Year: 1865

FELLOW CIrzENs-It is but ntte more than four years
since left this city to aid in the great
struggle through which she has just passed If
70 estimate time by the social and political changes
which have occurred, this brief period would be
sured by ages instead Of years. Five years ago our
strength military people unknown to
selves The most sanguine friend of the republic had
NO conception Of our tremendous power We were told
by foreign critics at the commencement of the struggle
that but little blood would be shed-we mill


tsry people-we were too much given to money making
70 make great sacrifices for the honor of naonoo
fond Of Boosting to like the whistle Of bullets II foreign
nations were justified in estimating whole by the
opinion which each section professed to entertain to
the strength of the opposing section, they certainly
had good for holding in contempt.
But dsntercsted and intelligent men should lave
better appreciated the strength Of the South,
the bravery Of her people and the terrible passions by
which they were actuacd than to have believed las
many at the North proessed to bclieve that few thou
sand could march from the Potomac 10 the Gulf
shat few weeks would suffice to end the struggle and
bring back in subjecton eight millions of people, the
great Of whom had been led by interruptions poll


ticans to believe that they engaged in a
holy and patriotic as that which ao'uacd our Revolution
ary fathers Impartial jndges should have known
well the character Of the Of the North their pcrsc
verance energy bravery and patriotism suppose that
but little blood would be shed in effort to uphold the
honor and integrity Of their country Our strength has
been manifest is to-day universally acknowl-
edged. From quiet, prosperous and peace loving
people, having standing army OF but ten thousand
men, we have suddenly sprung as military power into
she first rank among the nations OF the earth Tho de-
veopment Of the heroism and bravery Of the OF
our people-the proof they have given of the facility
with which they can leave the peaceful avocaions OF life
and the aTduous duties of the sodicrhas aston


ishcd even our own rulers Not less astonishing has
been the development in individuals heretofore almost
unknown Of all the great and noble traits OF character
necessary to the successful commander man residing
unknown to many Of his immediate neighbors has sud


denly become one OF the greatest and most successful
military chieains OF any Another, engaged at the
commencement OF the war as professor in one OF the
military schools Of the South, whose great military mind
enabled him at the very outset Of troubles
moro clearly than others the necessities OF the hour
and who for this reason pronounced by the head
OF the War Department TO be insane has since aston
jshed the world by the splcndor OF his achievements
No disputes the debt our nation owes to bis
genius and military skill but TO those who know him
Intimately William T. Sherman IS something higher
better and noblcr than a military hero. He Is
known to them TO be pure patriot-sccking only hts
country good-bod and fearless in the expression of
his viewsalways ignoring self and all selfish considora
tons And ''ga!lant little Phil Sheridan at the
mencemcnt of the war subatern cccr on Western
frontier known 10 but few outside OF his own NESS
particularly happy except when hostile
tribe of Indians him occasion for the OF
his ruling passion has been afforded splendid oppotu


nifty for the display Of his superior qualifications
leader the battle Ged and spcnddy has he improved
ms oppor.unlly-lmtroved y 10 ms own ana hrs
OF the few men Of this age who possessed the
ability of communicating 10 every soldier OF his great
army the same impetuous vaor by which he himself ~
always inspired when in the presence Of the cncmv-a
valor which 'sent Early whirlng up the valley = which
converted the disaster Cedar creek into brilliant vc
tory and which finally caused the surrender Leo army
IN Virginia. The chaugsc wh ch those few brief
have wrought in the social and pocunary condition az
many OF people il subject far painful to
template Thousands of fan lies at the South who have
never heretofore known woutucyer lacked anv Of tl


luxures OF lcare row reduced to poverty Thousands
Of women and children reared in and afiu, nee,
have not only lost their property but their natural pro-
fectors have beon taken away trUm them in this terrible
conflict. Blame tho leaders as We NAV no generous
ever find in mis- heart anything Dut feelings Of
pity and compassion towards tlcso unfortunate victims
redIced to state worse than death its s by the amhi
ton and errors Of man Here the North the mincdi-
ate effects Of the have been les ctihere has been
less obstruction of propcFyfewer of utter and
hopeless ruin stu we are burcncd with heavy debt


the effects OF which will no felt by all classes for genera


tons 10 The changes In the political affairs Of
country produced by this war; less striking than
those in oar military and social condition. The great
question which for years has agtatcd nry, which
has influenced all legislation, which has created
tonal parties and at last eliminated In ci, war, has
iinay aud forever been put rest The operations Of
the war having dcmorailzed and rendered tho slave
vaueless the States now voluntarily moving to The
entire extinction Of the system. Most dcyo'ediy do
thank God Tor this result am confident the abolition
of slavery Will prove greater blessing 10 the STAKEHOLDER
than 10 the enslavcd With soil Of surlas Ink nch-
ness, with climate equal to that Of Italy with mono


poly IN the cuIre OF the greatest OF all staples the


moyal Of that institution which has checked the develop


az her resources and has driven energy, enterprise and
rapita from her borders opens TO her career Of pros


pcrity wsich IN few years viii DO sch to make her
chidcn forget the loss OF life and property she has


GENTLY suffered The only impediinent has now been
removed which has heretofore prevented MS
from having true unon--one OF interest and
feeling ms well as OF law. ! believe the Union
is now permanently established and that MS
porle we are soon 20 enter upon a brilliant career.
Whether THIS career is 10 commence at once, or be de
ferred twenty or thirty years depends very much upon
the course pursued by the general government towards
che Southern states Ii the general government Is TO
powers which has before claimed 20 pos.
cess, and Is to attempt 20 decide who sha be entitled to
thc elective franchise In Stacs-if 10 IL 10 con.
tnue 70 interfere In the domestic affairs of the Southern
states, Keeping military Officers shc midst OF their pco-
pic 70 act as judges IN all cases Of dispute between DIFF
ferent classes Of czens-thcn the dawn Of peace and
prosperity IS yet far IN the distance The issue the
recent war was on the right Of seceSsonthe Southern


States contendng for that reht and declaring coercion
anon the part of The General government 10 be a viola
ton q their legal and constitutional rights. The
general government, on the other hand, assumed
tnat 10 such right existed, aud treated the
pretended secession as revolt of por-
ton of the 1cns OF those States The trumph Of The
government has decided The question and II viii never
saan be made unless now voluntarily reverse
iie decree Il we say 70 the seeding states YOU
have been ont of the Union aud thereby lost yuur con.
very principle for which the south has been contendinr


But ! em opposed TO All these measures for inter.
i.yeuce the domestic affairs OF those States not only
because believe have constitutional right 10 In.
teg,ere but because believe IL will be unwisc npoIltc
md unjust TO do roeadng far greater evils than we
would correct One the results Of the recent war has
been the sudden emancipation Of four millions Of slaves
or these at least and half millions either children
without upon whom they depend for support
or old and nfrm people, having chddren upon whom
ahey lean OF tie remaining two and haf millions
not Que IN thousand read Of them possess land
All have heretofore labored only by compusion and,
of course have not acquired habits OF industry
omy They In a land which has just been desc
lated by CIVIL war Tho pclcy TO he adopted towards
them a question which should engage tho best minds
In the country In the solution OF the question differ
ences of opinion must Of course, be anticipated The
plan OF colonization has been proposed and has many
In their preeent state OF gnoapcc and Incidence their
their condition colony would be infinitely than
Shat from which they have lust bssp rana1rA" yhay