The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-02-17

measure cOnnected Win tue 0ualF8 o
the confederate government to believ,
that the representations made here q
10 occurrences at Andersenvill ar,
truthfully made, or that they can b.
held responsible for such charges .,
are freely throw out against them
Now, before this question can be set
tied by the people Of the country o.
the Congress of the United States, al
of these paI ties must be heard. Her
cannot be convicted of crime or cruel
ty in the nature of crime unless VI
give them q fair, just. and full hesr
ing, nor can Jefferson Davis be. hello
responsible by US here in our actor
on this subject, according to my be,
lief, for this crime until he shall have
been heard. lie has the right to b.
heard before he is condemned. There
fore assent with my whole heart Il
the declaration Of my honorable col
league Mr.. SEELYE] yesterday, tha
these matters OF crime do not belong
to the question before the House
They are a part of the history Of tht
country. and it il impossible 20
for us to unite in any declaration
on the subject which shall sexprssl
the honest sentiment of all classes
of the people and all sectisns Of the
country. 1t belongs to another and
totally different series Of events,
and not to this great question Of uni.
versal amnesty which is before the
House. The record which has beer
read of the report of the congregational
committee, very carefully prepared un.
deubtedly with q definite purpose be.
fore the minds OF those who prepared
it, we must believe to be substantially
true. cannot say that disbelieve it,
but can say that it is net history
still more, it is not the Judgment OF
history. It is what the French call
materials to serve for history. Nsr
can I believe entirely the represents-
tions which are made by gentlemen
on the other side, nor can believe
they are false or dishonest or disloyal
in their representations. They are in
their estimation absolute facta.the con-
sideration of. which is indispensable
to correct understanding of the mat.
ter. They are materials which are to
serve for the future history of the
country.
The history Of the war has not been
and cannot yet be written. 1t cannet
be written in regard to those who
were opposed to the existence of the
Union. 1t has not been and it cannot
be written in regard to the officers
and soldiers Of the Army who periled
their lives in the defense of the Union.
There is too much Of passion, TOO much
Of prejudice, too little regard tor truth,
too little regard for the great principle
upon which our Government rests, too
title regard for individual and gener-
Il justice, to allow MS to make care
ul and just survey of the circam-
'tances of the occasion, to give ver-
lict which will be accepted by the
world as a complete vindicatien Of the
ruth and the whole truth.-There are
90 many tempting prizes before us
nd we are too deeply interested in
'ur efforts to grasp them, to be able
o concede all that one side may de-
nand, or grant all that may be due to
he other. The history of the war 10
ot yet written.-The history of Mr..
)avis's participation in it ie not writ
en-. There is yet no recognized, ac-
epted, and final Judgment upon these
uestions except that connected with |
he result of the war.
The opinions Of gentlemen who
ave participated in this debate On
ither side are not yet so firmly estab-
shed that their assertions cannot be
ainsaid. Who will make that his
Dry? I do net know, but it will be
one faithfully and all parties will
eceive justice. Lord Bacon ssid that
e LEFT his name and reputation to after
ges and to foreign nations. It is quite
ossible that the history of our coun-
y to which reference is SO constantly
lade will in the end be written, aud
Augment pronounced that will be ac-
opted by the world as q true verdict
l the case, by citizens of q fereigs
ate. am perfectly sure that we
annot do it now or here. I dismiss
'om my mind all consideration of the
aud denunciations, the
and recriminations, which
,r week past We have so constantly
card in this Chamber.
1 do not doubt that the soldiers Of
in the North may have
,ffered. nor do 1 doubt that the SOL
iers of the Union when in the South
ay have suffered terribly. That was
Icident to the condition of things.
or the guilty, whoever they may be,
pray forgiveness for the suffering,
hoover they may have been and
heresoever they are, invoke the
essing Of God and for the crimes
| say let 1.-The earth hide
lem. Applause Let as shut them
ON our sight. Let us believe that
'ese questions will hereafter be prop
'ly weighed and all parties receive
hatevcr of credit or henor may be
Istiy due them; that the judgment OF
le country and OF the world will be
tisfied thereby.
prefer 10 turn as n guide for N.Y.
If in my action here a. q member Of
lis House to other considerations.
ave the past and look to the future.
turn my attention to that which is
sfore ns. 1t is Impossible for me to
ecide or to settle that which is past.
l should follow the counsel of the
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