Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-01-29
POLLYICAL.
ELoQuENT PERORATION.

In the House, Jan. ~, MT, bingham tontluuCd
the debate on the reconstruction bill, as foowsi
This people has a right TO insist upon It that
civil governments shall Doe restored, and restored
speedily in accordance with their own law over
that vast tract of country. u has three times the
territorial extent of the empire Of France, and is
capable, in the hands Of honest, intelligent free
men, Of furnishing homes of abundance and com
fort 70 three timcs the population Of France--to
more than one hundred millions of lreemen. 10 is
part OF your native land aud OF mine, and stand
here as the representative Of the people 0 insist
that 10 shall soon rise from t ashes clothed n the
form and dignity Of the law, and invite there the
industrial power of representative of every civi-
lized nation on the globe, and that shall pay its
tribute from year vcar, and from generation %
generation, into Che treasury OF our common couu-
try in order TO make good our pledged iuth to the
living and dead defenders of the republic
Let this be done Mr. Speaker, and all is well
with the republic Let 90 be done, and the dream
of lts ilIusrious founders is fully realized. let
it be done, and the word viii 20 ont over an the
world that will shake the foundation ot every ty-
rants throne and compel every dcspot 20 hold the
reins OF bis power with more strenuous hand, boo
tins that at the going down of the sun 100 the land
at Washington, aud Madison, and Franklin. aud
jay, Is great, dominant and powerful people,
second 10 none ON the flcc of the earth before The
majesty Of whose law every human being is equal;
equal in the rights of persons equal TO those
rights which as universal as the material struc-
ture of man; equal in those rights which are The
gin of God. and 20 protect which, governments
are instituted among men. believe the gentle
men on the other side are initiating the example
Of those who controlled the rebellion wears ago,
nl the councils Of the nation, hy the arguments
which they adduce here in answer TO what we have
said and what we say now 100 support Of this meas
ure.
I when repeat these uiierances, when I quote
| these words from your Declaration of Indepcn-
dence, every one of which Ike the words Of Lu-
thcr arc half battles these gentlemen rise in their
places. as they did a long time ago boo the Senate.
and declare that these are bat gLlcrinE eenerali-
ties rhetorical ourishcs aud that this scli-eyideut
truth ITSELF thar all men are created equal and have
a common brotherhood. s al least q seii-eyiient
iie. hu is their answer It is all rhetoric, t Is
ghucuug generality. t is sef-evidont lie But,
SIR t Is written in our Constitution that there are
persons who are native born citizens in this land,
and would like 20 know ly what method OF rea-
soung gentlemen revive the old dogma that this
world made for Cesar and not for man. !
should like 90 know how ans gentleman on this
floor has arrived suddenly at the conclusion that
any of bis fellow creatures, born like himself with
ia the limits Of this country has not the same right
10 live here, aud If God so pleases, die here, as
that gentleman himself That is one OF the issues
involved in this contest.
/ / have no doubt that we could get ria Of an the
trouble az once If we would surrender the great
trust committed % us, and say 20 these men, red
with the blood OF our murdered countrymen, seize
again control OF all political power Of those nine
destroyed States. trampe down four millions OF ma
| tive born citizens OF the republic who were once
cur slaves the men who never forgot That our
iar. through All those four years, symbolzed iib-
erty, the men who never forgot 70 whisper a word
. OF cheer aud of comfort 20 the murdered and DIV
ing who hal fallen iu the great struggle Tor nation
al liberty men who never forgot 90 guide
from thc prison-pens. ia which our defenders were
subjected to Infamous death by starvation or poi-
son. those who made their escape from them.
Surrender these men who were faithful to our
lost defenders faitbiul to our living defenders.
faithful TO the cause Of the republic itsrlf surren-
der them to The late traitors and rehcls. and ibis
contest IS. of course, ended. Allow Jefferson Dl-
sis 90 come back and sit down iu bis Senatorial
robes in the other wing Of the Capitol; call back
from France that hatchct-hced couspir1tor, Nii-
deI. ana restore bim 90 hs place call home that
other Senator watching across The border la Cam
ada and restore him Go the Senatorial Chamber
and call back all the representative who went out
from this Hall iu o6i, clothed with perjury with
a garment, and who lifted mp their hands ia VIC.
lcnce against the Government and Constitution,
and tins contest will be ended.
Sir, | cannot speak for others but for myself
so help me God, living aud dying, | am against
any such proposition Let the friends Of the re-
public have the keeping OF the republic in their
own hands. That being done, all will be we'll
and the time will come, within The lifetime
trust. OF every man now honoring me with bis at
tenton, when the laws Of the republic wilAbe so
Just, so humane, undiscuminating "a their JUS
tice and in their humanity, that the poorest and
the bumblest creature, between the two oceans,
wearing the band Of our common humanity, shall
find equal protection with the loftiest, the nobest
and the best.