Year: 1866

lect, and feel that L VIII De DONG more JUS


tice to the opinions entertain, if state what


| have to say this evening, in preference to


any other time. Sir, do not expect by the
passage of this resolution, that any marked


effect is to be produced upon our Senators


and members of Congress, who are hereby


instructed and requested to listen to the voice


of Pennsylvania That portion of the delega-


ton from this State that has been loyal to


the Union, has given evidence already that
! they will vote right upon this question, that
! they will sustain the Government ir the fu-
| ture as they have in the past. And sir, that


portion of the delegation who have stood op
posed to the Union delegation from this State,


although they once avowed the doctrine, and


insisted upon it, of obeying the instructions


given them or resigning, have long since


abandoned that doctrine as they have aban-
! doned every other doctrine of the founder of
| their party; and now they pay no more re-
gard to the wishes of the State than if it did


not exist They now look upon the decision


of some caucus, held perhaps in some garret,
to be Of more Importance than the acquisitions


of this Legislature. l know that fact well,
Mr.. Speaker 1t is not, therefore. that | ex
pect by the passage Of these resolutions that


we are to affect any votes in Congress but,
sir, | desire their passage because the ex-
preston CT truth always has its effect upon
the people, and that it is by the expl eSSion OF
such truths as are contained in this resolution
that the DEGREES of the people as to the man
ner in which this government is to be recon-
structed are to be executed. And, sir, am
not anxious in regard 10 the passage OF these
resolutions because have any doubts as to


the final result upon this question. Men may
falter, this Legislature may become timid,
/ ~ fol thn


may fall from his high estate but, Mr.. Speaker,


the purpose of the loyal people of the United


States will be executed in tins country. They


are marching on with such force as not to be


resisted and he who gives any ear to the
sounds around him hears the march of free


mgn onward. | say, sir, their purpose will


be executed and that purpose is that this
/ broad land, every acre of it, from ocean to
ocean, from the lakes to the gulf, shall be
dedicated as the home Of freedom justice and


humanity; that here there shall pc no longer
oppression nor oppressed, master nor slave.
| And if it must come TO that, the people will


execute this decree in spite of the President
and Congress | have, therefore. no misgiv-
ings no anxieties upon this subject. "John
! Browns soul is marching on" and so is the
! great heart Of TIE American people. | have


no doubts upon Mat question and no fears.
am entirely and wholly hopeful upon that


question, and do not ask the passage of this
resolution because l have any hopes that 1t


will affect any votes in the Congress of the


United States ; but, sir, as the circle which is
! made bv the pebble thown into still water is


small at first and gradually widens until it


reaches the farthest shore, so does the ex-


preston of truth produce limited circle at
| first, which widens and widenS until, in the
! language of some enthusiast its effects reach


to the tarthest shore Of time Sir, it is the
! expression of these truths that is to enable
/ the people to carry out their purposes. This
! is one of the "appUinted means of grace" by
which the people are to execute their decree
| Now, sir. what is the truth asserted in this
resolution? One of the truths is that the
rebel States should not be admitted into full
/ fellowship until they have given certain guar


antees that the debt which they have created
/ in attempting to destroy the Government
| shall not be paid by US, and until we are Sc


cured in the just fruits of the result of victory.


Sir take issue with the gentleman who oc-
cupied considerable time here in asserting


that this resolution was not necessary because
the people have accepted with honest loyalty
! the mild and generous policy of the President
l undertake to say that the Southern States
have given no evidence of honest loyalty


none whatever. | say that the applications
that have cone up from those rebels for par
don and that they may be restored to power


and to their former possessions, have been


many and not far between but submit that
there has been no expression by any public man
in the SOuth--no expression by any public con-
vention in the South-no expression by any
newspaper in the South representing rebels,
by which any confession of wrong or injury
! ~ A. 1,
been made-not a syllable of it. From the


beginning to the end of these negotiations for
getting back into power, they have nowhere


made single confession that they have done
any wrong. True, they say they have failed
in the war; they are sorry they did not sue


ceed they are conquered ; they ask to be re-
stored to power, ,butthey nowhere acknowledge
hat they ever did wrong to the Government
of the United States, or that they are sorry


for the course which they pursued. We are
asked to forgive. / take it forgiveness will


be in time when it is asked for. On the con-


trary, so far from confessing that they are
guilty Of having done wrong, they use such


language as this. James R. Campbell. III
the Convention called to form State Con-
stitution for South Carolina, in addressing
that convention, said:


fI believe that when our votes are admitted into
Congress, if are toerably wise or gov rned by
moderate share of common sense, we will have our
own wav | am speaking not to be reported.
We W have own way yet if we are true to our
selves We know the past, We know what is TO be
our futOre Are we not in a cOndti to accept what
we cannot he,p9 Are we not in a condition where ii
is the part of wisdom to wait and give what we can
not avoid givng2u


That Mr.. Campbell spoke according to the
sentiments of the prevailing politicians is at
tested by private letter received from Gov
ernment officer there who is so situated as to
know the real condition of things. | read
extracts only:


"The speeches in convention and Legislature are
doubtless known to you, and the 'animusn pervading
all actions of these bodies Mr. mpbell expressed it
exactly. Let do what HAVE to, as little
are obliged TO, get into Congress somehow, and THEN
pay on the scole. One or two minor matters in this
connection mention as showing how the current sets.


y The election for members of convention, 4th