The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-05-02

The War for the Union and Freedom
Vindicated-The Radical Record-The
Party of the PeOpleTGood Advice to the
Negroes.
Senator Wilson spoke on the 4th instant,
at Petersburg. Va to concourse of sever
al thousands, principally colored, to whom
he as introduced by the Mayor of the city.
The following are the important por tions of
an eloquent and impressive speech:
CAUSES of THE WAR
| do not wish to obtrude upon you You
ask me to give you my opinions, and / in
tend to do SO, aud will speak them as free
ly as if were in Massachusetts. ] want
you to understand that | am Radical Re
publican. Now wish to say to you that
we have just passed through bloody con-
test, which in the course Of events was in
ev1table-a contest of ideas that shook the
country for thirty years. 1t came and we
fought it out, and when the last gun was
fred | was in favor of forgetting all the bit
terness epgendered by the contest, and of
marching with you shoulder to shoulder in
support Of united country. What were
the causes of the war? In my opinion there
was only one, and of that both we of the
North, as well as you of the south, were
guilty-human slavery in America. |
learned my lesson in regard to this institu
tion from the teachings of your own men
from Washington, Jefferson, Monroe, Mad
ison and Henry-all of whom in their day
declared against slavery. On the one hand
was a system of slavery, and on the, other
freedom. This has caused conflict which
was waged for thirty years before the war
broke Qua
The contest closed, pray forever in our
success. do not wish to reproach the
men of the south for the manner III which
they fought We met on six hundred and
twenty-five battle fields, and your soldiers
fought with heroic valor But the cause
for which you struggled was lost, and with
it the system of human slavery forever
We are reminded frequently that Congress
passed a resolution that the war was to be
fought for the restoration of the Union.
At the time this resolution was passed,
we believed it, and the war went on. We
who were in Congress, did not do our duty.
We hesitated in 1867, and waited until
June 1868, and thus prolonged theiwar at
least year. Led 10 the proper course by
the disasters which overlook u.s. we saw
that there was only one thing for us to do
if we would not be defeated, and that was
that slavery must go down so deep that
there should be no resurrection forever
When the work was over the war ceased
thank God for it. Consider the condition
of the country at the close of the war--Lin
coin killed; the hearts of the people had
been sad and sore; they had buried 1885,
900 of their children; vacant chairs were to
be found i'll every house, and lowly mounds
under which lay thousands upon thousands
of the sons of the north, scattered all over
Virginia and other states. In spite of these
there was no sentiment of hostility OF desire
to degrade the humblest man of the south.
Our people do not want your lives, your
! blood or your lands. They fought lfore the
liberty of the lowly, and desired to lift them
up, audn to pull them down. o ~.
1.-THE PRESIDENTS POLICY. ~
| am sorry to say that difference arose
between the President and Congress. IN
der tnalign counsels the President took a
position in opposition to the great majority
Of Congress and the people, and your peo-
pie, under the lead Of prominent men and
the press looked to the President and be-
lieved he would carry his policy, and in that
you made great mistake, and to your
Some Of you even now look to the Supreme
Court, and in this you will be disappointed,
as you were in your dependence on the
President. Some others look to the fornia-
ton of political party at the north, such
as promised you great things before the
war. You will find them, let me tell you,
as powerless to help you as was the Presi
dent. You made mistake in consulting
with Democrats the more you consult
with them, the more exacting will the ma,
jority in Congress become. The south can
ncs count on any aid from them, and look
ing to them for assistance will be the cause
of their defeat. Congress has prescribed
the terms of reconstruction. These were
not intended to degrade or humiliate any
man. The intention of Congress was to
settle the whole controversy on a perIna-
nent and solid basis. Unless it was settled
right, it never would be settled and to be
settled right it must be settled on the basis
of justice and humanity. You are asked
to adopt the Constitutional amendment
say when this question is settled, as | be-
lieve it will be shortly, these disabilities
will rapidly disappear. | have fought for
thirty years to emancipate the black man,
and have seen his rights planted on a basis
solid and enduring. No one can take them
from him. While fought for them l tell
you frankly have no heart to take rights
from any of my fellow citizens. l trust
these disabilities will vanish in few
months. | want to see all free and protect.
ed in their civil rights. am in favor of
schools and the education of the blacks as,
well as the whites--of internal improve
ments and manufactures on all your streams;
animated by these usentiments, l do not
want to see any individual, however he may
have acted DISTINGUISHED, Inundated or de-
graded. .-'..' .-.,e
FREE DISCUSSION. -,
Two IN onths ago the Reconstruction bill
was passed, and from all parts of the coun-
try intelligence is coming UP that the peo-