The national Republican., 1867-01-21
THE PREsIDENT AND THE UNION
Extract from the speech ef Hon.
John l.. Dawson, of PENN, In tho
s.n MoI:s ss., Of ,ssp Representatives, ssnu-


Far different from the revolutionary, un-
Just, yindictive, and unwise policy with which
the Congress would deal with the rebel States
Ia that which our firm and enlightened Exec
utive has inaugurated. Peace having been
restored by the submission Of the rebels and
such action in the seeding States as recog-
nised the authority OF the paramount law,
his patriotic glance at once apprehended the
situation and the line Of duty. The Presi-
dent no longer OF o divided but united
country, he saw that 1t was not for him to
"giye up TO party what was meant for man.
kind" but that the position called him to
merge the partisan in the Chief Magistrate
and the statesman. He might naturally de-
sire to carry with him in his views the legis-
lative coordinate department Of the Govern
ment; but II they differed his duty was not
less clear. He was TO obey the oath which
he had sworn, to maintain the Constitution
Of his country. He must be true TO his
bright record Of consistent patriotism, exhib-
tied throughout long life passed in the ser.
vice OF the Government and In every official
grade. He had private grieis enough to in
cline him to the measures Of the most ex-
treme radical. For the love Of his country
and her institutions he retained his position
In the Senate when every other Senator Of
his section had withdrawn, He endured with
stoical frmness the ruin Of his private for
tune and the unwearied persecution Of open
and secret foes. I !. r.aLHHyE
Members Of his own household had fallen
upon the battlefield in defense Of the cause
which he had most at heart. Yet he swerved
not. II was not that he hated secession less,
but that he loved his country more. The
moral grandeur which he has exhibited in
such circumstances Of peculiar trial 10 such
as has been shown by few in the whole ex-
tent Of history. "The just man, tenacious
Of his purpose" so handsomely eulogized by
the Roman poet, the storm Of partisan fury
may beat upon him in vain. He may break
beneath II, but he will never bend. Whether
successful or unsuccessful in his object Of
giving once more peace and happiness to
distracted land, his merit il the same. He
has met his own responsibilities with clear
perception, determined will, and an un-
hinching breast. On the suppression by
Cicero Of the conspiracy Of Cataline, It win
be remembered that at the suggestion Of
Cato he was honored by the people with the
title Of the "father Of his country" With
signal propriety this title was bestowed upon
that great and good man whose military sue.
cess gave us existence as nation. Isubmit,
sir, that It belongs equally to him who saves
his country from destruction. .afrl
Filled with just apprehension Of his posi-
ton, its Importance and duties, whatever OBJ
stacles may oppose their performance, the
President, like Gustavus Vasa and William
Of Orange in like circumstances, trust will
"stem the current and march through the
thick array" HIS fidelity and success in the
past is an assurance Of a glorious triumph In
the future. But il in the night Of our dis.
tress II should prove true that republics are
ungrateful," (since Cicero was banished after
his deliverance of Rome from the grasp of
Cataline, and Aristides driven from Greece
because his exalted worth brought down upon
him the vengeance Of rivals and desperate
men, the historian must yet record that this
man, whose whole life has been devoted to
the elevation Of the masses and the mainte-
nance Of the cause Of industrial occupation,
was chiefly instrumental in placing upon the
statute-book an act Of great public benef.
cence. Already under its practical workings
one hundred thousand homes have been se-
cured and settled on the public domain, and
in the not far distant future the numberwil
rise to q million homesteads, the smoke OF
whose cabins on the Mississippi, the Missouri,
the Yellowstone, the Columbia, and the Ar
kansas, rising from firesides made happy by
this kindly provision, will be 50 many endur-
ing monuments to bis memory and to his
iame,D 'a.H...E