Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-02-02


! OF the constitution. which gave Ia
the states that had been engaged
D in insurrection the opportunity &c
return ~npon certain condition:
: therein specified-was forced upon
: congress as preliminary prepare
, tion before the congressional elec.
ton Of 1866 by the public senti.
: ment OF the country.
: Now. SIR, speak in part for New
England ; speak rather in par,
: for Massachusetts,. Lexington and
Bunker Hill are in the district
: represent. believe I can truth
: fully say tand would say nothing
: except what l can say with. truth
according 10 my iudgmenU that
the whole people Of Massachusetts,
J desire that this measure--the first
step necessary of peaee--shall be
adopted. They exhibited this de-
sire at Lexington and Concord on
the one hundredth anniversary OF
the first battles of the revolution
aud of Buaker Hill on the hun
dfedth anniversary of tie battle OF
the l4th OF june, lT75. Those
who had been the enemies Of the
country, who came there with the
uniforms of their respective states
and with arms in their hands, were
welcomed by the whole people with
the greetings. the same acclama-
tions, the same joy with which the
sons Of Massachusetts who had
been fighting the battles of the
country in arms against them
(Applause.) Let me say, Mr..
Speaker. that this was no prear-
ranged demonstration for private
or public purposes. 1t was not
made by committees or candidates
for office, nor by men who had any
POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS whatever
but it came from the hearts of the
people-men, women and children
representing all classes. all In
teresis, all opinions. Individually
and separately they might have
hesitated, as we do here, to express
an honest feeling; but when they
found themselves together, and all |
animated by the same ASPIRATIONS
that Of reconciliation and peace
they gave such an uttterance to
their universal Joy as the world |
never witnessed before. 1t was an
inspiration gathered from the am
icable union Of hitherto hostile
members OF the same family. from
the day that brought and the great
events that it commemorated.
The men from South Carolina or
Virginia or Maryland could not
have been more surprised at this
universal demonstration of Joy and
welcome in the streets of Boston
than were the people of Massachu-
sets. 1t was an honest sentiment.
A purer exhalation never rose from
the human race than that which
assembled to heaven from the hearts
of the people on that day. Zap
plause.)
Now. sir, hope, that Massachu-
sets will give vote approaching
unanimity upon this question. If
Jefferson Davis has been guilty OF
crime, let him be tried aud punish
ed. Why should we plead the
statute of limitation for him Z We
have had him in custody we have
had him under Indictment, with all
the information against him that
e. now in the possession Of the ::
government. Yet we did not press
ais case TO trial, still less TO con
Fiction. Sir, at this very desk
where | now stand, the counsel of
he government of the United
States in the prosecution against
Jefferson Davis came to me and adj
Tised me. advised other represen-
atives from Massachu- etts. that it :
vas not wise for the government To-
)roceed with the trial in thar case.
70 the face ofusuch a fact, why
hall We stand up here and mar the /,
yreat act of this century, that OF 7
Universal amnesty aid peace, by !.
e'erancc 20 the errors or crimes :
which we may believe Davis to !,
ave committed 4!
The act OF amnesty, sir, is not n .
mere congressional act. Tt is not '
he act OF congress alone If is the !,
let OF n great people. 1t will stand
n history as the great event Of '
his century. This is the first time =
n the history Of the world that a u
yreat nation, with its millions of Il
people, after having gone through
terrible struggle of civil war, has q
isen in its majesty and said, Let II
IS who have been the enemies of !
he country be forgiven y No !,
ecord, no declaration on the part "
I any government from the crea- !"
ion OF the world will compare in &
,ajesty and sublimity with this act s.
1t shall be passed. To take this 'e
iajestic declaration OF the people. "
emanded by them and believed nv Is
lern to he just, and plaster it with -
itations and proofs more OF less :,
inclusive Of crimes that may he !,
harged against any individual - -
TO
Blur the grace and glow -
Of cicmency to take the rose Ie
Prom the fair forehead Of tiodiike act Ia,
And stick blister there. .