Year: 1866

Union than those which have been so firmly
taken and so steadfastly pursued by the
President of the United States.


And if that confidence and loyalty have
been since impaircd-if the people of the
South arc to-day less cordial in their allie
glance than they were Immediately upon
the close Of the war-we believe it is due
to the changed tone of the legislative de-
partment OF the General Government to-
wards them; to the action by which Con-
gress has endeavorcd to supplant and de-
feat the Presidents wise and beneticcnt
policy Of restoration; to their exclusion
from all participation in our common 60
vernment; to the withdrawal from them
of rights conferred and guaranteed by the
Constitution, and to the evident purpose of
Congress, in the exercise of usurped and
unlawful authority, to reduce them from
the rank of free and equal members of a
Republic of States, with rights and digni-
ties unimpaired, to the condition Of con-
quered provinces and conquered people
in all things subordinate and subject to the
will Of their conqucrOrs-frce only to obey
laws, in making which they are not allowed
to share.


No people has ever yet existed whose
loyalty and faith such treatment, long con-
tinued, would not ALLEVIATE and impair, and
the ten millions Of Americans who live in
the South would be unworthy citizens of q
free country, degenerate sons Of an heroic
ancestry, unfit ever to become guardians
of the rights and liberties bequeathed to
us by the fathers and founders Of this Re-
public, if they could accept, with uncom-
planning submission, the humiliation thus
sought to be impressed upon them. Re-
sentiment of injustice is always and every
where essential TO freedom and the spi-
rit which prompts the States and people
lately in inSurrcction, but insurgents now
no longer, to protest against the imposition
Of unjust and degrading conditions, makes
them all the more worthy to share in the
government of free commonwealth, and
gives still tirmer assurance Of the future
power and freedom of the Republic.


For whatever responsibility the south
crn people may have incurred in resisting
the authority of the National Government,
and in taking up arms for its overthrow,
they may be held to answer as individuals
before the judicial tribunals Of the land ;
and for that conduct, as societies and or
ganizcd communities, they have already
paid the most fearful penalties that can fall
on offending States, in the losses, the suf-
feringS, and the humilationS Of unSucccss-
full war.


But whatever may be the guilt or the
punishment Of the conscious authors Of the
insurrection, candor and common justice
demand the concession that the great mass
of those vino became involved in its re-
sponsiblity acted upon what they believed
10 be their duty, in defence Of what they
had been taught TO believe their rights, or
under compulsion, physical and moral,
which they were powcrlcSS 10 resist.


Nor can it be amisS 10 remember that,
terrible as have been the bCrcavcmcnts and
clusiyely upon neither section, and upon
neither party: that they have fallen indeed
with 4 far greater weight upon those with
whom the war began. That in the death Of
relatives and friends, the dispersion Of IA
miles, the disruption of social systems and
social ties; overthrow Of governments, Of
law, and OF order: the destruction OF pro-
perty, and Of forms, and modes, and means
Of industry; the loss Of political, CONNER
cial, and moral influence, in every shape
and form which great calamitics can as
sumo, the States and people which engaged
in the war against the Government OF the
United States have suffered ten-told more
than those who remained in allegiance to
its Constitution and laws.


These considerations may not, as they
certainly DO not, justify the action OF the
people Of the iusurgeut States but no just
or generous mind will refuse to them very
considerable weight in determining the
line OF conduct which the Government Of
the United States should pursue towards
them. They accept, if not with alacrlty,
certainly without sullcn resentment, the
defeat and overthrow they have sustained.
They acknowledge and acquicscc in the re-
suit, 10 themselves and the country, which
that defeat involves. They no longer claim
for any State the right To scCedc from the
Union. They 10 longer assert for any
State an allegiance paramount 10 that
which is due - the General Government.
They have accepted the destruction Of
slavery, abolished it by their State con-
stitutions, and concurred with the States
and people Of the whole Union in pro-
Libiting its existence forever upon the soil
or within the jurisdiction of the United
States. They indicate and eyince their
purpose just so fast as may be possible and
safe to adapt their domestic laws TO the
changed condition of their society, and to
secure by the law and its tribunals equal
and impartial justice To all classes Of their
inhabitants. They admit the invalidity of
all acts Of resistance TO the national autho-
ritv, and of all debts incurred in attempt
ing its overthrow. They avow their willing
ness TO share the burdens and discharge
all the duties and obligations which rest
upon them in common with other States
and other sections of the Union, and they
renew, through their representatives in this
Convention, by all their public conduct in
every way, and BY the most solemn acts
by which States and societies can pledge
their faith, their engagement TO bear true
faith and allegiance through all time to
States, and TO all laws that may be
made in pursuance thereof.


Fellow -countrymen, We call upon YOU,
in full reliance upon your intelligence and
your patriotism, TO accept with generous and
ungrudging confidence this full surrender
on the part Of those lately in arms against
your authority, and to snare with them the
honor and renown that await those who
bring back peace and concord to jarring
States.


The war just closed-with all its sorrows
and disasters-has opened a new career Of
glory 10 the nation il has saved. II has swept
away the hostilities Of sentiment and of in
terest which were standing menace TO its
peace. 1t las destroyed the institution of
siaycry-always a cause OF sectional agita-
,;n- arl - tr;f..--aul has prepej /, n nyr coup-