The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-07
SPEAKER coLFAx.

SPEAKER COlFAx.
Mr.. Colfax's Speech Before the Unfon League
Last Might.
Mr. Schuyler CoAx Of Indiana Speaker Of the United
States House of Representatives delivered lecture last
evening At Irving Hall In aid Of the Southern Famine
Relief Fund Subsequently, by appointment, he visited
tho Union League Club House, in Union square, where
he was cordially welcomed by numerous company
Mr. John Jay, the President Of the League, introduced
Mr. colfax 70 the audience with some appropriate re-
marks
SPEECH ooLvAx.
Mr.. Colfax, on rising to respond was greeted with
cheers He spoke as folows:-
II is easy Mr President and gentlemen Of the Union
League Club when treby armed with the merits Of
good cause. to bear the attacks Of enemies
but 1t Is always difficult to reply 70 cordial greetings
and the partial language or valued fsnda Faithful
have always strven TO be to principle and duty The
long continued confidence OF my immediate con-
stituents has boom both incentive and q re-
ward But when gentlemen conspicuous as your
solves in this great metropolitan city, dentned
with this noble organization which the government
leaned in the darkest hours Of trial and peril Join with
them in this endorsement, scarcely know what words
TO use a. fitting acknowledgment, and only say
would that were worthier.n We scarcely realize
land must speak again Of country lecture
hall hour ago how rapidly and yet how gloousy 10
making history; bat posterity will read Il the
open pages OF our countrys annals Six years ago
how brief seems-bu fraction OF an Indiv duals Ife
Of rebellion %avsS os arms snS
stolen forts from tho Potomac 70 the Rio Grande,
81 % me
their gallant commanders-Grant, tho nHexibe Sher-
man the M me ur Ss.
the and-the nag that Washington loved and
that acOn and scott and Taylor d With sSsr
Of peril than when gded by the sunshine OF prosperity
and Tanned BY the zephys Of peace q last triumphant
human beings. born American soil, creatod BY the
same Divine Father, destined 70 The same cter-
swine Of The sly or the beasts Of The field.
and our sscutcheon dmmsd and dishosored BY the
n: S .ss :l 4. sGss ss
in his own right hand. tAppaussl Nor ean va forget
while rejoicing over tins happy Go.trast the human
tail FORM Of msstyrsd Prssdsnt vSsVs welcome step
os %Vs ri III county
his word called % tha neld he nsyss swervsd hairs
port Xpplausa) UnjuslIy and bstl3ry denounced 81
pared Nero 'ss .ss ~ .sss
base deeds elscken the page. o. Sieoy, year ncess
cor nhsi ' ana q ~ eD and 70 ssss
dans indication and reward 4houeh the eerch 81
..s
his CONN; and with those ibeIloua tongues Sushed,
our whole fn Siner snserfes os6th,y 81 vsS
Again. 10 the very crisis Of tho nations sgonies
slavery and 4. ii our you sood
upholding his hands and strengthening him IN that
snd invecss. You we're called nero wcrhippsrs
fanatics and radicals Bat on the stump, ss the polls
woridaccarssd system went down forever and forever
Appause No thanks 70 our opponents for this bsns-
Judges how maguncontly arc endorsed Who darcs
wag his tongue against ~ Who repeats the Sian
Not one Yours inc contest yoa bcr the opprcbum
and yours the victory. And yosr children and Jour
ssssa s.:n: s = e s = ss:S
the invsctivcs or your opponents North to strike This
| in this fair hand forever. lTsssewsd appaass) But
srdsd your ions for tho work The Tbirty ninth Con.
.1sr ss e. ssn
my dozen years Of public scrvice-wssly rejecting the
ambition Snd desire seem 10 have been 70 destroy The
party that elevated him 70 power proposed constitu
a..%sS g ne
national Constitution ~ hitting guaantees for loyal recon
loyal states At The oaiosbox, the rebel s;ass harden
ing their hearts spurncd and rejecsd H. and soo6sd -
isve b. the same Providsnes which gave our armies
victory after victory, As the nation had vvtisa
S. ,1T O u March ana March
opening the ballot boxes TO the loyal regardless Of race Or
color dsfranch.ins for the prsscn. the ssssm q ne
terms on which the rights forfeited by this bloody war
could be resumed And this nrmsess and Devotion 70
the right bringing forth IT. Isgiumate fruit WIN an
siacry unexpected 70 many and with an scquisscsnce
expected BY bat few the vast majority 10 ne south are
carefully rsps and hastily sIsSor.ied hsss lave having
passed then and then repasssd them over the Inevitable
veto OF the Executive the great party, which No. thus
become responsible for than, intend 70 stand By hcn
ny the rsbs ssses IN good fsss ana wSous evasion
(ApplaussD They would be branded with dishoncv and
party whose pshisd word the people has been
broken, and viii mot BE- now regrsh indeed, thas
,Ss s p.w Constitution Tor unvs. education
condition OF reconstruction, did mot prevail pus
lax T." voluntarily snsurns them warmer cs ~
they return TO the council board But canrs omit In
passing 70 state that one q sss o. Ms recon
law We saoaid have been fahicss and worldly o me
not been insisted 90 un.1iSly. when he wave. q
treason swept ali that region there faithful
traitors - the Confedecy because they would not sur
render their brtbrisht they awsrved from thss
with oasss and asaaS sssy never ssss
and when thew could longer live peacefully - thor
swsnps and said WELCOME conascaon robbery, exile
or death; but We stand oy ne stars ana ssT,ps:
these The. faithful union moo. they srs 70 Iced back
these States clad In robes OF liberty and justice;
and should have had "Anathema Maranatha' written
on our doorss " we had abandoned Thorn IN our vic-
tory. cannot doubt the future Of the great party
which has won these triumphs and established lhcse
principles II has been brilliantly successfui bscauss
y recognized liberty and Justice as ~ cardinal princi-
pies and because scorning all prcjudcss and dsfyug ali
approbrium allied itself the cause Of me humble
chain TO elevate, not 70 tread down; 10 protect neve
10 abuse II cared for the humbes rather than for the
II recognized that the glory Of States and ma
tons was justice 70 the poorest and fseblost
fully adopted the striking injunction Of our murdered
chief, with malice towards none, with charity for all
but with rmness for the right God gives - 10 ~
the right" tAppausc.) Only Las month the Bsitisl
Chancellor q ,he Exchequer In defending his Reform
break u TO the hope" exclaimed This rs ns.son