Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-10-11
NO. Al.

were receiving ten thousand prisoners
from Andersonvile and Florence and put
ting three thousandto bed, they were feed
ing TO save from starvation seven thousand
white people whose friends were resisting
Sherman's march.
And when the last grand day came, and
Gen. Grant dismounted under the apple
tree at Appomattox, what did the trium-
phant hero demand from our conquered
foes 2 This nation that sacrificed five thous-
and million dollars and half million of
lives, had within its grasp the remnant of
the rebellion. Through Grant ii said to
them :-"Let these go to their homes, not
to be molested by the United States author
tiles so long as they obey the law of the
places where they reside" Was this the
feeling OF revengel Some who now re-
proach General Grant rebuked him then
for his excessive clemency.
After the papers were signed, General
Lee turned TO General Grant and said =
General Grant, there is one thing 1 had
forgotten I; the papers are signed 1t Is per-
haps too late now it is this: was about
to observe that many of our men in the
ranks own their horses, both in the artill-
cry anu cdNaiTy' WOuiu aSh thdt thcJ
might have them, as you have permitted
the officers to take their side arms"
"No matter about the papers," said Gen.
Grant, ~ will giveprders to the officers TO
let these men take their horses home with
them they will need them in the spring
ploughing." (Cheers.)
There was a great army victorious and
triumphant, the army of the United States,
and these men would have US believe that
our spiri. was the same then as it is to-day
Were they animated by spirit of ha-
tired and revenge in thus saying TO
these men who were engaged in the war,
go home, rest in peace, just obey the laws,
and take your horses with you, and feed
ing them too, the men dividing their
haversacks with them (cheers)-and that
too by the thousands9 These same rebel
soldiers had been taught to hate the Yam
KEGS, but this act caused the tears TO pour
down their cheeks. This was an inexpres.
sible magnanmity. Was this policy OF
hate or revenge? No; we are the same to-
day as then. Did we confscate property?
No. Did we Danish them? Never a man
of them. Several thousand of them felt
bitter hatred to the old flag, swore they
would never live under its folds. They
banshed themselves to South America. In
a short time many ofthese men were hun
CRY, ragged and homesick, and Uncle Sam
brought them home free by the hundreds.
Was this, again, the policy Of hate or re-
venge?
Yes, comrades, this was our government.
This was our republican party governing
the union then, and when grievous visit
alton of providence brought starvation to
the south, our congress, by our own free
will voted in one session five millions OF
dollars to feed them. The pu ses of the
north were opened, and the granaries dis
charged for their benefits. This indeed
was not the policy of hate and of revenge.
We have one request indeed to make of
these men. We have but one disability,
| one link Of disapproval remaining. Only
one statute remains, one act Of Legislation
to show the sense of this nation that the
| great rebelliop was crime. That is the
temporary seclusion from Office of few, a
very few of the guilty superiors, the terri
bly, guilty leaders who dragged their peo-
| pie into this awful slaughter. We say to
some of Them, than three hundred re-
main, now-you cannot hold office again,
| until congress permits. We have one thing
| to say to these men. We had at the close of
the war but one thing really to ask of them.
Every step of reconstructed legislation, ev-
cry act, every order of General Grant has
had this in view,-the safety of the lives
| and the persons and the prosperity of our
| loyal brothers at the south.
We confiscated no property-we banish-
| cd nobody-we scourged nobody-we
hanged none. Men who were in the re-
| bellion, can you say as much since the war?
If we have ever been angry it has been at
these outrages upon our loyal Southern
brothers; they have filled us with a right
eous indignation. After the flag marched
in triumph over every foot of Southern
| soil, week after week, month after month,
| the cry has como up to us from many re-
| gions of the South that loyal men were ia
| ken from their homes, were scourged and
beaten sometimes banished; that they
| could not enjoy freedom of opinion, speech
| or press We demand that these cries be
| heard that these men be protected that
these outrages cease. Why, in the name
of humanity, and justice, and fair play, do
| you dare come to us with the pretense Of
| shaking hands across the bloody chasm,
| while there is a bloody chasm by your
doors-a chasm of your own making?
Shake hands first with your brethren, your
neghbors. would post up at every cross
| roads; l would post over every court
house, on every dwelling of the South {:
"Do unto others as you would. others
| should do unto you" (Great cheering.)