Year: 1868

at Washington. This Is as fatal to the Iber.
|. " OF the citizens as was that other fatal 10
our independence. left the Democratic


party and took up arms against anarchy and
} disorder. now leave the Republican party
and take up arms against despotsm. APP
: plause.


RECONSTRUCTION.


Whan the late war came to an end, which
it did with the dispersion Of the Confederate


armies and surrender of their officers, there
was pressing demand for high statesman.
sbiP on the part of the political organization
then holding control Of the Government. and


this craftsmanship meant forbearance, for
giveness and brotherly Kindness. Had We
conquered another people-had We overrun
a foreign province, we might have followed
the course Of war and dictated punishment
TO the conquered.


But these were our own citizens--their
country was part Of our country-they
were Of ourselves, and, come veal, come woe,
it is our destiny to win them il we wish to
retain the Republic as it is and as our fathers
destined it to be. Then our best policy,
may say our only policy was one Of kindness.
We should have sought to heal the wounds,
and quiet the irritation that came Of long
partzan strife and deadly war. We might
have failed but it was our duty to try. And
these is that which responds to the kindness
OF brave nature, that you can always build
upon. We had conquered, we could afford
to forgive. We should then have been as
generous as we had been courageous. and
treating the brave men of the South like
men. we should have given them all tue
rights as citizens and said, come, let us be
brothers.


That the South was prepared for submis'
sion to any reasonable terms at the close Of
sbe war am prepared to believe. If any
one doubts this let him read the report made
by General Grant to Andrdw johnson on re
turning from the tour of inspection at the
South, ordered by the acting President.
am sorry have not this report to read now
in support of my position. Either General
Grant was exceedingly stupid or very dis.
honest, if that report is untrue. His follow
ers will scarcely admit either supposition.
Instead Of the craftsmanship Of love, we
bad, 10 all its wrath the partzanship Of hate.
We sought 10 degrade the men we fought,
and destroy the very foundation of our Gov.
ernment in our eageruess to punish. State
lines were wiped out, and military districts
formed and put under the control Of men ig
norant Of law, and who squared their actions
by the regulations of the barrack room and
the drill. OF the same material courts were
formed, organized TO convict, and property,
liberty, and life ITSELF made subjects to the
orbilrary will Of little. mean, military des-
pot States have, in fact, ceased to exist
Why, gentlemen, it was but the other day
that commission appointed by Congress
went into Kentucky to investigate the char
ters Of Congressman elected from that State,
and report upon the sort of voters that made
their constituents. They bad the same right
to send committee to the Fourth Congress
sional District of Ohio, and dictate to you
who should be your Representatives, and the
process by which you may become bis con-
stituents. l raise my voice not only in be-
half Of the South, but for all the States, and
all the people. Iprotest against this usur.
patton, against despotio Capitalization Of pow
er. Applause. | would have universal
amnesty and universal suffrage. l believe
the white races are able to take care of them
selves, and ifthey are not, no legal disability
can save them. With this change only, and
it is one Of the results Of the war, we could
not prevent, nor were disposed to prevent.
would replace these States precisely as they
we're before the war 1t is the duty of the
Democracy, should it have the power, to wipe
wipe these so-caIled Acts Of Reconstruction,
and dig down and bring to light once more
the old landmarks Of the fathers. Loud sp
plause.1 This can he done quickly and
peaceabIy. Thank God, we yet have the
ballot.box, and the ballot, and if the Ameri-
can people can only awaken to reason, and
do their duty, the great work-the real
work - Of reconstruction will be accom-.
plished.


PARTIES.
return to you, my old Democratic friends,
to find still existing the old Democratic
principles that once made US powerful and
ibe same clear line Of demarkation that ran
through the land, dividing the two political
parties, yet exists. l find still recognized
the old doctrine that the only use Of a Gov
ernment is 10 keep the peace, and the
better sort is that which leave the largest
freedom Of ac ion to the citizen. 1t does not,
therefore, seek to interfere with the laws OF
trade, the religion of the Church or the Gus.
toms Of society. The Republican party,
which is the successor Of the old Wing or
ganization, that in turn came from the Fed
eral party Of the Revolution, regards the
Government as the guardian, or rather, the
parent Of the people. Hence the class legis'
lation that has so disturbed US during the
last eight years. We arc not only made to
pay heavily for the support Of an extrava'
giant Government, but we are forced to sus'
lain clsms of trade that is asserted are too
feeble to stand alone. Let me give you one
example: When this war broke out the Re-
publican party, then left in power by the se'
cession Of Southern members Of Congress,
passed tariff law that amounted TO proLibi'
ton. Thus protected, the manufacturers Of
New England ran their mills at full time, and
realized vast profits. Now, at a time when