Year: 1865

the same rules be applied. Let the Constitution


be our guide. Let the preservation of that aut


the Union of the States be our principal aim.-


Let it be our hope that the government may b.


perpetual, and that the principles of the govern


ment, founded as they are on right and justic'
may be handed down without spot or blemish tt
our posterity. As,1 have before remarked t
you, am gratifed to see SO many of you here
to-day It manifests spirit am pleased t.
observe. | know it has been said OF me tha


my asperities are sharpened, that bad Vindic
tive feelings to crafty, and that / should no
fail to avail myself Of the opportunities that
would present themselves to CRAFTY such despi
cable feelings Gentlemen, if my acts will not
speak for me and for themselves, then any pro
fessions | might now make would be totally
useless. But, gentlemen, if [ know myself as
think do, | know that | am of the Southern
people; and love them and will do all in my
power to restore them to that state of happiness
and prosperity which they enjoyed before the
madness Of misguided men, in whom they had
repos ID their confidence, led them astray to their
own undoing. If there is anything. that cap be
done on my part, on correc. principles, on the
principles of the Constitution, to- promote these
ends, be assured it shall be done Let me as
sure you, also, that there is no disposition on



the Southern people. There may be speeches
published from various quarters that may breathe
a different spirit Do not let them trouble or
excite you, but believe that it is, as it is the
great object of the government to make the
Union Of these United States more complete and
perfect than ever, and to maintain it on consti-
tutional principles, if possible, more firm than it
has ever before been. Then why cannot We all
come up to the work in proper spirit! 10
other words, let US look to the Constitution. The
issue has been made and decided; then, as wise
men-as men who see RI ght and are determined
to follow it as fathers and brothers, and as men
who love their country in this hour Of trial and
cannot We come up and help to
settle the question of the hour and adj ust them
according to the principles of honor and justice?
The institution of slavery is gone. The former
status of the negro had to be changed, and we
as wise men, must recognize so patent fact and
adapt ourselves to circumstances as they sur
round us. GVoices-We are willing to do So
Yes, Sir, we willing to do SO. believe you
are. believe when your faith is pledged, when
your consent has been given, as [ have already
said, believe it will be maintained in good
faith, and every pledge or promise fully carried
out. [Cries-It will All ask or desire Of
the South or the North, the Fast or the West,
is to be sustained in carrying out the princi Piles
of the Constitution. 1t is not to be denied that
We have been great sufferers On both Sides
Good men have fallen on both sides, and much
misery is being endured as the necessary result
Of SO gigantic a contest. Why, then, cannot we
come together, and eround the common altar Of
our county heal the wounds that have been
made! Deep wounds have been inflicted. Our
country has been SCARED all over. Then why
cannot we approach each other upon principles
which are right in themselves aud which, will be
productive of good to all? The day is not dis
tant when VIC shall feel like some family that
has had deep and desperate feud, the various
members Of which have come together and CON-
pared the evils and suffeIings they had inflicted
upon each other. They had seen the influence
Of their error and its result, and governed by
generous spirit of couciliaton, they had become
mutually forbearing and forgiyrs, and returned
to their old habits Of iraternal kindness, and be-
come better friends than ever Then let Us
consider that the feud which alieuated US has
been settled and adjusted to our mutual salts
faction, and that We come together to be bound
by frmer bonds OF love, respect, and confidence
than ever. The North cannot get along without
he South, nor the South without the North,
The East without the West, nor the West with
out the East; and say ii is duty to do all
that in power lies to perpetuatc aud make
stronger the bonds of our Union, seeing that it
is for the common good &c all that We should be
united. feel that this Union, though but the
creation Of century, is to be perpetuated. for
all time, and that it cannot be.destroyed except
by the all-wise God who created it. Gentlemen,
repeat, | sincerely thank you for the respect
manifested on the occasion; and for the express
,ions Of appreciation and confidence please
eept my sincere thanks.