Year: 1866

Senator Nye, of Nevada, in his great
speech on reconstruction, drew the follow
ing touching picture :


Three weeks ago went over to Arling-
ton Heights. l counted there great ma
ny graves, and they told me there were
fourteen thousand dead soldiers reposing
upon the Heights of Arlington. Early in
May, 1861, / stood upon those heights, and
there was not grave there. The inquiry
naturally arose in my mind, why are so ma
ny here now? | found quick and ready
answer in recurrence to the terrible re-
volution of the last four years. There lie
mingled the remains of rebels and the re-
mains of Union men. l noticed frequently
as | passed along, the inscription un-
known" on the head-board of the Union
soldier Sir, in behalf of that unknown SOL
dier 1 require prudence at the hand of this
Congress. There got the inspiration, if
may use the expression, of extreme eau
ton. stand here the advocate of that
unknown soldier, and in his name and by
his memory | demand of, the Congress OF
the United States that they shall tread
cautiously in the great work of binding up
the wounds of the country. In the. name
| of all the dead | demand it. In the name
of mourning millions require at the hands
of everybody who is engaged in this work
to see to it that it is done in such way as
to render recurrence of this terrible re-
bellion impossible. Stain not again the
fair fields of this country with loyal blood ;
rear no more hecatombs ofloyal bones but
stand here in this breach made by them as
the Romans stood, firm and determined,
| Il 4 cbon ha mall dnno ond
it shall not require doing again. 1t all
these recouections are not enough, IN the
| name of the martyred Lincoln l demand
prudence at the hands OF the American
| Government. If that is not enough, de-
mand it in the name of the mangled living.
/ My friend from Wisconsin will pardon
me, having great faith, as he says, In the
| final result, if call his attentention to an
other view. Sir, beyond the grave we
shall meet an army of three hundred thou.
sand dead, who will never again answer to
roll call on earth, but in the day OF Judg-
ment they will be there. In their name
and by their memory, by the immortal
death they died and lives they lived, de.
mand the Congress and every department
of this Government shall tread cautiously
in this great work of reconstruction. Sir,
nv mind is made up. Encounter whatev-
er source, will be prudent. By all the
sacred recollections Of the past, demand
caution. By all that is garnered up In the
rich treasure-house of the future, | demand
caution. In the name of liberty and free
dom itself and it's perpetuation, demand
caution at every step you take. Rush mo-
madly on to any policy. See where YOU
strength lies, and follow that. See where
the right lies, no matter whose policy II
may be, and follow it, though the heavens
fall.


Sir, entertain no fears for the future o
this country. 1t is written by the finger
of Omnipotence himself that this nation i


to be the freest, noblest, happiest natiol
of the earth. Through whatever tribula
tions we may have to go, see through tn
mists and the fogs Of the present its com
ing glory in the future. This contlnen
f is destined and dedicated as the abode OF
happy and free people. If our suffering
| have not been sufficient to bring us to tn


true consideration of what is demanded q


our hands, it may be that we shall be call


ed upon to wade through still deeper affiic


tions but, sir, the spirit of this peopl


rise with the demand 1t will carry ON t
: perfection the great work commenced b


our fathers here are making this the abod


of the free and the home of the oppressed


every race and cline. Applause in tn
g galleries. o Nf