Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-05-03
Speech and Senator Lees Reply
The Radical Cnm na Ign at the South.

The Radical Cam paign at the South.
Felyoec- Citizens Of TTi,yiuio In compli-
ance with u pressing request from some OF
your own citizens, am here to speak upon
public affairs to-day permit me, therefore,
in the beginning, to say that l intend to
speak, as l am sure you must wish, frankly
and fearlessly. j have no DISCUSSES, but
for thirty one years have been on unquah-
fled friend Of freedom and an undaunteo
enemy of human slavery. L have never
given a vote without first considering how
it would affect the question of slavery III
America. [ learned these principles from
the founders of our Government and the
| trainers of the Constitution, men whom
| Virg lnia IS proud to own, and among whom
none was greater than James Madison,
| whose home was in the county of Orange.
He was opposed to the extension of slavery
upon this continent, and believed 1t to be
one of the greatest curses of our sln-strlck-
en- earth. lie declared that imbecility is
always dependent unon a land filled with
slaves, and these words falling upon my ears
in early manhood, | have always been firm
believerin their truth, meeting every effort
to extend the power and influence of the
STAKEHOLDER with al emphatic mo- Those
who established the liberties of America,
who waded through fire and blood for the
principles Of the Revolution of 1776, all
believed that the institution OF slavery
should, and soon would, pass away from
earth. But ere they had tasted death, that
institution, though feeble at first, the whole
number of slaves being valued only at fifty
million dollars, began to strengthen itself
to huge proportions Its friends soon took
possession of, and for more than fifty years
held, the reins of government. The spirit
of Liberty opposed their views, and i'll the
ranks of her followers were thousands of
good men, who read their Bible, and on
Bonded knee asked the Divine guidance,
| firmly believing that Christ died for ILL.,
The struggle went from 1880 until No
vember 1860, when the American people,
unawed, and filled til earnestness in the
cause of Truth, marched to the polls, and
| by their ballots proclaimed Abraham Lin
coin President of the United States, and
decided forever that slavery should never
advance another inch upon this broad con-
tinent. Cheers from the colored people.
They decided that the Government of the
United States should be under the control
of men who adhered to the doctrines pro-
mulgated by Washington, Jefferson, Hen
ry, and Madison, of your own Virginia.
No one proposed to interfere with the
rights of any of the southern people, or to
disturb any who loved the Constitution and
Union but in the pride of power, class
of men who adhered to the principles Of
human servitude plunged the country INTO
revolution, which for wickedness has
never been eQualIed in the history of ma
tons South Carolina took the lead, and
after Fort Sumter had fallen, Old Virginia,
too, yielded to evil counsels and took her
place IL the line, thereby losing thousands
of her sons and making her soil for four
years bloody battle-t field Let me say
here, fellow citizens, that I believe war was
inevitable. Two great ideas were abroad in
the land. One was the great principle of
republican freedom, backed and sustained
by all the great advocates of progress, the
almighty hand of God behind it, and with
the philosophy Of ages as its support ;
while the other was the gigantic system of
human bondage, withits millions of wealth,
its tettercd slaves, and proud aristocracy.
Freedom did not give way ; she never has
and never will quail and Slavery, too
proud to yield to the demands of Liberty,
raised the standard of revolt. | believed
then, as [ do now. that this war was inevi-
table it was one of Gods great wars, and
it ended with Justice victorious, as l sup
posed it would. What is the result p
The Government was satisfied, the nation
still lives, the dear old flag still waves, and
slavery, thank God! has Sunk-gone down
from negroes. Millions of bondsmcn have
been freed, and elevated to the high position
of citizens of the United States, and every
man, woman and child here present, nc
matter how dark his skin, is as free as
anl-as anybody OH the globe can be-
They have their rights, and those rights
must be secured. The proudest blood thai
courses through the veins of Virginian is
not more free, is not more able, than thai
of the humblcst freedman who dwells in
} this old Commonwealth. For the accom-
plishment of this we of the North fought
six hundred battles, brought science and
art to the aid of invincible bravery, ex
pended three thousand millions of dollars
lost two and q half million men, created {;
mighty navy, and were stronger in April
1865, than when the war commenced. The
rebels went into it, exhausted all their re-
sources, put forth all their men upon the
field of battle, and fought with heroic val
or. The war has ended. Yes, thank God
it has closed and may He grant that an
other may never curse OH country.
Now, let me tell you one thing that
know to be true Although we had made
great efforts, although VIC had many sacri
fees although we poured forth the blood
OF our children like water, and money like
the rains OF autumn although We had
Dufleu 01o,UUO young men III tne pflue anC
bloom of lusty life, whoEo graves arc scat
tered beneath d starry Northern sky, anc
ridge the fields Of the desoIated South
while Thousands of manned veterans re
manned to remind us of our wrongs-Still
when the victory was ours, not Il feeling o.
revenge animated the Northern heart
There WAS no disposition to rejoice oven
your many sorows. but Il feeling of graft
tication III the triumph Of truth, and the
settlement upon the basis of liberty anG
Justice. We desired that all should have
equal rights before the law but while VIC
wished to raise the lowly, there WIS no in
tention OF forging the chains of slavery fol
those already free. These were the senti
ments of my section
Every man who came to Washington at
ter the surrender OF Lee was ready to dc
anything that the good of the nation re-
, quired. And the proposition now pending,
if it had then been submitted, you would
all have exclaimed with joy that the Gov.
eminent was just, liberal, and merciful tc
a fault. Some thought that our Govern,
ment would go farther, and do far more
than we have ever contemplated.
When President Lincoln prepared eiqh