Year: 1862




/ trust God has ordained for the American Republic.
Aud when we contrast this fair prospect with what
might be our condition il we had failed 10 appr
ciate the crisis II we had not risen at and with
resolution to defend the national life against its enc
mics, We not che rfIly say that this result of
the war is worth all that it has cost that all IN
wealth and all the lives of this generation should bc
freely given TO preserve for postcriy the precious in
herilance Of liberty that the int upton of bust
ness the stagnatOn Of enterprise the prostation of
all ordinary pursuss, the burdens of taxation, and
bitterer than ALL the sacrifice Of life, the mourning
of households, the tears of the berCaved all the
rihces have been called TO lay upon the altar OF
our country, have been abundantly compensated


But rich aud manifold the benefits which
we are to reap from the maintenance of the Union,
this great result of recent struggle is intimately
connected with the of free institutions through
out the world. Civil war has subjected our inst-
tutons to the last and severcst test This test the
enemies of progress in free government have long
hoped .t be applied to u.s. tor they we're sure th;
we could not survive il. Long ago they had been
! compelled 10 acknowledge that the advantages ~
our free institutions for all purposes of national de-
velopmen and growth had been d, monstratcd in our
! brief but shining history. They had seen weak
and small people RISE step 10y step, through every
giadatOn of national prosperity and strength, to an
equality with the oldest nations. They bcheld Us
| enjoying all the benefits of material prosperity in
| the most abundant measure; all forms OF human
industry, al enterprises for the attainmelt OF ma
terial resus, receiving here the most ample reward
and success. They could not deny that the bless
| ings of education were here diifuscd among the peo
pie that the fullest protection was Offered to evex
mans industry, that freedom Of conscience was not
intertcred with; that all the fruits OF peace ana


liberty and stability enjoyed by the people Ihe
argument which the friends of progress abroad drew


from the benign operation of our form of government
which had enabled US to rise IN such brief and rapid
progress, to the highest reach OF national position
power, aud happiness, could not be ayo ded or gain
said. II sufficient to point to the brief but hon
orable career OF the American Republic, whose
commerce covered every sea- whose agriculture sup
| piled world with food, whose mechanical and man
uacturing industry rivaed all the of the
oldest nations whose free schools, free homes, free
| laws, attracted vast emigration of the unfortunate,
poor, aud oppressed of Europe, whose cnmity no
nation desired 10 encounter, whose friendship all


nations were compelled to preserve. But notwith-
standing all this, the enemies of popular progress
have never wholly yielded the argument. They have
looked forward 10 this trial which has come upon
us the which should put all pretcnSious
t. the test, aud overturn the whole fabric of our
strength and prosperity. The theory that republican


institutions could withstand the shock of civil
dSsensions has b, en- confidently urged by the pro-
fJundest minds, which have reflected and written
upon the science OF government Is Ielu ny tiic
enemies of free institutions, only belief, but
the hope that this theory would be illustrated In our
history has been the cherished wish of those who
would stay the inevitable march OF republican ideas,
and political progress. Every indication of the
growth among of sectional jealousies or int'r al
rivalrics has been watched by thtm as the sign of





is, then that they hailed the outbreaking of
civil war with exultaton They believed that for
the of republican institutions this was the be-
ginning of the end. They certain that if the
experiment of democratic government failed here, its
trial would never be repeated renewed THY
looked forward 10 our disgraceful and unavoidable
downfall, and hailed the II, ar approach the time
when The voices of all lovers of progress of all the
oppressed under every arbitrary government, should
be senced by the terrible spectacle of disgrace
and overthrow, and absolute ideas in politics should
bc acknowledged To be alone capable of giving
strength or stability to government.


But my fellow citizens, we have met this crowning
test of our institutions and they have been vndicard
by the trial 1t has been demonstrated that the 10y
alty of free people to government of their own
construction, is sentiment no less fcryent than that
which resides in the hearts of the subjects of arbitrary
power, or that which springs from devotion TO here
ditary rulers. When the government was attacked
we did not hesitate to debate 10 doubt. Full of
the conviction that there choice for us be-


tween the constitution in its integrity and dissolution
or anarchy and urged by that deeper and more intel


ligent love of country which grows out Of rational
appreciation of the superiority of our form of gov
ernmcnt we have given the highest demonstration Of
our loyalty in the readiness with which the whole
people have offered themselves for the defence OF the
government Ample and overwhelming as is the army
of the Union, does any doubt that II the sum
mons should 90 forth for the whole people Of the
North 10 hasten the field the call would ob yed
and that, too without conscription or compulson !
W nat government VINO T
history of the world has been able TO some itself
more quickly for tht suppression of Internal difficult
ties, or exert itself more vigorously or successfully
for the putting down of rebellion y The people are
the government and they offer all their strength and
resources for the defence of government which is
their own, with analacrity and willingness which cag
have parallel in nations subject to monarchical
power, under the dominion OF institution which the
! government have no share in constructing


Let us rejoice, them fellow citizens that the argu-
ment has been Withdrawn from the enemies of free
government, and that we have demonstrated the ca
pacity and power of republican institutions to resist
and overcome internal difficulties and civil dsunon.
The friends of political progress may take new cour-
agr, and still hold up one example TO the admiration
{ and emulation of mankind. They will point TO vic
torious cont, st with the rebellion the dcmonstra-
tOn that free and federal institutions equal TO
every demand upon their strength and noble vim
dicaton of the claim of such institutions to stability
aud permanenoe As they emerging from our
difficulties successful and strengthened, they will feel
ardor IN their aspirations aud fresh inspiration for


their efforts for the spread and prevalence of hbira


d as and sec, not far distant, u a. surely approach
ing day, when all nations burdened and fcttered
under any form Of arbitrary power, shall be- admitted
; to the possession of the liberty which we now enjoy
shall not lingcr fellow citizens. to enlarge upon
all the consequences of these grand results of the
war, Of which hive thus briefly spoken; the re-es-


adjustment OF the Union, and the strength and capac
y of republican institutions for all purpnscs of sta
biity and se-d.fcnce. These include all possible
political benefits for ourselves and for the They
cover and comprehend our whole future as people
they contain the promise of career which shall b,
more wonderful and fortunate than anything we have
hitherto accomplished aud Of an influence upon th,
: welfare of other nations which cannot now be
ured estimated The reflections Of every who
understands the nature Of institutions capac
ity and opportunities for national development and
possible influence among the nations may dwell upor
these precious results of present struggle with thS
( warmcst rejoicing and hope.


But we shall be unwise II we think that all is
: compshed when The war Is ended The conflict u
r arms NAV soon be over peace NAV soon revisit us