The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-05-02
The Defence OF tho Rressaen..

: S-~e-e-. - J. ..fssSSe .ssSS etoii VI MS auVocapeS.
among theaole speeches which coun-
sci haveput forth in his behalf, the
effort of2Mr. Hroesbeciz stands pro-
minent The following was the clos
ing portion of his address, which is
said to- haye. excited general adnira;-
tion: - 20, ~,
But. said the gentleman WHO adj
dressed you the day before Yesterday.
(Mr. Boutwell, he was eager for the
paclhcatlon and to restore the South.
L denylt, in the sense. in which the
gentleman presented it as being cri-
minaL Here, too, the President fol-
lowed reason and took the path in
which were the footprints of Mr..
lanco!:, AID ;.h;o!!i was ,iigi,i Ugh ..ensd by
the radiance of that divine utterance
of Mr.. Lincoln's, charity towards
all, malice towards none" He was
eager for pacification. He knew that
the war was ended; the drums were
oil silent; the arsenals were all shut:
the noise of the cannon had died
away; the army was disbanded; not
single enemy confronted us in the
held, and he was eager for pacifca.
ton. The hand OF reconciliation
was stretched out to him and he took
1t. Was this kindness, this forgive.
ness, crime? Kindness crime?
kindness is omnipotent for good,
more powerful than gunpowder or
cannon; kindness is statesmanship:
kindness is the high craftsmanship of
heaven itself. The murder of Sinai
did but terrify and distract. 1t is
the kindness of Calvary that subdues
and pacifies. What shall I say of that
man? He has ever walked in the
path and by the light of the Consti
tuition. The mariner, tempest-tosscd
on the seas, is not more sure to turn
to the stars for evidence, than the man
in the trials of public life to look to
the star of the Constitution. He does
love the Constitution. 1t has
been the study Of his life. He is not
learned or scholarly, like many OF
you. He is not man of many IDEAS
or much speculation, but he is man
OF intelligence. He is n patriot Sc
cond to no one of you in the measure
OF his patriotism. He may be full
of errors. I will not canvass now his
views. He loves his country, and, |
believe, would die for it if need be
His courage and his patriotism are
not without illustration. My col
league referred the other day to the
scene which occurred in this Cham
Der, when he alone, of all the Sena-
tors from his section, remained. and
even when his own State had seeded.
That is triaIlwhich many of you, by
reason of your locality and Your life
long associations, know nothing. How
his voice rang out in this hall on that
occasion, in the hour of alarm, and
in denunciation of the rebellion! But
he did not remain here; this was n
pleasant and easy position. He chose
more difficult and arduous and ne
rilous service. That was trial of
his courage and patriotism of which
some of you who now sit in Judgment
upon him know nothing. have
thought those who dwell at the North.
ut safe distance from the collision
of war, knew but little of its actual
trying dangers. We who lived upon
the border knew it. Our horizon
was always red with flame, aud it was
sometimes borne SO near US that we
felt it upon the outstretched hand.
MIR. johnson went into the very bor-
ders of the war, and there he served
his country long and we'll. Which
OF you has done more? Not one.
There IS one among you whose SER
vices, as / we'll know, cannot be over
estimated, and I withdraw all COM
parlson; but it is enough to say that
his services were greatly needed, and
1T seems hard, it seems cruel, that he
should be struck here upon these
miserable technicalities, or that any
body who has served his country and
borne himself well and bravely, should
be treated as q criminal and con-
demned upon these miserable charges.
Even If he had committed crime
against the laws, his services to the
country entitle him to some consider
alton. But he has precedents for
everything he has done-excellent
prccedents. The voices of the great
dead come to US from their graves,
sanctioning his course. All our past
history approves it. How can you
single out this man now, in this CON
QitiOn Of thinos on1 br,,J lii