Year: 1863

-
experience to the teachings of our fathers


l am confident that our glorious Union and
the rights of the States are to be preserv-
Il, for l feel confident that our political
opponents will find themselves driven back
upon this subject, as upon many others, to
our position, from the force of necessity
l believe as | dc in my existence that be-
fore two months have passed away, their
own experience in government, and the
utter failure of the theory that to make a
government strong you must vest 1t with
power which it cannot wisely and safely
exercise, will be renounced by all parties
of men, and out of this sad war We shall
have the satisfaction of plucking some great
and vital truths that will give new
strength and vigor to our government, when
all classes of men have been taught by the
lessons of sad experience that there is but
one way to maintain the power and glory
of our government. and that is an adhe-
renee to constitutional law; that there is
but one way to preserve the union of these
States, which is by upholding all the rights
of all the States, and giving them those
privileges our fathers designed they should
have; that there is but one way to secure
the durability and perpetuity of the gov
ernmcnt, and that is by adhering to the
system which makes it beneficial in its op-
Grafton, which respects the rights of every
man, and preserves as sacaed the rights OF
every household. (Great applause


X


We have reached point where the flu
ture policy of the government must be
marked out. Shall it be that of subjuga-
ton? Shall we declare. that by force and
force alone, great States shall be held with
in the limits Of this Confederacy-each
State stripped of the character Of a State


and forbidden to return again to the Union


except on terms inconsistent with their
constitutional rights, inconsistent with the
dignity OF the States which make up this
great anil glorious Union? cloud cheers }
What does that policy imply The she'd
ding of blood the exhausting of treasure.
the continuance for an indefinite time of a
devastating war, which when it has reach
cd Its highest success, must still 90 on. and
the wealth of the North wasted to hold the
South in military subsection. 1t can lead
to but one result. There is no man that
does not know and admit that the indef-
expenditure, must ultimately end in ma
tlonal bankruptcy and ruin. Shall we en-
ter the struggle, that may sacrifice blood
and treasure without limit. which involves
the uncertainties of the future. the dan
gers Of defeat. the liabilities of foreign i'm
thcrventlon rather than sacrifice one pas
sion, one prejudice, or do one act of mag
nanimity or generosity? That is the one
policy; now what is the other? | appeal
once again to our Republican friends that
laying aside all party passions and preju-
dices, they meet with us in the spirit of
men who love their country and are pre-
pared to make any and every sacrifice to
uphold It's cause, that We may supcradd to
the power of force the power of concilia-
ton. Is there not more hope for immodi-
ate restoration Of the Union, more hope of
stopping this enormous expenditure of
treasure and blood which is carving
down young men to early graves, if We
show the world that we are prepared to en-
ter upon generous and concilatory line
of policy? How can any one object to a
policy that would unite the people of the
North and wake at the South whatever
there is of the Union or lingering attach
ment to its flag, which | believe slumbcrs
and sleeps but is not dead? | ask if mag
nanimity, patriotism, true statesmanship-
if large and noble feeling docs not now i'm
pei us to say that it is the duty of the par
ty which has shown itself most powerful in
military affairs to be maganimous and no.
bic to stand before the world and say
Our brother has not crOuched down before
MS; we have not trampled upon him; We
have not gratificd our passions and malice
and hate? Is that position as noble as
to say in the moment Of our triumph
Return to this Union, return to your ale
glance, and every right you have as States


as communities, as individuals, shall be
preserved to you sacred and inviolate2-
Loud checrs) We are brought to that
stage Of this war when men must choose
between two true lines of policy. Our ar
mics are triumphant in the field, our sol
diers have vindicatcd their courage and
patriotism; they have shown themselves
ready to sacrifice home and all that men