Litchfield enquirer., 1867-12-12
WHOLE NO. 2271.
GEN. sICKLES.

At the Grant Meeting in New York, on the 4th inst Gen. Sickles made an excellent speech from which we extract the following:-
 What does the Democratic party propose to do? Nothing that can see except to fill the offices, Laughter and Cheers I have not seen their plan of reconstruction, unless they adopt the Executive plan, which have already believe truly de- scribed to be simply and solely the restora- tlon of the rebels to power just where they were when they began the war. This is impossible, If know the American people,
 LCnt CTS. The Democrats are committed ''bsolute y, so far as can see by reading most attentively the addresses of their dis tngulshed men, to reaction-to use a law yers phrase, to the statu quo ante behum.
 They would ignore the war. They would say with the Executive in his recent Mes sage. 'Ihose rebel States are to-day in
 the Union precisely as they have always been and nothing that they have done has deprived them of single right" We'll, If that IS true, don want to stay in the Un- ion for one. Laughter. What is propo- sed by the EAecutive-for really am en- Darrassed to indicate what party His Excel lency belongs to; therefore speak of him sui gene9is, but with profound respect. Laughter. We'll he proposed to Congress as far as can see, daily reading of the Constitution. And to spend the re- mainder of the session in careful medita- tion of it. Loud laughter. I wish to do no injustice to his excellency's platform. It is sound, but, but how far it will lead us to peace and tranquility without some prac- tical measures which will solve our prob lens, I do not see. But very likely if At Itorney-General Stanberry were called up- on for an opinion 1t would be entirely clear It is equally true, I think, that the American people do' not desire ultra measures to delay or impede the just and proper settlement of our relations with the rebel States. It is equally true that they desired to be relieved as soon as possible of the burden of an imperfect and improvsed financial system forced up- on us by the eXigencies of the war; There
 is no doubt we shall have more equal, uni- O m and easy forms of collecting the public revenue, and more reasonable rate of interest for our public debt. And our people get rather restless when great ques- tions are mixed up wiib small subordinate trifing issues, as in Philadelphia, where the Union Party that was in power forgot every other importance that was before them in order to stop the cars running on Sunday, so that poor people could not get out of town to enjoy Q little fresh air. In Massa- chusetts they were in such hurry to re- construct everything that I am credibly informed 1t was not possible to get drink there. Uiaughter.) And at this rate it was reasonable to suppose that the City of New York became Republican, nobody would be allowed to have anything to wear, or to smoke in the streets Something too much of this has been seen in the dominant party. l trust you will allow me to affirm ;,s my opinion and belief, and to express 1t as my hope, that that noble act of jus tice by which the Congress of the United States gave to all the people of the South who We're loyal to our flag, the right of suffrage will be deemed and held by the American people as sacred and irreverable as the proclamation of emancipation. (Applause.) You cannot make a man free to-day and make him slave tomorrow. You cannot give freeman the sign and badge of manhood by putting the ballot in his hand and take 1t away tomorrow and make him the slave of some other man who holds that ballot. 1 Cheers. And never, never can you, with out outraging justice, and without plant ing W thin your bordersj an inextinguish- able fire of resistance and revolt take away the ballot from the black man and give it to the rebel. Great cheering. "Thres cheers for that sentiment. !" But auhen se- curity is restored. you can grant q general amnesty to all who have fought against our 1 flag, and from that general amnesty, I, for one, would only except those whose signal crimes against the Constitution and the laws of the land nave marked them out as fit examples for human justice You do 1 n ot aypppt onv ono On tbia f1lotfopr, fc ro. hearse to you the military exploits of Gen. Grant You will not expect to be remind ed of the simplicity of his character and 1 life, his unostentatious demeanor. his 1 straightforward dealing with all men. These arc ali familiar as household words. But may be permitted to express my own sense, derived from personal experience, of the reverence, and affection, and devotion due 1 to so good and great man. I do not be- lieve there is in the length and breadth of the land soldier who has followed his for tunes, and served under his command, who will hesitate an instant to accord to him all the qualities of head and heart needed for the ruler of free people. [Cheers.l There is no soldier who doubts that when his illustrious chief assumes the direction of civil affairs justice will be done him. l Now, when these brave men ask for em. ! ployment ill Government service, the illus trious politicians answer them, II wish I could do something for you, but have got 1 to make some seven or eight appointments of politicians down in the Eighth Ward be- fore can do it." Laughter. I would like to see list of soldiers who were stone masons, who are now employed on the new City Hall in the Park. Laughter. Mill ions of money have been wasted by going into the pockets of worthless politicians on that monument of folly and villainy. Ap- plause. tried eight days to get soldier employed who had lost two fingers in the war, but was still fair workman, andwent from supervisor to supervisor, from super visor to foreman, from foreman to Alder man, until I got down to Councilman,
 and then I gave it up. [Great iaughter.l But not one of those public lnminaries
 failed to express great deal of regret to me that had been such great fool as to get lame in such an internal war. also understand from very good authority-for a good many of them have told me so-- that the Common Council of this City are with great unauimity opposed to the ex. tension of suffraoa tO tha hlocke ;Y %ho