Year: 1866

| House

 Where are you going to? You are not willing to associate with pardoned rebels, understand the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania, MT. Stevens who is ever fruitful in resources in getting you in and out of difficulties, is going to set up a little concern of his own, and you who have been faithful to him in life ought not to desert him in death and then you will be free from the contamination of pardoned rebels, mercy and charity. Nor will you be haunted and tormented with the veto messages of Andrew Johnson, the wise patriot and statesman.

 Mir. Speaker, there is but one other subject. What ought to be our policy here? Should it be tyranieal and oppres- sive or should 1t be liberal? We are told we cannot trust these people. They have given up the right of secession; they have taken the oath to support the Government and the laws; what are you going to do with them? Are you going to hold them in subjugation? England has tried poli- cy of that sort toward noble and gene rous people, the Irish What has been the result of that policy? Has it been to conquer them? It has been to implant in the bosom of every Irishman deep hatred of England. That hatred has descended from sire to son; and hope 1t will con. tinue to be transmitted until that noble and generous people will rise in majesty and power and secure their freedom. Russia has pursued similar policy toward Poland. Has the result been to subjugate the gal lant Poles? They arc ready at any mo- ment to rise in rebellion. Austria has pursued the same policy. The result has always been the same

 The Southern people, whom it is pro- posed to subjuga!e, are noble, brave peo- pie. They may have been deluded, they may have committed great crime, but they are now anxious to unite with all of our people to sustain the Government Will .gou receive them? Will you make them your friends? Will you rather make them your enemies? This question we must solve.

 They would be most invaluable friend And in my opinion they would, if you would adopt kind generous policy toward them, receive them and extend to them equal State and individual rights, and that without delay. By your treatment prove to them that the war you waged against them was not war of conquest or subiu- gation, or from malice or vengeance, but war to maintain the Constitution of our fathers and the rights of the Union of the States, as you declared 1t was when you took up arms and when the strife com menced. Redeem your plighted faith by your acts and your policy, and peace, friendship, and prosperity will once more cover our now distracted country. Then we can bid defiance to the enemies of our free institutions. No nation, however proud or domineering she may be, will dare insult our flag or deny our just rights Generations unborn will rise up to praise and bless our memories.

 Let me beseech you in the name and behalf of patriotism, justice, and down. trodden and oppressed people, to cease your war on the President of your selection and choice, who has exhibited to the world the highest order of wisdom, patriotism, chari- ty, justice, and devotion to the equal rights ofman. We will once more see the charred cities and villages that now dot a large por- ton of our Union, rise up in fresh and pure proportions our desolated fields will again blossom as 3 garden of roses. But above all, under the wise and just lead of President Johnson, we will see our people gather around our country's altar, and un- der Oe flag of restored nation renew their vows of obedience and devotion to the Constitution of our fathers. But should you who now hold the power in this House persist in your prosecutions and relentless oppression, you may yet live to see the day when you will regret the folly and madness that now hurries you to the overthrow of your power It may be the overthrow and destruction of the best Gov ernment that ever blessed mankind. That your measures of policy will lead to peace or harmony, no dispassonate man can for a moment hope. ' You may discover, when it is too late, that you have pressed your unequal laws beyond the point from which you can retreat. You may bring down upon your country and Government the condemnation of all enlightened, civilized nations, and you may build up nation of just enemies in your midst, and this land may again be drenched and deluged with fraternal blood. May we and our children be spared from that terrible ordeal, is the prayer of one who loves his whole country Discharge your joint committee on recon struction; abolish your Freedmen's Bu reau; repeal your civil rights bill, and ad- init all the delegates from the seeded States to their seats in Congress, who have been elected according to the laws of the country and possess the constitutional qual- ification, and all will be we'll

 An old lady in steamboat asked the man who came to collect tic fare if there was any danger of being blown up, as the steam made such a horliA noisa ssNot the leo tat >