The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-03-12

Stanton and read over IN Mr.. Lincoln 3
Cabinet. Had those facts then appear
cd it might have saved that honorable
Senator and myself the labor Of prov
ing the identity of the policy OF Mr..
Johnsons with that Of Mr.. lincoln,
which the Governor of Indiana de-
monstratod in q manner so complete
that no man hls ever been able TO answer him.
! do not doubt mis- patriotism nor his sincerity
But Of oil surronders to the radical negro'sui-
frage policy Of reconstruction, none filled inc
with 30 much surprise, none gave ire so much
nam, rs that of the honorable Senator from In
diana, except one. l refer to General Grant.
Again, sir, ifit were true that The whites
were disloyal during the rebellion, they arosnot
rebellious now. Rebcllions cannot exist or
continue without real or supposed cause. sla-
very, tho cause and the pretext for the late
rebellion, Is gone forever. 1t can never be re-
vivcd. Nothing can incitc another rebellion
ut tho South, for they have no power to organ
ize one against the Government, md will not
havo for many years to come.
Upon this point allow me to read IN extract
from n letter Of Hon. benjamin Fitzpatrick,
formerly the Presiding officer Of this body, and
known by oil the older Senators as being .op'
posed to secession, n gentleman Of the highest
honors and undoubtcd integrity, Hear what he
toys;
at is said by some that Il was made to keep
down rebellion. What hUve the people Of the
South to or carry on q rebellion
with Our slaves are all set free; our fields
barely cultivated under tho new systcm Of Ia
Dor, and many Of them grown up in briars and
weeds since emancipation, and almost every
thing in a state Of dilapidation and decay. Tho
cry for bread which comes up from olmoste y-
cry hill and valley in the State has scarcely
cchsed ringing in our ears, and II was only
hushed by the liberal donations from the be-
nevolent from the North and West. No people
Of the Old World in any Of their long and des.
olating wars ever longed for peace more than
we do. We want peace, but not degrndation.-
We wish to be left free TO act for ourselves, and
free from the intcrmeddling Of those who do
not live among us, but come here to iOmcnt
discord and speculate upon our troubles"
Sir. this is the language Of ono who knows
the white people Of the South and speaks FOR
them.
And why, sir, why should they not desire
peaco7 For tina rebellion, into which in an
evil hour tho radicals Of the South plunged
them, they have been punished already 10y the
sncriGcc Of all their slave property, valued at
three TO four thousand million dollars by the
sacrifice Of more than threc-fourths OF all other
personal property, probably two thousand mill
lions more; by the the sacrifice Of their public
md private credits-at least a thousand mil
lions moro; by the depreciation Of the value Of
all their real estate - least seycnty-lvo per
ccnt.-amounting probably 10 moro than two
thousand million dollars more-moking in all
@ sacrifice Of property, credits, and values in the
southern stUtcs alonO Of at least nine thousand
million dollars.
But there is another bloody and terrible page
In his ACCOUNT page in account with death.
II is estimated there have persisted in battle by
disease, exposure, or other cause incident to the
war, nj least three hundred thousand ablebodi-
cd white men Of the South. I take no account
Of the unuttorable anguish Of millions OF crush
cd aud bleeding hearts. No language can ex-
press, no figures measure that. For that re-
bollion the white man Of the South has been
most terribly punishedl Nine thousand mil
lions of values are gone-lost for cverl Three
hundred thousand able-bodied white men Of
tho flower and strength Of the South now lie
in their bloody or premature graves! Great
God I Is not this punishment enough 2 Must
wo go further? Must nov punish the white
men OF the South placing them under the domi-
nation oGhalf-ciyilized Africans? in order
TO do that shall we punish ourselves by giving
over 10 stolid and and british ingnorance the
political control Of one forth Of the States, and
It may be, under the control Of the Army the
balance Of power in the United States? Shall
We Arricanizothe South aud Mexicanize' the
whole Republic?
I know these measures Of Congress have done
much TO wound, nothing TO heal. Yet, notwiht-
standing all that Congress has done to ombittor
their hatred toward the radical policy, there is
neither thought nor wish nor hope TO restore
slavery, nor to seperate from the Union, nor of
rebellion against the authority of the Govern
ment; all evidence proves the contrary.
In the whole rebel army which surrendered
/ challenge any Senator to point rae TO u single
instance in which a rebel officer has violated
his parole; or to a single man, Of any position
or prominence at the South, who aitor taking
the oath of allegiance has violated his plighted
faith.
No man can more deeply feel than I do tho
great and monstrous folly and crimo Of that re-
bellion, which brought so much Of agony and
OF blood upon all parts Of our beloved land,
which robbed us Of our sons and dearest kin
drcd and throw d shade Of sorrow overour hearts
which will never pass away until they cease tC
beat. But, now that blood has ceased to flow
now hat three years Of peace have elapsed
now that the whole South has surrendered ant
every interest they have or can hope Tor Is L
be found. in the Union and under the Constitu
tion now that they have in good faith piedgec
anew their allegiance. and desire to join will
us in rebuilding tho waste places oycrrun by
this dc solating war now that thoy have, il
fact, ceased to DO rebels, why shall we continue
TO denounce them as rebels, and do all in ou
power to compel them to be rebels, and remain
rebols and enemies? Is that the course Of wis
statesmanship win that bring permanent
peace ?