The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-04-05
RETURNING REASON.
Speech Of Senator Wilson, of NAas-
sacIluSettS.

|
In the Senate, on Saturday, Hon
Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts,
made the following speech in reply to
some remarks of Mr.. Nye, of Ne
vada:
Mr.. Wilson said Mr. President, !
am anxious for vote, and on this as
on all pressing occasions | regret to
consume precious moments, but /
cannot permit the remarks of the Sen
ator from Nevada (Mr. Nye) to pass
unnoticed. / remind that Senator in
the outset that this nation has boon
engaged in mighty contest of ideas,
bloody struggle, in which all the
passions of this people of the South
and of the North have been aroused
That bloody struggle is ended; that
contest Of ideas is closed. Patriotism,
humanity and christianity bid us Of
the North and of the South, subdue,
hush and calm the passions engend-
cred by the terrific conflicts through
which we have passed, and to call the
dews of blessing, not the bolts of ours
ing, down upon each other. We
should remember the words Of one of
own poets of freedom and humanity
always he who most forgiyeth
In his brother is most just"
l Twill remind the Senator from Ne
vada, 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 demagogueism present
ed to popular leaders either of the
North or of the South than now. 1t
is an easy thing tor 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 wealth has been devoured,
and whose sons and loved ones have
fallen in lost cause 1t is an easy
thing, too, for popular leaders in the
North by appeals to arouse passions
excited by the conflict of arms in the
bosoms of men whose sons and broth
ers have sank into bloody graves in
defense of their perilled 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 warand of peace, should
appeal not to the passions and preju-
dices and hatreds of the people, but |
to the heart and conscience and |
reason. Unreasoning passions may
applaud violent appeals to-day, but |
reason will utter its voice
of condemnation tomorrow.
The honorable Senator from Neva-
da deems it matter of reproach, now
the bloody contest is over, the rebels
beaten, and their cause lost forever,
that should not entertain and express
toward my defeated and fallen coun-
srymen of the South the same stern
condemnation, the same sentiments of
and reproach. They are not
llien enemies; they are not of anoth-
sr lineage and language. They are
BUR countrymen; these States must
continue for ages to come to be part
If our common country, and these
,eople, their children, and their child
ems children, must continue to be
,ur countrymen. / do not consider
t either generous, manly, or Christian
o nourish, or cherish, or express
ceilings ofwrath or hatred toward
hem. At this time, when these mis-
uided and mistaken countrymen of .
urs have been conquered, it seems to
he to be a duty sanctioned by hu-
lanity and religion to heal the wounds s
{ war. Sir, have fought the battle n
,r the country not to pull down any C
ody nor to be the personal enemy of a
nybody on earth That is my posi- a
on now, and it will be my position r
GREATER. Our words should not Ne u
indie the prejadices, passions, and &
atreds engeudered by the bloody il
ruggles Of civil war, but our words S
lOuld be fitted TO the changed con- Il
ition Of affairs and the needs Of our n
1mty. f
Il