The Placer herald., 1867-05-11
Returning Reason.


son of Massachusetts, made the following
speech in reply to some remarks Of Nye, Of
Nevada, who was very severe upon rebels:
Mr.. Wilson said: Mr.. President, l am quite
anxious for vote, and on this as on all
pressing occasions regret 10 consume pre-
cious moments, but cannot permit the re-
marks of the Senator from Nevada Mr..
Nye) to pass unnotced. remind that Sen.
ator in the outset that this nation has been
engaged in bloody contest Of ideas;
bloody struggle in which all the passions Of
the people Of the South and the North have
been aroused. That bloody struggle is end
ed; that contest Of ideas is closed Patriot
ism, humanity, and christianity, bid US Of
the North and Of the South subdue, hush,
and calm the passions engendered by the
terrific conflicts through which we have pas
sed and to call the dews Of blessing, not the
bolts Of cursing, down upon each other.-
We should remember the words Of one Of
our own poets Of freedom and humanity
''Always he who most forgiveth
In his brother is most just"
/ will remind the Senator from Nevada,
too, that it is an easy thing to appeal to the
prejudices, passions, and hates Of the people
of the South or Of the North. Never was
greater temptation to demagogsm presented
to popular leaders either Of the North or Of
the South than now. 1t is an easy thing
for popular leader in the South TO appeal
to the passions, prejudices, and hates Of that
people whose fields have been blasted by the
war, whose hoalth has been devoured, and
whose sons and whose loved ones have fall
len in a lost cause. It is an easy thing,
too, for popular leaders in the North by ap-
peals to arouse passions excited by the con-
flct of arms in the bosoms OF men whose
sons and brothers have sank into bloody
graves in defense Of their periled country.
Whatever the champions Of the lost cause
in the South may do, we OF the North,
whose cause is triumphant in the fields of
war and of peace, should appeal not to the
passions prejudices, and batreds Of the peo-
pie, but to the heart and conscience and rea-
son. Unreasoning passion may applaud
violent appeals to-day, but unclouded reason
will utter its voice of condemnation TO. NOR.
row.
The honorable Senator from Nevada deems
it matter Of reproach, now the bloody con-
test is over, the rebels beaten, and their cause
lost forever, that should not entertain and
express toward my defeated and fallen coun
trymen of the South, the same stern condem.
nation, the same sentiments Of censure and
reproach. They are not alien enemies; they
are not Of another lineage and language.
They are our countrymen; these States must
continue for ages to come to be a part Of
our common country, and these people, their
children and their children's children, must
continue to be our countrymen. do not
consider it either generous, manly, or Christ
ian, to nourish or cherish, or express feel
ings Of wrath or hatred toward them. AT
this time, when these misguided and mis-
taken countrymen Of ours have been con.
quered, it seems to me to bea duty sanction
ed by humanity and religion to heal the
wounds Of war. Sir, have fought the bat
tie for the coultry not TO pull down any
body nor to be the personal enemy Of any.
body on earth. That is my position now,
and it will be my position hereafter. Our
words should not rekindle the prejudices,
passions, and batreds engendered by the
bloody struggles Of civil war, but our words
should be fitted to the changed condition of
affairs and the needs of our country.