The Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1870-1875, 1870-11-29
The Results Of the NaF-AddFess OF
Gen. Palmer.

The Results Of the EaF-AddFess OF
Gen. Palmer.
The address Of General John NJ.
Palmer before the Society Of the
Army Of the Cumberland, at Cleve-
land, was devoted IN great part to the
CONTROVERSY which led to the war
Of the rebellion, and the principles
fought over IL It.
We quote the concluding para
graphs Of the speech. in which he
sets forth the results of the mighty
struggle:
The freemen Of the nation aroused,
clothed themselves in the garments of
war, and went forth to the fields of
| strife. We smote the DRgon of
/ slavery SO that he died Ia the very
/ temple dedicated to his worship. We
/ broke the letters OF four millions of
/ bondmen and bondWomen, and made
/ them free. We crushed the conspir-
acy against the liberties Of mankind,
and the peace of q continent. We
| restored free government and national
unity, and consumed the aristocratic
/ institution that demanded the COM
mission Of so many crimes against
I humanity as with fire, and scattered
their ashes so that they can be gath
! cred again no more forever. And we
re- established Republican govern
ments IL all the States, and placed
| their power under the control of all
their people; and We have placed the
manhood and courage of the people
of the whole Union on grounds that
will tempt no party hereafter to en-
gage in war with the expectation that
they will not find ready and prompt
resistance.
In view of these marvellous changes
who can wonder that our oountrymen
should feel but little interest in the
instruments by which they were pro.
duced, and when we remember that
we become soldiers merely to vindi-
cate the authority of the Constitution
of the United States; and that Mr..
Lincoln himself would have saved
the Union with the partial overthrow
Of slavery if that had been possible;
and that IN the warning proclamation
of September, 1862, he offered to
leave slavery untouched if those in
resistance would submit to the laws;
and that the insurgents were even
then so blindly confident that the
Richmond government graYely threat
ened US with the black flag" if an at.
tempt was made to give effect to eman-
oipation; we must conclude that
neither we, nor Lincoln, nor Davis.
foresaW the point to which all were
tending; and now that such astonish-
ing results have been realized, it is
not surprising that the people Of the
United States. after devoting a brief
time to exultation aud rejoicing.
should give Us 9 glance Of approba-
ton, and then hasten 10 forgive JEFF
ferson Davis and his guilty associates
e1d followers that they might the
more quickly forget them; and then
hurry on to gather the fruits Of the
great industrial and social revolution
that resulted from the tTluDphs- OF
the national arms.
And it is eonsolatory TO ind In the
popular Indifference to the events and
CirCumstences of the late civil var,
additional. and. indeed, conclusive
evidence that the natural and proper
condition Of the Republic is peace.
A state Of war is always pregnant
with danger to free institutions. If
popular liberty survives the period of
actual war, it may afterWard perish
from the influence acquired by mill
taE leaders, or from the intolerable
burdens and cOrruptiOns that follow
vast expenditures, or that are gener-
ated and grow aud fatten while the
reign of law Is relaxed. 1t is to us a
matter Of the most profound satisfao-
ton that our oOuntrymen eXhib-
/ tied no signs Of. that infatUation that
sometimes follows great success; that
/ they manifest no disposition to imi-
/ tate the example Of some other peo-
I pies by allowing military merit more
/ than its Just influence. They know,
I as we do, that, as soldiers, we did our
\ duty, and did nothing more and they
know that, II a Government like ours,
| no class of citizens can be allowed to
cleim for itself any privileges or
\ honors on the score Of services done
to the Republic.
Ny comrades, We are citizens of a
/ free and powerful Republic that was
\ happy under wise and equal laws; it
/ was threatened By those who desired
| its overthrow that they might make
/ its great and only crime eternal. We
/ became soldiers and encountered
death on the battle field and in pesti-
/ lentisl camps, and on weary marches.
/ not 20 win hOnOrs or privileges for
| ourselves, but to maintain liberty and
equal rights for all. By the blessings
of that Divine Being that guided Us
/ through dangers, seen and unseen,
while so many of the noble and the
brave persisted, We have won the
right 10 be again called the free citi-
! zens Of a free Republic. We have
/ secured an inheritance Of liberty and
I protection for those little ones whose
| gentle faces would steal into our pres
ence While we sat BY the solitary camp
fire on distant fields, or who would
I come to US IN orr dreams and nestle
IN our arms and whisper to
US words Of hope and encour-
I aRement; and our grateful country
has conferred upon us the only
title Of honor . free government can
or ought to bestoW, or that free citi
! zsns accept, that of citizens who.
having done their duty, deserve well
of the Republic" 1t has founded
/ homes for our destitute comrades; il
has pensioned our disabled, and has
I cared for the orphans of our slain
and If have not said enough to ex-
cite our gratitude or justify our pride
mark the magnanimity Of the restored
Republic to the citizens whose unpat
~fotic passions inflicted upon the
whole country 20 much suffering, 50
many woes. They erred sadly, yes
: wickediy, for they took up arms not
only to destroy rs, but themselves
but they have suffered terribly. Wbg
: can control a feeling Of pity when be
contemplates the condition of these
= brave bus misguided men az the close
eli the war, who had struggled sC
long and so CALAMITY, even In the
z bad cause Of their eOuntTy's over
/. throw. They had fought their las
battle. they had seen the last thin
lines melt and disappear, leaving then
alone. aud then all hope persisted
They laid down their arms and, claC
In the thin-Rorn uniform that We hsC
hated but they Lad WoFshiped, The.
departed On their weary way alone &
; seek des0lated homes, II any home
remain 10 them after the land hal
. been torn b. the footprints Of war
I'D Pause I have said enough. VIA
il it that has & soldiers heart ant
knows what soldier may alfeE. tina