The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-10-27
GOV. SEYMOUR'S CHICAGO
SPEECH,
GOV /.

| which hlndered the performance OF thai uu'
ty. iii was entered upon in the right sPir-
1t, large allowances should be made for many
mistakes. The magnitude Of this duty, the
far reaching consequences Of the policy winch
shall be adopted with regard to II, impose
upon the men in power solemn Responsible
ties. Any indulgence in passion, any spirit
of vindictiveness, any purposes to advance
personal or partisan objects, were great
crimes against our country. Applause
They involved a degree Of guilt ~ black o.
treason, In the then condition Of affairs
selfish or malignant passions we're as cruel
as the ravages Of war. | will not dwell up.
on the character Of the debates in congress.
sonA halls, nor upon the temper shown by
those who have shaped the action of our gov.
eminent during the past four years. The
record can be read by each citizen for him.
self and at this time il is the duty Of every
voter 70 decide If be is satisfied with the
spirit shown by those who now ask him 10
continue them in place. Turning from the
| spirit Of our rulers, let US see how far they
have succeeded in the work of restoration.
1t is clear that the disorganization in social
systems, in business pursuits,or in the moral
condition Of our country could not be cured
by force. Military power may have been
needed in some sections 10 restrain violence;
il could do no more. The healing influence
m ust spring from wise craftsmanship.
TRUE RECoNsTRUCTIoN.
1t was the duty Of those who controlled
public affairs patiently and carefully to use
every measure calculated TO allay ell passions
or prejudices engendered by the war, either
at the north or south. To do this, intercourse
between the different sections should be en-
couraged the business interests of each sec
ton, and the relationship which they bear 10
the common welfare, must be considered
AS despair always tends TO disorder, care
must be taken to promote the prosperity Of
every section. Communities, in the enjoy
ment of successful business, or OF prosper.
GUS commerce,Rre not inclined 10 have these
disturbed by lawlessness or violence. Have
these great truths been kept in view by our
rulers2 You know, my fellow.citizens, that
from time TO time, their most wise aud
thoughtful leaders, and the most influential
journals, have been forced to denounce, in
strong and at times harsh terms,t the conduct
Of the congressional party. In its national
convention, the republican party based its
| American people upon the ground Of Buc.
cessful management Of their affairs. by 50
| doing, they challenged q scrutiny Of their
measures. Since the canvass commenced,
they have been driven from the position
which they irst held Then they congratu
lated the people upon the success ofther re-
construction policy in the first and most sig.
nificant words which they uttered in their
series Of resolutions. To day their journals
and their speakers tell you tho south is full
violence and disorder. Driven from the
grounds that their financial or political poll.
| cy was wise or fortunate, they have fallen
| back upon the questions of the past they
seek to revive in period of peace the pas.
sions Of war. Nay, more than this | see
that, in a speech made last night by Mr.. Col
fax, their candidate for the vice presidency,
he ia in full and rapid retreat. He has got
back rs far as the Kansas troubles and the
bred Scott decision. Laughter Retro
spectve views are sometimes profitable, and
when things look dark ahead they may be
| pleasant. CONTINUED laughter. At this
moment we are confronted by imminent dan.
| gers and serious difficulties. We owe it to
our business men, TO our mechanics, and TO
our labOrers in an earnest and thoughtful
way 70 find out how we may relieve them
from their perpleXities and burthens. | will
speak tonight with regard to some Of them
which concern especially the northwestern
and southern states, and, through them, the
interests Of our whole country Before the
rebellion, "A the great cotton producing
country Of the worid,Ws had advantages over
a all rival nations.
' RADICAL REcoNsTaCCrlOy - THE TAX on
COTTON.
!! This product stimulated our commerce
"a gave the material needed by our manuiac
tursrs, brought in return for its price from
T. other lands the merchandise needed by our
. | people, or turned the balance Of trade in our
favor and filed the vaults of our banks and
the pockets OF our people with gold or silver
=. money. AS all the labor OF the south was
engaged in this profitable culture, they
bought their provisions mainly from this aud
. adjoining states. Thus the corn, the wheat,
the beef and pork Of this region were turned
into cotton, and in that form reached the
markets of Europe, which they could not do
in their original conditions. When the civil
war broke out, and this process was stopped,
corn fell 80 low that in some parts of the
west it was used for fuel, and great distress
prevailed. The demand for our armies, and
the markets ofthe east and Europe restored its
value. But experience has taught you THAI
you cannot with safety count upon being
able to Gend at all times your products to
distant markets. Your interests demanded
that the prosperity Of the south should be re-
stored at the earliest moment. We want
them TO help US pay our taxes. The inter.
ests OF our whole country demand that the
!. culture of cotton should be revived. Our
> foreign and internal commerce languishes
for the want of this. The negro ofthe south
II cannot be advanced in civilization he can.
Y not be made good and orderly citizen un.
less he is probably employed. Cheers,
and cry That's So The planter cannot
Y pay him his wages unless he makes money
for his crops. Applause. What was the
3 first step taken by those in power, when the
D.. SOUTH Prostrated, poor, and disorgsnized, at
the end Of the war, tried to carry on the
work OF raising cotton with the aid of the
entranchised African? The negro had in
many respects deeper interest in the sue.
cess of this trial than the white man had
e Ills very existence as q race the whole
Judgement Of the world as to his capacity
v to do the duty of an American cti.
zen, hangs upon the success of the trial
which we are now making at the south in
our efforts to give to all races, in that sec
Of ton, peace and prosperity. Cheers. Did
these rulers stretch out a helping hand ?
! No. They said to the white man and the
!. negro alike, we will not let you get the fnll
d value of your products in the markets oftbe
4 world; we will put heavy tax upon the
] cotton which you send ont of the country
= and you shall sell it to the eastern mnnpfsc.
turer for less than its value in the European
= markets Now this act was not only cruel
= il was uuwise II crushed the first efforts