The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1868-02-05

cNtt' hcpublitdl NlcliiDer Ill DOtll
Houses OF Congress, but in few
months after that time it was found by
the event Of the war that we could not
preserve slavcry--i9t prosecute the
war to destroy -iavcry-but destroy
slavery to prosecute the war. Which
was the better? To stand by the res
Olution and let the Uuion go, or to
stand by the Union and let the resolu-
tion go? Congress could not stand
by that pledge, and it was "morc hon
Ored in the breath than the observance
Mr.. Lincoln issued his proclamation
Of emancipation, setting free the slaves
ofrebels. 1t was dictated blythe stern
and bloody experience Of the times.
Mr.. Lincoln had no choice left him.
When we began this contest no one
thought we would use colorcd soldiers
in the wa. The distinguished Sena-
tor sitting by NC less Mr.. Cameron
when in the winter Of 1861 he first
first brought forward the proposition
as Secretary OF War, to use coloss,l
soldiers, was greatly in advance of the
public opinion, and was thought to be
Missionary, but as the war progressed
it became manifest to the intelligent
men that we must not only destroy
slavey but wc must avail ourselves of
every instrumcntalty in our power for
the purpose Of putting down the rchcl7
lion, and the whole country accorded
i'll the use II colored soldiers. and gal
liant and glorious service they rendered.
In 1864 a proposition was brought
forward in this body to amend the
Constitution ofthe United States BY
abolishing slavery. We do not
think that is very radical now, but it
was very radical then; it was the
great measure Of the age, and almost
Of modern times. and it was finally
passed; an amendment setting free cv-
cry human being within the limits Cd
the United States. But, sir, we were
very tar from where we are now. All
will remember the celebrated Winter
Davis bill, passed in June, 1864, which
took the power of reconstruction out of
the hands ofthc President, where it
did not in fact belong.
| refer to Mr.. Lincoln but if that
bill had passed it would perhaps have
resulted in the destruction of this Gov
ernment. We can all see it now, al
though it was then thought to be the
most radical measure of the times.
What did it propose? proposed to
prescribe Il plan to take effect when
the war should end, by which these
rebel States should be restored. |
refer to that bill simply to show how
we have all travelled. 1t required
but one condition or guarantee on the
part of the South, and that was that
they should put in their constitutions
a provision prohibiting slavery. 1t
required no other guarantee. 1t re-
quircd no equalization of representa-
tlon no security against rebel debts,
or against payment Of cmancipated
slaves and it confined the right Of
suffrage to white men. But it was
thought TO be a great step in advance
at the time, and so it was but events
were passing rapidly, and in 1865 the
President came forward with his pro-
position, and | am stating what is srue
from an examination of the documents
when say that but for the want of
power with the President his scheme
in itself considered was far more radi-
cal than that of the Winter Davis bill ;
but events were rapidly teaching the
statesmen of the time that we could
not reconstruct upon that basis.
Still, Congress was not prepared to
take forward step until the summer
of 1858, in the passage of the constitu-
tional amendment, which we now re-
gard as q half way measure, necessary
and vital as far as ii went, but not
going far enough. That was rejected,
and we were then compelled to 90
further, and we have now fallen upon
the plan of reconstruction which !
have been considering. 1t has been
dictated by the logic Of events. 1t
ovcrrides all arguments, overrides all
preiudices, overrides all theory, in the
presence Of the necessity for preserving
the life of this nation and if future
events shall determine that we must
go further, | for ono am prepared to
say that l will go as far as shall be
necessary to the execution of this
guarantee, the reconstruction of this
Republic upon right basis, and the
successful restoration Of every part Of
this Union.
Mr.. President, the column of recon
struction, as l before remarked, has
risen slowly. 1t has not been hcwn
from single stone. 1t is composed OF
many blocks, painfully laid up and
put together, and cemented by the
tears and blood of the nation. Sir,
we have done nothingarbitrarily. We
have done nothing for punishment, ay,
too little for punishment. Justice
has not had her demand. Not man
has yet been executed for this great
treason. The arch fend himself is
now at liberty upon bail. No man is
to be punished and now while pun
ishment has gone by, as we all know,
we are insisting only upon security for
the future. We are simply asking
that the evil spirits who brought this
war upon us shall not again come into
power during this generation, again to
bring upon us rebellion and calamity.
We are simply asking for those sccuri-