Year: 1862




first object is TO promulgale party creed,
and the second 10 crush an opponent and
wear the badge of victory, see no fairer
prospect than al some distant period reach
ed through seas of blood and heaps of car
mage, the forced submission OF crushed
and devastated section, and the equally IN
happy spectacle of government triumph
ant, but exhausted by its triumph, detested
by moiety of those sovereignties that gave
il birth, and gazing with horror and re-
morse upon the desolaiion it has wrought.


Sir, tits not my intention 10 vent reproach-
es even where | believe them best deserv-
ed. have arisen to enter my protest
against the discussion, in this chamber, OF
any anti-slavery scheme whatever al this
crisis, and to offer an earnest appeal TO this
Congress that its legislation shall embrace
every means of securing an immediate
peace. If, as The government, claims, the
confederate cause is hopeless. the leaders
of The secession movement cannot be igno-
rant OF the fact, and knowing it they will
be naturally inclined 10 lend a willing ear
to whatever proper overtures this Govern
ment may present. AT some period of this
struggle there must be negotiation, il must
be- resor,ed TO, sooner or later; why not
now


Is il because pride iorbids that we should
be the first TO stretch ont tie hand OF concl-
iaton Heaven forefend that thousands o!
human lives and a country welfare should
depend upon so faiHe principle. Is it be-
cause the South has not been sufficiently
punished, humbied, and subdned 2 Then
let US confess that chastsemeni and venge-
ance are the objects of this war Is ii be-
cause the anti slavery movement has not yet
received sufficient impetus If SO, 60
tell il 10 the armies that have won your
victories Make Abolition the war cry -
Place banner with What device in the van
ward, and lure those armies OF 10 conquest
with tiff you can. Your soldiers would
rend the ,reacherous ensign into shreds
and would march 10 their homes with the
same alacri,y with which they pushed on
20 The battle field.


What, then, is the cause that wiihholds
negotiation You will not parley with ar
med treason But you have Parleyed with
armed treason if that be the word parley-
ed for the mere convenience of an exchange
of prisoner, and other purposes TO mitigate
| the grievances oil war. Ii was your duty SO
plish all that yoor troops are fighting for
the reconstruction of the Uniona


Let Us suppose that the South is anxious
10 embrace an opportunity of return, and is
withheld from making edvances by doubts
as 10 the intentions OF the Norlh is il not
right that we should confer with them, that
those doubts may be removed 3
What do the people care for such
miserable punctilious in the hour OF ma
ton's agony Sir, an honorable peace is
within the grasp of this Congress without
further bloodshed This Congress knows
that it is so, and when the people shall real
iZe that il is only ,he Infamous design 10
strengthen the anti slavery movement that
prevents an effort TO obtain that peace, woe
TO the chiefs of the abolition party in the
land.


But, enough OF them. Words are thrown
away upon their stubborn fanaiicism. |
appeal with better hope TO the lofti er feel
ings that should pervade humanity, aud
especially pervade this augus; sssembIage );
that should, by the nature of its sacred func-
tions, be far removed from the miserable
0f roHr of ON
mon country 10 the extreme and therefore
dangerous condition of despair


Sir, there may be fascination in the
CORY magnificence of war. There may be
craving for martial glories in the hearts
of men, and an instinct OF contention which
we share in common with the brute crea-
tion. But if ever there can be time when
a more Christian impulse should possess
our souls, il is now now, when triumph
and the consciousness of strength give US
the noble privilege OF extending the hand
of Cancellation without fear OF degradation. or
of self reproach for cowardice. II adversely
has been our excuse for sternness, let sue
cess be our plea for maguanimiiy. Provi-
O6OC6 mas pIdCeQ Wttntu tie IcdCA Vi tuo
North greater triumph than countless ar
med legicns could conquer the triumph OF
subduing brave enemy with a generous
and merciful policy, will disarm resentment
and rekInde the old bro; herly fame that
perhaps is no, totally extinct For. after all,
they are our brothers, sir and some soften
ing OF the stern Roman rigor which our
rulers have assumed is due 10 that brother
hood, which, by untimsly severity, may be
Cancelled now forever. There are gentle-
men who willsay that The South mus, be sub
dued; every armed Soulherner must throw
down his weapon and sue for mercy -
Should freeman ask as much of his broth
er freeman Would they be worthy OF
companionship in our fraternity. being re-
ciaimeda a: such sacrifice of m anly feelings
tuh.& ,y0ufd v0u have fhan do Would