The Van Buren press., 1873-09-09

c the power OF language 10 express,
= But, If eur champions are unequal
t this occasion, and cover or fall in hi
g grand battle Of ideas for truth and rgh
, then constitutional self government vi
be at aa end, the Southern States will b
but tributaries to Northern power and W
shall pass into contempt as people
This is no time, my friends, for sill
newspaper pufis for vain personal am
+ hitions; for empty, nominal honors, no
! for thoughtlsss personal seeking N
/ Senators and Representatives ever ha'
} such weehty responsibilities - do thos
who are now to represent the South il
the Congress of the United States, ans
none ever had such an opportunity to d'
good and win glory And they can hav
no strength for The work save IN a pro
found knowledge of constitutional law
y " a similar acauaialaIce with ~ leas
! Anglo Saxon history. II well trainc
skin in debate; in analytical power L
Il stgip both truth aud fasehood naked {,
the geze ofmen, and in thorough dcvotict
TO, and fearless defense of, The true char
actor of our Union IS government o
consent and not OF fotee. II they prov,
equal TO the great task, they will deserv,
and they will receive that which is richer
than crowns and mote to be desired thar
diadems--thc glory Of restored Con.
sttutional Union, and the gratitude Of 9
redeemed people
lfthsy prove unequal to the great task,
and lave rushed upon duties they are un.
abo 10 discharge, they will sink aud dc.
serve to sink, 10 unprecedented infamy ;
for they will have become the murlerers
ot the last hope OF recovery for the
Southern States, and the assassins Of all
the future manhood, independence and
prosperity Of the Southern people.
In conclusion, ! will not disguise from
You that | never felt less hope for the fu
ture Of the Union and the South than
have felt for the last twelve months The
Southern States and people especially
were never in MS much danger as now
We have no representative in the execu-
tive department of the Federal govern.
meat. We have hone--not onc--in the
judicial department. We have but frail
tenure OF our State governments We
hare 10 place 10 be heard in equal debate
with the champions of our wrongs. with
any hope of yindlcating the,truth. but in
The two houses of Congress. And yet
{ | say it with both dilIldence and defer.
eneo) our own public men seem to man.
ifcst no adequate conception Of the real
OF the issues before US, and ofl
the magnitude OF The Interest involved in
'hclr solution,
The people of the North have rejected
n manly concession from the South fer
reconciliation and peace. Such corrup |
ton IN Office, aAd }eh serani8In0 b 81
ging and selfncwspnper-puillng 10 &c.
O.ilce ncVnr hsfop>. -, ss.sruvrS vur MS |
tory; 80. Argument viii DO no good nt
ont'hraius and salaries withcr, service.
ability in Congress we will have
no rights out Of Congress and no respect
from any people We can not 1--we on
the memories Of the past The fact that
our fathers furnished the minds that gave |
origin and form aud administration To cy' |
cry department Of the Federal govern !
mcnt in the past, will bnt add degencra !
cy to our disgrace, II we fall under the
lead of incompetent men. We OF the
south have had many and bitter enemies
but we never had aud never can have
worse enemies than those thoughtless |
ones of our own people, who, IN this cri'
sis. push themselves in the offices with. !
ont ,hc qualifications needed for their
duties.
There is no honor now IN helding Of !
fee. There is all honor in deserving II
and ther is glory, snch rs brigltnns The
names Of none in human annals, IN store
for those whose power shall be cqGal tol
the great task Of staying the frenzy OF
passion and the riot OF hate, and OF re-
storing the General government to It's
proper sphere, the States to their proper
rights, aud the people of all sections to
consequent peace and prosperity