The daily gazette., 1878-02-13

tne Waruh OF Lue nablOn. May not say
with appropriateness and with dne rev,
ercnce,. in the language of Georgia's
greatest Intellect, that they are rather the
wards of the Almighty? They are COM
mitted now, Under the new st ate of
things to the rulers, the lawmakers, the
1aw-expounders and the law executors
throughout this broad land, within their
respective constitutional spheres. to take
care of and provide for in this complicat-
ed system Of government under which
we live.
j am so inclined to regard them. /
speak of them not in exceptional cases,
but as q mass. Why in the providence
of God they were permitted to come
here 1T is not for iis to say. But they
have location here, and ! can say for
myself and those of my immediate circle
of acquaintance, and for the whole
Southern people, that there is not one
who would now change the condition of
things. resubjugate colored man, or put
him in the condition he was before. Men
of theNorth and of the South, of the East
and of the West, would to-day, on this
commemorating occasion, say, "Let us
one and all, within our sphere Of duty,
whether in public or in private life. see
to it that we do not violate that Divine
trust committed to u.s." tss4.
We live in a new era. During the con-
fiict of arms frequently almost despair
cd of the liberties of our country. Wars
always menace liberty, and often result
in its over throw. have always thought
that the Union of these States at first
was founded ON the assumption that 1t
was the best interest of all to remain uni
ted, faithfully performing each for itself
and for its own people, as well as for the
people of all the States, their constitu-
tional obligations. But secession was resor-
ted to as remedy. 1t was only to avoid las
l then thought, greater evil that / went
with my State, holding that to be my
duty, but believing all the time that, after
the passions of the hour and day were
over, the great law which produced the
Union at first, mutual interest and recip-
rocal advantage would necessarily bring
us together again in some mode or 9TH
er.
The time came sooner than I was ap-
prehensive II would. But even If what
was called the sovereignty of States-and
which j think the basis and foundation
of our fabric had been acknowledged
|-[Mr. Stephens left the sentence un.
completed and went on to say:l But let
these questions be buried so deep as new
er to be resurrected. What shall we do
in the future? Down South we are do.
ing the best that we can for the colored
people, hoping earnestly that shey will fl
themselves for higher civilization. The
flag no longer floats over provinces, bu,
over States no longer over subjects, bui
over citizens, black and white. Why
can we not look hopefully to the future
| Mr.. President and Mr. Speaker, Is 1t 9
delllsion, is it a fancy which have in
dulged in, that there is a nobler and q
grander future for these United Statel
than anything that we have yet attained
1t may be delusion, but Is Is one o.
which do not wish to divert my mine
while / linger on this stage. Let all par
ties and all sections do justice to the com
ponent elements of our community ev
erywhere, according to our constitutional
power and right let harmony and peac'
prevail let sectional strife be done ava,
with, and there Is higher and a grande
future for US.
Aut IL the embers of the last most la
mentable war are left, and little add
tional fuel comes to flame them up again
ii the conflict of classes, the conflict o
labor and capital, the conflict of rac'
THAT profound chronological question
which we have all got to settle, and th'
most difficult one ever committed to thu
consideration of statesman or philanthro
pists } shall break out, and these danger
ous elements be again aroused, i great.
fear that the recent troubles and disaster
through which we have just passed viii
prove to be but the shadow, the penum
bra of deeper and moae dreadful re
lapse, which will come upon this cont
nent, blighting and blasting the brightes
and best hopes of mankind. Should tina
be so, then some future bard may sing
1.-The star of hope shone brightest In tn
west,
The star of liberty, the last, the best.
II, too, has set upon her darkened shore,
And hope and freedom light up earth nj
| more"
| [General applause.]
The Vice-President announced that tn
object for which the two houses had con
vened having been accomplished, tn
Senate would retire to its own chamber
The Senate thereupon retired and tn
ceremony closed.