The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-07
SPEECH OF SCHUYLER COLFAx.


seventy-six to Find the Nation United
Who are to be Admitted to Congress
from the south, Etc.
From the NeO York Papers of to-day.
At the Union League Club House in Union
Square, at q reception given to Speaker Colfax
on Monday evening, after the delivery of his
lecture at Irving Hall, at about 10 O'clock, Mr..
John Jay, the President of the Club, upon
taking the Chair, introduced Mr.. Colfax to the
meeting.
Mr.. Colfax, on rising was greeted with
cheers. He spoke as follows
SPEECH OF MR.. CoLFAx.
1t is easy, Mr. President and gentlemen of
the Union League Club, when trebly armed
with the merits of good cause, to bear or an
swer the attacks of enemies; but it is always
dimeult TO- reply TO the cordial greetings and
me partial h language OF valued friends. Faith
and duty, the long-continued confidence of NV
immediate constituents has been both an in
centlve and reward. But when gentlemen
conspicuous as yourselves in this great metro
politan city, Identified with this noble organi-
zation on which the Government leaned in the
darkest hours of trial and peril, join with
them in this Endorsement. scarcely know
what words 70 use as hitting acknowledgment,
and can only say would that were worthier."
Wescarcely realize land must speak again ofOur
Country as in the lecture halls an hour ago) how
rapidly ana yet howgloriously we are making
history: but posterity will read it on the open
how brief 1t seems-but fraction of an indi-
viduaps life-but breath in the life of q nation
armies and stolen forts from the Potomac to the
Rio Grande and the onlooking world predicted
the certain downfall of the Republic. Now,
thanks to our gallant armies and their gallant
commanders-Grant the infieXible-Sherman
the conqueror-Sheridan the invincible-and
all their fearless compatriots on sea and shore
but one flag waves over the land-the flag that
Washington loved, and that Jackson, and Scott,
and Taylor adorned with their brilliant VIC
tortes-the flag dearer to us in all its hours of
pfospery and an9ed Sne tSe 2e3SvTs 9i
of peace, at last triumphant, unques-
TONED, pnassailed. @ led SIX years ago millions Of
by the same Divine Father, destined to the
same eternal hereafter, were subject to sale
field, and our escutcheon was dimmed and dis
honored by the stain of American slavery.
To-day auction blocks and manacles and
whipping posts are. through GOO, things of the
past, while the slave himself has become the
ton, the ballot, in his own right hand. (Ap-
plause.) Nor can we forget, while rejoicing
SeT so & its rs
and conspicuous among the rest rises before
my mind the tall form of a martyred
President, whose welcome step no mortal
shall ever listen TO again. Faithful to his oath,
armies his word called to the held he lever lever
swerved hairs breadth from his determine.
tton to crush this mighty Rebellion, and all
that gives it aid and comfort and support.
(Applause.) Unjustly and bitterly denounced
despot compared to Nero and Caigula and all
other tyrants whose base deeds blaciSen the
him amid this tempest of detraction cordially
and to the end; and you have now your abun-
dant v!ndioatlon and reward. Though the
public life while he lived, the civilized world
became mourners at his coffin; and with those
iibeiious tongues hushed, our whole land
enshrines his memory to-day with the
when Sf in a. the he very crisis " of the nations
agonies, he struck with the baJtle-axe of the
war power against slavery as ths cause u.s.; OF al
and strengthening him in that eventful con-
tict Enemies assailed you with eplthet and
fanatics, and radicals. But on the stump at the
polls, and in Congress we all faced the issues
fearlessly and the world-accursed system went
down forever and forever. (Applause.) No
thanks to our opponents 1or this benedcent
contamination. But, even our enemies being
our Judges, how magniflcently are we endowed!
Who dares now wag his tongue againstit? Who
but Yesterday? Not onei Not one! Yours was
the contest you bore the opprobrium; and
your chiidren's children will rise up TO call
you blessed, because You dared. despite
lives of your opponents North, to strike
this giant army from turret to foundation
stone, even amid the agonies and throes of civil
war and to crush iC out in this fair laud forever.
But other duties to the country yet remained
thought with you, girded your Ioins for the
work. The Thirty. ninth Congress, the noblest
and most stpatriotic body Of men l have ever seen
assembled at the Capitol during my dozen years
ofpublic service, wisely rejecting the ill-adyised
and desire seem to have been to destroy the party
that has elevated him to power, proposed q
Constitutional amendment, eInDodylng great
principles that they deemed should be embo-
died irreversably in the national Constitution
as fitting guarantees for loyal reconstruction.
Although endorsed Overwhelmingly by the
loyal States at the ballotsbox, the Rebel States,
hardening their hearts, spurned and rejected
it, and scoffed at its trainers and endoIsers.
And then guided, as l believe, by the same
Providence which gave our armies victory after
victory, as soon as the nation had written
"IIberty for ali" upon her banners, Congress
enacted the Military Reconstruction bills of
March and March "a, opening the ballot
box es to the loyal regardless of race or color,
dfsfranchiBng for the present the leaders OF the
Rebellion, and laying down the terms, and the
only terms on which the rights forfeited by this
bloody war could be resumed. And this hrmness
and devotion TO the right is bringing forth It's
legitimate fruit with an alacrity unexpected 70
many, and with an acqui escence expected Dy
hut lew the vast majority in the South are
ignoring all their long prejudices, and has
tening to accept these terms, Nor need say
to YOU that having carefully and hastily elaoo-
rated these laws, having passed them ana then
ranassed them over the Inevitable veto of the
Executive the great party Whlch mas thus pc
come responsible for them intend TO STAND by
them faithfully.and literally, II their terms aTt
COMPLIED with by the Rebel states in good faith
and without evasion. (Applause) They
xHonId be branded with dlshonor and theil
fame tarnished forever If they did not. But Il
is a partY whose plighted word TO the people
has never been broken, ah9 iS WI, nS' SaT oS nOT
ment requiring provisions in the new Oonsu
1utions Tor universal education as conditioI
of Reconstruction, did not prevail; nuC ;.
hope the good sense OF tne Soutnern PeOPn @
viii establish IL voluntarily, ensurlng them
warmer welcome as they return 10 tne Counct
Hoard But cannot omit in passing, 10 sIaU
fhat one of the essentials OF the heconsCIucIloI
policy is the election of congressman VINO Sa
Ronestiy and truthfully take the oath requires
~ law We should have been faithiess AM
SHyorthV of the ''slow unmovtng finger OF scorn,