Year: 1866

over one million Of soldiers. A few weeks


later larger army than was ever actual


ly engaged in one battle, and with rare


perfection of dicipline and military out
tit, marched in review before the Presi-
dent and his Cabinet, were mustered out
OF service, and quietly resumed the pur-
suits of peace, and mingled again with
the mass of citizens. There had been in
the held more than two millions of Union
soldiers, of whom 250,000 perished by
battle and disease, and nearly as many
more came home nearly or in part disa-
bled by the accidents of war. In Janu-
ary last the army had been reduced to
l5Z,OOO, and Congress has now fixed an
army Tor the future at about SIS 900 men.
In recognizing the army and adding new
regiments Congress has provided that all
company othcers, to fill these new oripi-
glnal vacancies, created by the increase
OF the army, and two-thirds of the field
officers, shall be given to the volunteers
those volunteers to be selected either
from othcers or enlisted men, no distinct
ION being made between them. But
applicants must produce evidence of
good character and capacity, stand an ex-
animation before board, and show in
addition to their testimonials, that thev
have faithfully and efficiently served
either as officers or men at some time du-
ring the war against the rebellion. II
has also provided that four regiments of
cavalry shall be colored men. and their
officers shall be selected from those off
GERS who commanded colored troons du-
ring the war. 1t is also provided that
four regiments shall be made up. of Off
and nnlIGta1
ries while IN the service of their country.
but are still able toperform garrison duty
and other light service. The pension list
has been largely increased, and the PEN
sions OF soldiers and sailors who had lost
both arms or both legs have been doubled.
No patriot will object to the increased
burden imposed upon them in discharg-
ing our sacred duty to those heroic suffer
ers. The legislation in reference to
equallzlng bounties was not so satisfacto-
ry. 1t was very desirable to pass some
law by which the bounties of the Gov
ernment to volunteers should be made
to approach some measure of equality
A considerable portion of the army re-
ceived no bounty, while others received
large local, State, and national bounties.
1t was difficult question to settle on any
Just basis without involving the Govern
ment in dangerous increase of the pub
lie debt. After mature deliberation the
Military Committee of the House brought
in bill which provides that every sol
der who had received no bounty should
be paid eight and one third dollars for
every month of honorable service, which
would be one hundred dollars for each
full year. If he had received some boun-
ty, but less than that amount, the Govern
ment should pay him enough to make it
up to that rate-so that every soldier in
the Union army should receive bounty
of at least one hundred dollars for each
year of honorable service The bill pass
ed the House by the unanimous vote of
the Union members, but the Senate took
no action upon it. Near the close of the
session the Senate added to an appropri-
alton a section increasing the pay of mem
bers of Congress. The House refused to
concur, but added in place of that sec
ton the House bounty bill. The Senate
refused to concur, and after several con-
ferences between the two Houses, a sec
ton was agreed upon which gives boun-
ty of ore hundred dollars 10 every soldier
who served three years, and has not al
ready received more than one hundred
dollars bounty, and an additional boun-
ty to all soldiers who enlisted and served
for the term of two years, and who has
not already received a bounty of one
hundred dollars. The operation of this
section is confined exclusively to those
two classes, and gives no more for three
years service than four and gives nothing
to those who enlisted for less term than
two years. 1t is much less just than the
House bill, and being coupled with Sec
tion which increased the pay of mem
bers of Congress, voted against both.-I
They passed the House, however, by a
majority of one, and became a law. 1t
is hoped and believed that the original
House bill or some equivalent measure
will become law at the next session.


But, though the gu estions of financial
and military legislation are worthy OF the
earnest attention of every citizen, l fear
l have dwelt too long upon them. l there
fore invite your attention to what so near
ly concerns our future peace, and upon
which the great Issues are now made up,
and must be settled by the ballots OF the
people at the coming election, viz:


The restoration of the late rebel States,
For clear understanding of the issues
let US consider the character of the con-
test through which we have passed.
The rebellion had its origin in two causes:
first. the political theory of State sover-
eighty, and second, the historical acci-
dent of American slavery.


The doctrine of State sovereignty or
State rights, as it has been more mildly
was first publicly announced
in the Virginia resolutions of 1898, but
more fully elaborated and enforced by
Calhoun in 1880, since which time 1t has
been acknowledged as fundamental
in the creed of the Democratic
party, and has been affirmed and reafirm-
ed in nearly all the States and national
platforms for the last thirty years. That
doctrine as stated by the ablest leaders
,he Democracy ever had, is this: "The
of the United States is a
compact to which the people of the sew
sral States acceded as separate and SOW
sreign communities, and have a right to
udge, each for itself, of any illegal viola
ion of the Constitution, and to choose,
ZACH for itself, its own mode and measure
IF redress" a


The same party identified itself with
he interests of American slavery, and
lifting from it the great weight of odium
which the fathers of the Republic had
aid upon it became its champion and
Ldvocate.


When the party of freedom had AVA
zened the conscience of the nation, and
lad gained such strength as to show the
Democracy that slavery was forever
checked in its progress, and its ultimate
extinction by legislative authority fore
loomed, the Democratic leaders of the
south joined in a mad conspiracy to save
md perpetuate slavery by destroying. the
Union. In the name of State sovereign
y they declare that secession was a con-
ititutional right; and they resolved to
enforce it by arms. They declared that
IS the Constitution, to which each State
n its sovereign capacity acceded-there
,eing no common superior to which q
natter of difference could not be referred
each State might also in its sovereign
capacity seeede from the compact, might
dissolve the Union, might annihilate the