The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1867-03-21

do not pretend that it is perfect. l
box ne o&ectien to it from the irst.
hat thatA failed 70 provide any meth
ID g initiating Che new Ssate Covers
pe}os, and tru6t that tbs 1efecs VIII
5esbe rem red by . suppleuentau bin
lat shall nrovide the ways and neans
by which the new organization shall be
brought into existence; and hope the
President will execute it in letter and
spirit trust. too, till such provision
is made the people of those States will
set themselves about that work volun-
tarily.
The people of the South have done
nothing for the last few years but make
terrible mistakes. They made fatal
one when they embarked in the rebellion
which cost them nearly half million Of
lives and made their country desolafe. 1t
| was undertaken in the interest of slavery,
| and it ended by destroying slavery. and
1t elevated the slave into political and
ci"il equality with his master. They
made another mistake, at the end of the
war. when they demanded Immediate re-
turn to the enjoyment of civil and po-
litieal power. just as if nothing had hap
pened. That was a mistake, not only
against common justice, but against com
And they made another mistake in
supposing they could persecute Union
men into exile and even unto death with
IMMUNITY, and without being over
taken by the vengeance OF this PEG
pie. They made continuous mistake
in accepting the pernicious counsels of
the peace men of the North The peo-
pie of Alexandria made . foolish mis-
take last Tuesday, when they defied the
law of Congress and the national author
| ity by refusing the colored man the right
to vote and the Southern people will
make fearful mistake if they shall re-
fuse to accept the terms and conditions
provided by that bill. @F
They may be delayed in reconstruc
ton. The good hour NAV be put of,
but it will not be indefinitely postponed
l have faith in the destinysot the nation
I believe that all will yet be well; tina,
the bleeding wounds of our country will
yet be staunched; that in the course of a
few years the reconstruction of society
upon q new basis founded on the equal
rights of all will be firmly established
that emigration from the North and
from Europe, CARRYING with it capital, in
dustry, and skill, and the great panacea,
time. will yet restore peaceful and fra
ternal condition Of things betwe the
North and the South, and throughout
the whole Of this vast country.
l cannot forbear referring to the last
time 1 stood upon this yerandah and
spoke to the people. 1t was two years
ago on pleasant afternoon in the middle
of March, 1865. President Lincoln was
standing by my side Many of you will
perhaps remember the occasion. 1t was
three or four weeks before his untimely
death. And it was afterward remember
ed that Booth with folded arms and up
turned face leaned against the lamp-post
and gazed calmly upon the man whose
murder he had then contrived. e.5.l
am permitted to return here to night.
and if it is. permitted to disembotlied
| spirits to revi sit the scene Of their trials,
triumphs, and death, may we hope that
his great spirit is now lowering over the
t-~->...--:a.-->S 49,. ~..->..I--sH-j--v.--
tice. and truth by which he was ANNA
ted throughout his life.
Once more thank you for the kind
ness and compliment Of this serenade.
The speaker retired amid loud cheers.
| intermingled with cries of ..Colfax. Col
fax from many in the crowd.
and spoke substantially as follows:
FILLow-ciTI AND FRIENDS came
this evening upon the promise being
made that should not be requested to
speak. but only to listen. But promises
in w ashington are apt to be broken. and
I must confess that when called by you
could scarcely deny your request. I
come, with my colleague, to bear tribute
to the merits of that gentleman who,
after serving in the gubernatorial chair,
has been called to a seat in the Senate,
1 which Iknow he will fill with credit /
1 cannot but contrast his ans when the
States were called upon for troops with
4 the FiIsolent messages of the Governors
of Missouri and Kentucky. Conspicu,
! GUS among the Governors to whom the
nation owes q debt of gratitude is the
Governor of Indiana. When applied to
: for troops he used his utmost endeavors
to comply with the call and when the
brave men who entered the field were
known to have been engaged in bloody
strife, he was ever active in forwarding
|. supplies for the wounded and suffering
4 If any man has earned the title Of the
!, soldiers friend, it is the man whom you
!. have heard to night. When our Sepa
should be c.iled to the position. VIVA,
You have heard from. his lips to-nigh,
are the principles which will control hi.
acts in his position in the national Con
gress. "a '.@--5s s5-' - 1--c f'A
y stand upon the grand principles o
reoOnstroctioa adopted by Congress
Cheers a9 When men tonight for, thei,
country in her hour peril, when men who
in the midst OF the fires of secession ant
I rebellion dared to oppose the Confeder
,t'aey ~ the peril of their lives. and to ad
: ixocate the cause of the Union and thu
fag--to such men the nation should guar
antee protection. justice, and all thei
4 rights. God bless such Union men
r Congress hts given to the world. a.
tt Il eli asDto the Soatll. its policy of recon
!, ssruetion, and says to the Southern
) States, You shall come back to the ma