Year: 1866

Every epoch has its field Of action and its
special sphere Of duty. Tho war demanded
vast outlsys Of treasure, and the muster Of
men by millions for its rigorous and success
full prosecution. Peace as imperatively re-
quires the concentration Of all our energies
and the display Of all our powers to establish
and perpetuate its blessings When rebellion
reared its hideous form, our one duty, with
out why or wherefore was to crush It.
That has been done, and its military stand
ard is lowered forever. The occasion for
which the army has toiled for years, and by
its unsurpassed bravery accomplished, has
come-ths s'id Of civiI strife. With it comes
the towering duty to repair its ravages-erase
forever its sad misrule and mementoes-re-
store the civil, social, and political relations
which have been suspended and disturbed
so that We may be what we pretend to be,
we fought to be, and, thank GoD, what
we iron to be-the United States Of America.


The sublime purpose of every patriotic
soldier was to prevent the breaking up Of
this Government. 1t is now the solemn duty
Of every patriotic citizen, in whatever posi-.
tion he may be placed, to labor for an early
REIMBURSEMENT of Affairs, thereby proving that
our nation was neither fatally impaired or
permanently changed by the events of war.
We want it made evident, beyond cayil or
dispute, that nothing purely American, either
in principle, or policy, or us institutions,
were defeated or destroyed by the conflict Of
treason. Until we are again united coun-
try, and our national system is once more in
perfect operation, we cannot be said to have
recovered from our internal difficulties, nor
can We till then present the fact. or exert the
influence Of nation. All unwise delays
each moment Of wasted time-the useless
wranglings over impractical schemes, or
vague theories; above all, the criminal efforts
to divide the councils of loyalty, or array
one department of the Government in hostile
attitude to another, is but doing, in the calm
hours of peace, the foul work the traitor
sought to do in the rage Of war. It is par
alyIing our interests and postponing the
mighty day of our complete national re-
demption.


The paramount duty of President, Con.
gress, and people, is to demonstrate to the
world that this republic is Zone and indi.
visible" To organize the national strength
so that its honor shall never be assailed; to
guard with unshaken bulwarks the nationsl
credit, to ordain justice so eternal and uni
versal that the humblsst and highest citizen
alike shall rejoice in the national allegiance,
is the lofty opportunity of the present hour.
This commanding duty should find no di.
vided policy or sentiments among patriots.
The President has shown by acts his earnest
ness Of purpose. From the moment he took
the oath of Office to this hour, his single pur-
suit has been to cause the revolted States to
prove by the highest acts of legislation their
submission to the national will.


The work Of restoration is q grave cues.
tion. Its settlement is a source of patriotic
anxiety. To delay it until the consumma.
tion Is compatible with public safety. ia both
proper and natural. But delay for the sake
Of revenge, or to obtain some chimericaI ad-
vantage, is productive of discord and dan.
ger, and will not be pardOned by the people
Upon nearly every measure votal to our
welfare We are united. We beseech Con.
grsss to give its attention to those important
matters on which the dominant party and
the country are unanimous, and let those
on which opinions differ bids their appointed
time. We ask from it, not interminable
speeches, which can settle nothing for many
weeks to come, but definite acts. Lot there
DO cooperation en- the currency, the revenue,
IN foreign relations and important domestic
uNjeOt' in which they arc hArmOniOus, and