Year: 1866

they have mot generally been admitted to
the rights of suffrage There the question
was mere matter of taste, and had no elesr
ments of danger, as! the number of negroes
was too inconsidcrable to exert much politi-
cal influence. If Northern legislatures have
been SO reluctant to allow this important
political right to the negro, it is unjust and
unqenereus for them to. force it upon the
Southern people. Here the negroes consti-
tute one-third of our population, and they
are poor and ignorant, and can be easily IN
fuenced by bad men to act unwiscly. He
will always vote the way that the man who
gives him bread may direct.


The Southern people are now very kindly
disposed towards their former slaves. The
old ties of domestic affection were not COM
pIetely sundered by emancipation. The poor
negro is now an object of sympathy. In the
first wild delirium of freedom, he quit his
best friend his former master. With many
the phrenzy mas passed away, and in want
and rags they have returned to their old
homes, where they will be treated with kind
ness and Justice But establish the doctrine
of negro equality and as long as Southern
blood shall flow in Southern hearts, we will
hate and scern Che people who would humil-
late and degrade us. This measure will
have direct and powerful tendency to pro-
duce war of the races; and the weaker
race will soon have fate less fortunate than
the Indian, whose hunting grounds are now
SO far removed from the graves of his fathers.


Mr. President: want peace in this land.
l desire all disturbing political questions to
| be Justly settled. want to have a warm
feeling of brotherhood for all the people of
- INF frc
ern people rally with affectionate loyalty be-
heath the proud folds of the "old flag !" but
this can only be brought about by generosity
| and Justice. We were conquered and We
submit Our homes were destroyed and we
will rebuild them. Our fortunes were swept
away, and we will try, by energy and indus
| try, to procure the necessaries and comforts
| of life-and we will be ever loyal and true
| to the government but humiliate and de-
| grade us, by negro equality, and we may not
have the power to resist oppression, but our
hearts will burn with an undying hate that
will descend to our latest posterity. The
bitter animosity between the stern and stub
horn Saxon and the conquering and domi-
neering Norman, lasted for one hundred and
fifty years, and Magma Charta was the first
treaty of their friendship. This unity of
the two races was tie birth period of Eng
lish nationality, liberty and greatness. The
spirit of the Saxon still lives at the South,
and it will never cease to demand liberty,
equality and justice. s'a


The President has completed his plan of
restoration and by proclamation he has de-
/ clared the war at an end, and the Southern
States are now entitled to all the benefits and
privileges of the Constitution and the Union.


Congress refused to acknowledge this ex-
ecutive action, and our fate is not yet deter
mined. 1 prefer greatly the plan of the
President, but 1 recognize the authority of
Congress as coordinate branch of the gov
ernment. cannot assist Congress in carry
ing out its radical measures, but when its
action becomes law of the land will sub


NIT to the law as a good citizen. The term


submissiOnast is not quite so odious as it was
few years ago. / believe in due submission


to law, and it is the highest duty off patriot


and good citizen. If we send commission


to Washington hope its action may have
some tendency to produce reconciliation


between the President and Congress. As at


present advised shall cling to the Presi-


dent, as believe that he is the true friend of
the South and the supporter of the Constitu-


ton. l cannot believe that the present Con-


gress correctly represent Northern sentiment.


The people of the North are highly educated,


refined and christianized. They are in every


way great people and sincerely believe


that when the storms of passion are lulled,


they will show themselves to be Just and


magnanimous They conquered the Southern
people in arms, but they might have won


higher triumph by immediate generosity


Ifthe news of the downfall of the rebellion,


as it spead with the speed of lightning


through the land, had called forth general


spirit of forgiveness and charity the South
ern heart would have responded with the


warmest feelings of brotherhood and loyalty.


The rebellion, although it was wrong-yes,


criminal, yet it was not without some excuse


1t involved questions which had been dis


cussed and produced serious divisions ever


since the foundation of the government


The doctrine of ultra States rights has found


many advocates among the ablest. and purest
men of the nation; men who have adorned


our history by their genious and left the i'm


press of their wisdom and patriotism upon


our free institutions The rebellion was


urged on by continual strife of sectional


ism, and the impartial historian of posterity


will not cast the whole blame ON the South.


The bitter and .proscriptive spirit that made
constant warfare upon Southern opinion


and Southern institutions even while they
L. were under the shelter of the Constitution,


is in some degree responsible for the fratri-


cidal blood that now cries from the battle


fields of the rebellion.


These great questions which so long pro-


duced angry discussions and divisions in the


halls of legislation have been decided in the


dreadful tribunal of arms. Upon the termi-
nation of hostilities, / believed that the true


policy of the government was to proclaim a
general amnesty to all persons, who by act
and speech whould show themselves in heart


and spirit, loyal to the constitution. This
! much ought to be demanded, and nothing
: more required. Confscation should moi
complete the ruin and dessolation almost ac


complished by arms and the tragic scenes o.
the scaffold should not add darker shades te
+ the horrors of fraternal carnage The gov.
ernment of the United States has shown itsel
to be the greatest military power on tn,


earth, and its statesmen may win a proude
' fame than its warriors by a course Of higl
!, souled generosity and magnanimity.


e Mr. President, there is another question
f which has produced great excitement in tn
0 country, and has been a serious obstacle il
e the way of reconciling our national troubles
r refer to the treatment of prisoners of wa


during the rebellion. Ideeply regret tina
: there is occasion for much complaint upor
!: that subject on both sides of the contest. 4
= people may forget and forgive the blood
8 strife of the battle field, where brave foemel
9 meet, face to face, and steel to steel-but tn
a horrors of the dark pestilential prison house
v and the agonies OF the helpless, suferin,