Year: 1879

| the Union that Its object in pressing tho
repeal of those measures which we deem
dangerous to our liberties is to give us a
freer field for conspiracy and better op-
portunity to suppress by force aud fraud
the real voice OF the Southern people. We
are tauntingy told that proof of these
charges is found in the presence on this
floor Of twenty-five members who served i'm
the Confederate army, and the South is re-
preached, nay, denounced, for sending such
men to represent her here. Sir, the answer
to this charge is simple.


Nearly every man in the South who could
bear arms was in her armies, and she eau
scarcely be reproached with justice for
trusting am honoring in peace the men
who riskcd their fortunes and their lives
for her in war. And when the fact is cited
that while the South sends so many of her
old soldiers to represent her in this august
assembly the North sends but four, sub
NIT that the reproach, rest if rcproach any
where's, belongs gather TO the North than
to the South. feel that l but speak
the sentiments ~pf every man here who,
was in the Confederate service when I
express my deep regret that there are
not In this Chamber more Of the men
who met us in battle, for if opposed to-
us politically they would, if true soldiers
and gentlemen, treat us with the respect
thet 9.aua men never fail to accord to each
other. Aud, sir, had these grcas oppos,us,
armies which for four years confronted each
other in death grapple been left 10 make
and enforce the terms of peace, not only
would the country have been spared much
Of the suffering and tho humiliation it has.
experienced, but it would have enjoyed a
peace honorable alike to the conquerors
aud conquered. We should long ere this
have seen Union re.established on the ba-.
sis Of


FRATERNAL RECONCILIATION,


and whole people bound together by tho
indissolublc bonds of mutual respect, COM
mon interests, and common destiny.
Such, at least, is the firm conviction of ovo-.
.ry true soldier in the South, and all her:
sons were soldiers. Nor is this conviction,
wanting among the brave soldiers of the
North, for have heard it expressed by them,
time and again. .--,--.,..--.--'' .-..


That the men who truly repreEent tho
South are here to-day is due mainly to our
friends on the other side. When you in
sisted that the States should return to tho
Union; when you called upon them to send
back their representatives, did you mean
what you said or did you mean the South.
crn States to be rotten boroughs to be filled
by nominations Of the republican party -
Indeed, did you not for fifteen years make
them SO !? And will leave it to the CAN
dor of Rep lblican senators to say whether
they arc satisfied with the result of the ex-.
pertinent they made at such frightful cost
fo no nd tn tho xuhola
here because we do represent the popular
majority, the character, the intelligence aud.
the property of the States which have sent
us. We are here because, left to themselves.
the insticts of the recently cnfranchised vo-
ters have taught them that their interests.
are identical with ours. We arc here be-
cause, belonging to your own race, trained
i'll the same political experience as your
own, taught by years Of rule how to govern,
we could not be subordinated, and the pco-
pic of the country did not wish us to bo
subordinatcd, to such mass of Ignorant
voters as you had rashly and suddenly crc-
atcd. We are here, we trust, for the good
Of the whole country. What wo wcre you
knew when you insisted that we should'stilf
be part and parcel of this Union


For the past you cannot expect US to
apologize to do SO would be to sacrifice our
own selirespect and to forfeit the respect
of all honorable men.


IN THE HEAT OF CONFLICT


strnck hard blows, and doubtless We
spoke hard words. But does remembering
or repeating them now bring us any nearer
TO the peace and harmony for which the
whole country SO ardcntly longs? The men
who served in the opposing armies are now
the strongest advocates of n true rcconcila-
ton. We learned in common school how
to respect our enemies we learned that
personal courage and honor and truth were
better guarantees of patriotism than con-
stitutional learning or eloquent speech We


learned at least that in spite of differences,
even unto death, there was common coun-
try which we could better serve in friend.
ship than in hatred, and were our antagon.
lists of the late war here to Gay, in the con-
tests on this floor as in fercier battles of
yore, whoever might be tao victor, VIC
should be assured of fair field and an
honest surrender. Applause ia the gallo-
ries. Judge us more by our acts


The presiding officer Mr.. Wallace in tho
chair y The Senator will suspend. Tho
Chair gives notice that if further applause
OCCURS in the galleries he will order them
to be cleared. Order must be preserved