Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-08-02
Speech of Senator Wilson.

ittst WIEN, tb0 III thS SNShihe nv ''"S sS'N
uaded, when he made a capital political
speech, from which we make the following
extract:
We are to have a united country, COM
pretending more than is now within the
bounds of the country. We have carried
the flag up to the north pole on one side of
the continent, and many years will not pass
away before it will also go there on the
other side. j do not think it worth while
to hurry this. 1t is our manifest destiny
1T is in the future--we cannot help it if
we would. But the country, whether COM
pretending more or less than the territory
of North America, is henceforth and for
ever to be free country, where every man
is to be the peer of every other man.
(Applause.) We have passed through
bloody struggle. i am among those who
believe that it was inevitable-that it was
one of the great wars of the human fami-
ly. 1t was struggle on this continent be-
tween the democratic ideas of the Decla-
ration of Independence and the system Of
human bondage; and in such contest
there could be no doubt Of the rerult. 1t
was one of Gods wars, and for myself |
accept it as such; and accept its results.
When we had war believed in prosecut-
ing it vigorously. Now We have peace, l
want to prosecute peace vigorously. We
who stood by our country, and the cause of
liberty, justice, and humanity, have tri-
umpbed. We have triumphed at fearful
cost. We are proud and strong we have
lifted the country toward the heavens we
are greater people than ever before
We have destroyed human bondage; we
have subjugated and conquered brave
and heroic portion of the country, and now
the great work is done, am for welcoming
them back with warm and generous greet
ings, trusting that the causes of all our
troubles have passed away forever, and
that hereafter in the future we shall be
friends and brothers as we were in the
morning of the republic.
The President of the United
States may do what he pleases; the place
that knows him will not know him a great
while. daughter and applause.) The
4th of March, 1869, at any rate, will come
some time. A voice" What about i'm
parchment ?") He may stay ir until that
time and he may not. (Cheers.) 1t will
depend great deal on his future conduct.
If he undertakes 10 violate the laws of the
country and arrest the conduct of the gov
ernment, he will have but short time to
stay where he is. (Applause.) But ]
tell you gentlemen, he may do just what
he pleases, he cannot prevent anything
{. Good.') Our friends in the South who
believe in reconstruction, in united coun-
try, and in freedom, three 60 urths of a
million Of them viii bring those States
back in spite of anything Andrew John
son or any body else can do. look upon
Mr.. johnson just as look upon Bull Run.
(Laughter) Bull Run during the war
brought sense of shame to the cheek of
the country, but after all it was a great
lesson to the country. Andrew johnson
seems to be sort of being brought into
existence for purpose. He stands right
there, and every time he undertakes to do
anything against the cause of liberty and
justice. the country rallies, and goes fur
Their than it ever would have gone before.
daughter and applause.) He got the
opinion of the attorney general the other
day, and all over the South the rebels
reared their heads, and began TO hope
again; bat in day or two went the news
on the breezes that Congress would assem-
Bile, and the rebels closed their lips. Con-
gress assembled and made an additional
| and stronger measure than ever before
de may undertake to set it aside if he
pleases, or do what be pleases; our friends
in the South will take care of the cause of
the country. And LET me tell you that
Grant is for negro suffrage, not only in the
South, but in the North. (Cheers.) So
Is fhomas-that great General whom his
soldiers nicknamed sold Reliable :" so is
Phil Sheridan, and nearly every General
OF the country who has made page of the
history of this war. find a very large
share Of the men who have opposed US in
dividually say i, is right, but they say they
have got great prejudice vote behind
them, and they must pander to that. II
think 1t becomes statesmen to speak the
tfuth-to come out in advance of the peo-
pie and maintain what is right-and the
people viii follow them. There is no Dor
ton ct our countrymen so ignorant or
prsjuiiced who viii not do the right when
they see it clearly. Such is the present
condition of the cOuntry. 1 think il is !