restore
is villages, and renew its fields of ag-
'iculture. / know there are some who
nave been at home cultivating during
he war, and bring to the considera-
ion of the questions of peace, harmo-
~, and the aVocations nf civil life, all
he feelings of resentment which ami
mated us when the war was running
nigh; but take the brave men who sus-
aimed the flag on the field and on the
wave, and you will find better feeling
md better judgment on those ques-
ions than you will find with those who
lave been sitting in the closet and nev-
r smelt gun-powder. Cheers. Yes,
rom the private to the General they
znow how to treat the present circum-
tances better than any of those closet
PATRIOTS and humanitarians. Then,
ny countrymen, fellow-citizens, sol
liers and sailors, let us rejoice that
'eace has come; let us rejoice that re-
atoms of the States are about being
estored. Let us make every effort we
an on proper principles to restore the
elations which existed between the
Federal Government and the States.
thank God that our brave men can
eturn to their families and homes and
esume their peaceful avocations. I i
hank God that the baleful planet of
re and blood which short time ago
Tas in the ascendant, has been chased |
way by the benignant Star of Peace.
Jow that the Star of Peace is suspen-
d in the Heavens, let us cultivate the
Earth, and the relations of Peace and
Il those associations which appertain
0 men in Peace. The time is not dis
ant when we can have a political mil
snium and a political jubilee, and
7hen we can proclaim to all the Nations
f the earth that we are again a United
eople, and that we have triumphantly
assed through our third ordeal, have
eace at home, and power to bid def
nee to the world. Loud cheers. Re-
lember one thing, gentlemen, that in
~ past life, though slanders misrepre-
ent, none can say that I ever deceived
betrayed him. 1t will be for you to
se in the future who will redeem all
is promises, and who will be most
lithful. ] thank you gentlemen for the
you have paid me.