Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-02-20
Nafriiman & Nonr,mL
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1878.
Presentation Of Carpenters Picture.
rus sonm AND sorTn ON EMANCIPATION.

|
| Thompson, II Is made my pleasing duty to delive
! To Congress the painting which h now unveiled
Itis the patriotic gift ofan American woman, whOs
| wears have been devoted 10 gentle and generou
| charities, and 10 the instruction and elevation %
the aborng poor | believe that the perpetuitl
and glory Of her country depend upon the dignity
Of labor and the equal freedom Of all its people
She has come to the Capitol To place in the per
petual custody Of the nation, as n symbol Of hel
faith, the representation of that great act whicl
proclaimed liberty throughout the land. unto al
the inhabitants thereof" Inspired by the SAINT
sentiment the representatives of the nation have
opened the doors Of this chamber to receive at he
hands the sacred trust In coming hther thest
living representatives have passed under the dome
and through that beautiful and venerable hal
which, on another occasion, ] have ventnred tt
call the third House Of American Representa-
tives.' that silent assembly whose members have
received their high credentials ut the impartial
hand Of history. Year by year we see the circle
Of its immortal membership enlarging. Year by
year we sec the elect Of their country in eloquent
silence taking their places in the American pan
theon, bringing within its sacred precincts the
wealth of those immortal memories which made
their lives illustfiOus. And year by year that
august assembly IL teaching deeper and grander
lessons to those who serve in these more ephem-
eral houses Of Congress
Among the paintings hitherto assigned to places
within the Capitol are two which mark events for
ever memorable in the history Of mankind Thrice
memorable is the history of America. The first
u lllt painting DN NNuut1llD, WHICH ltpltStntSi
though with inadequate force, that great dis
covery which gave to the civilized world a new
hemisphere. The second, by 'Irumbull, represents
that great declaration which banished forever
from our shores the crown and sceptre of imperial
Britain and created new nation upon the broad
and enduring basis of liberty
To-day we place upon our walls this votve
tablet, which commentaries the third great act
IN the history OF America, the fnliinent OF the
promise of the declaration Concerning the causes
which led that the motives which insured
it, the necessities which compelled It, and the con-
sequences which followed and are vet to follow IL,
there have been there are, and still will be- great
and honest differences of opinion. Perhaps we
are still too near the great events of which this
act formed 20 conspicuous part to under stand its
deep significance and to fOresee its far oil conse-
quences. The lesson of the history is rarely
learned by the actors themselves, especially when
they read it by the fierce and dusky light of war,
or amid those deeper shadows and those sorrows
which war ALWAYS brings to both. But the nnani-
nous voice of Congress in favor of accepting the
gilt, and the impressive scenes we here witness,
bear eloquent testimony to the transcendant inn
porance OF the event portray ed ON yonder canvass
Let MS pause to consider the actors in that scene
In force of character, in thoroughness and breadth
of culture, in the experience OF public affairs and
in the national reputation, the Cabinet that sat
around that council board has had no superiors--
perhaps no equal in our history Seward, the fin
ished scholar, the consummate orator, the great
leader of the Senate, had come to crown his ca
reer with those achievements which placed him in
the first rank of modern diplomatists: Chase,
with a culture and fame of massive grandeur,
stood rs the rock and pillar of public credit-the
noble embodiment of public faith; Stanton was
there very Titan OF strength, the great organ
izer of the war. Eminent lawyers, men of bus-
ness, leaders of states and leaders of men. COM
peted the group. But the man who presided over
that council, who inspired and guided its deiberl-
tions, was character so unique that he stood
alone, without model in history or a parallel
among men.
MIR Garfield continued at some length with an
eloquent eulogy of Mr.. Lincoln aud history Of
the events leading TO the emancipation proclama-
tion, and concluded as fOllows This picture Is "A
faithful reproduction not only of the scene but its
accessories. 1t was painted at the Executive Man
sion, under the eye of Mr. Lincoln, who sat with
the artist during many days of genial companion
ship, and aided him in arranging the many de-
tails of the picture The severely plain chamber,
not now used for Cabinet councils; the plain mar
bic mantel, with the portrait of hero President
above it, the council table at which jackson and
his successors had presided the old fashioned
chair; the books and maps; the captured sword
with Its pathetic history, are all there, AS they
were In fact, fifteen years ago. But what is Of
more consequence the portraits to the life.
MIR. Seward said OF the picture: s. 1t s a vivid
representation of the scene with portraits of rare
hdellty; and so said all of his associates Without
this painting the scene could not even now be
reproduced The room has been remodeled its
furniture is gone and death has been sitting in
that council, calling the roll Of its members in
quick succession Yesterday he added another
name to his fatal list, and to-day he has left upon
the earth hut single witness OF the signing of the
proclamation of emancipation. With reverence
ana patriotic love the artist accomplished his
work With patriotic love and reverent faith the
donor presents 1t to the nation. In the spirit of
both let the reunited nation receive it and cherish
1t forever (Appause On the floor and galleries
SPEECH OF MIR. STEPHENS, OF GEORGIA.
M President and M. .Spedker:-I propose II
strength permit, to submit few remarks first as
tO the central figure, then AZ TO the event com
memoiated knew Mr.. Lincoln well We were
together during one Congress | was as intimate
with him as was with any other man of that
Congress, except, perhaps, one. OF his general
character need not speak He was warm hearted,
he was generous; he was, as he afterwards said.
possessed of heart which had malice to none
and charity 10 all In bodily form he was above
the average, aud so in intellect lie was not
highly cultivated, but had a native genius fan
above the average OF his fellows Every fountain
OF his heart was ever oveIilowing with the mill,
Of human knowledge So much for him per-
sonally, and 70 much the deeper (lrom my at
tlchment TO him WAS the pang in my own breast
~ well as in those Of millions, at the manner ol
his horrible taking off That was the climax Of
our woe, of our trouble, and the spring from
which came alterward unnumbered wues.
Su much have felt 1t my duty to say on behalf
Of my friend Now IA to the great historical
event which this picture commentaries. one
thing has been remarked. that emancipation wa,
not the chief object of Mr. Lincoln What wa,
his chief object The myth the idol with which
his whole snnl was concerned WAS the preserya
tiuD of the Union That proclamation, pregnant
rs II was, initiative as II was in point OF fact
originated more from the necessities of war thar
from any purely humanitarian views Mr., Lin
coin like all the rest of US, In my opinion was
instrument in the hands OF Providence | doub
| much If he knew at the time, or realized III,
| great results OF the act. The proclamation itsel
a
lace. 1t was only to operate in those parts whcl
were not in resistance to the government. lla,
resistance ceased that would have been all. |
| the emancipation Of the coored race is 10 be
| boon to that race land Providence has vet To de
termne that, it depends much more upon them
selves. II IL is, !, representing the Southern
states, may claim, in their behalf, that freedom
was never finally consnmmated until the South
eIn states sanctioned the 18th amendment.
Mr. Stephens then made AM appeal To the peopl
of the United States to conquer their pTeindices
and said OF slavery that II was not an unmitigate
evil. 1t WAS not without its compensation. II
was not the best relation for the happiness an
welfare Of both races morally, physically, inte
teetually aud politically, 1t was wrong and
ought TO have been abolished. This said yeaI
before secession, and repeat It yet. The que
ton of the relations OF the races was one Oi IN
most ditlicult problems that statesmen or philaI
thropists Legislators jurists ever had TO soly,
Since the South has been released from all he
responsibility about 1t, 1t has been common t
speak of the cOlored people as the wards of I'll
nation. May not say with appropriateness tht
they are rather the wards of the Almighty? | ca
say for myself and for those of my immedai
circle Of acquaintance, and for the whole Souther
people, that there is not one who would no
change the condition Of things, resubjugate III
cOUred man, or put him in the condition he wa
IN before. II there Is one III all the South WI
would desire such "A change am not aware of !
Men of the North and OF the South, of the Ea
and of the West would to-day, ON this con
memomting occasion, say: Let us one and al
within our sphere of duty, whether in public
in private life to 1t that do not violate th
divine trust committed tous. Welive ina new Ell
During the conflict OF arms | frequently alno
desI paired of the liberties OF our country. Wars a
ways menace liberty and often result in its owe
throw. have always thought the union OF the
states at first was founded On the assumption that
was the best interest of all 10 remain united i,it
fully performing, each ior itself and It's own pe0p
As well as for the people of all states their constt
i tiOnal obligations, but secession was resoIted "
! aremedy. II was only 10 avoid, US then though
= the great evil that ! then went with my stat
I holding that 10 be my duty bat believing all q
!. Time that after the passions of the hour and di
u were over the great law which produced union
y first mutual interest and reciprocal adyanlag
4 would necessarily bring us together again in sol
!; mode or other. The Mississippi could never
e damned up. The Ohio would continue TO flo
a The people at the south, at the West and at /
e East, had all u community oi interest, and | |
u leyed after u while there would be a restorato
a The time came sooner than was apprehensiye o
| would. What shall We do in the future DO,
/. south we are doing the best we can for the q
= ored people, hoping earnestly that they will
themselves for higher civilization, The flag
{, longer floats over provinces, but over states;
- luuper over subjects but over citzens-M hite "A