New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-01-27

Lincoln had no choice left him. When he DGgah thls
contest one thought would use coored SOLDIERS
in the war. The distinguished Senator sitting me
here MIR. CamerOul, when in the Winter OF leol ne
first brought forward the proposition Secretary oil
War, to Use cOored soldiers, greatly IN advance
of public opinion and was thought to be Visionary
but as the war progressed it became manifest 10 an
intelligent men that we must not only destroy SIa-
very, but we must avail ourselves of every lnstru-
mentality in our power for the purpose OF putting
down the Rebellion. and the whole country accorded
in the of cOl0red sOldieTSand gallant ana Slo-
Ous service they rendered In 1864 proposition was
brought forward in this body to amend the COnstt-
ton of the United States by aboshing Slavery. we
do not think that is very radcaln0w butt was very
radical them u was the great measure OF the age
and almost OF modern times and 1t was hnally
passed an amendment setting free every human pc
ing within the limits of the United States But SlT;;
were very lar then from where we are now. Al
will remember the celebrated Wmter-Dayls Dill,
passed in june 1864 which took the power of recon-
structon out of the hands OF the President where it
did not in fact belong. refer to Mr. Lincoln; but II
that bill had passed il would perhaps have resulted
III the destruction of this Government. We can all
see 1t now, although 1T was then thought 10 pe
the most radical measure Of the times. What dld 1t
propose 1t proposed to prescribe a plan, TO take
effect when the 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 ana
that was that they should put in their constitutions
provision prohibiting Slavery. IL required no other
guarantee. Ii required no equalization of representa-
ton no security against Rebel debts, or against pay
mcnt Tor cmanclpated slaves; and IL confined the
right of suffrage to white men. But it was thought
TO be great step in advance at the time; and SO it
was but events passing rapidly, and in 1860 the
President came forward with his proposition, and
am stating what Is true from an examination OF the
documents when say that but for the want ofpower
with the President, his scheme itself considered
was far more Radical than that OF the
Winter-DayIs bill but events were rapidly teach
ing the statesmen of the time that we could not recon-
struct upon that basis Still Congress was not pre-
pared to take a forward step until the Summer of
1865 in the passage of the Constitutional Amendment,
which now regard as a halfway measure neces-
sary and vital rs far az il went but not going far
enough. That was rejected, and we were then com
PEELED to go further and we have fallen upon the
plan ot reconstruction which have been consider
lug. IT has been dictated by the logic Of events 1t
oseTides all arguments, ovenldes all prejudices,
OyeTdes all theory IN the presence OF the necessity
forpreseryng the life OF this nation and If future
events shall determine that must 90 further for
one am prepared 10 say that viii go far 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 TINS
Union Mr.. President the column of reconstruc-
ton, as | before remarked has risen slowly. Ii
has not been hcWn from single stone. Ii Is COM
posed Of many blocks painfully laid up and put to-
gcther. and cementcd by the tears and blood OF the
nation. Sir, We have done nothing arbitrarily; We
have done nothing Tor punlshmeht-ay too lltte Tor
punishment Justice has not had her demand. Not
man has yet been executed for tins great treason
The arch ticnd himself is now at liberty upon bail.
No man Is 10 DC punished: ana now, Whllc punish
mcut has gone by. we all know, we are Insisting
only upon security for the future. We are SIMPLY
asking that the evil spirits who brought tins war
generation, again 10 bring upon ms rebellion and
calamity. We are simply asking for those securities
that deem necessary for our peace ana the peace
OF our pOsteIity. Sir, there Is Que great difference
between this Union party and the sO-called Demo
cratic party. our principles arc those OF humanity;
they are those OF Justice: they are those OF equal
rights: they are principles that appeal to
the hearts and the conscences of men, while ON the
other side hear appeals TO the prejudice OF race
against The white man is Overwhelmingly IN
the majority in this country and that majority Is
yearly increased by half million of white men |
from abroad and that majority gaining in proportion
from year 20 year until the cooIed will finally |
he but "A handful IN this country; and yet we hear
the prejudices of the white appealed 10 to crush
this other race. and 10 prevent IT from rising to |
supremacy and power. sir there il nothing noble !
there il nothing generous there il nothing lovely in
that policy that appeal How does that principle
compare with ours We standing upon the broad
platform OF the Declaration of Independence, that
" all men are created equal that they are endowed
by their Creator with certain inaenabe rights;
that among these are life. liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness We say that these rights are not
given by laws; are not given by the Constitutions |
but they are the glt OF God 10 every man born INTO
the world. Oh. Sir. how glorious is this great prn
cple compared with the inhuman-I might say
heathenish-appeal to the prejudice Of against
race the cndcvor further To excite the strong against
the weak the endeayor further TO deprive the weak
OF their rights of protection against the stronS'