Year: 1866


on the speedy acceptance of the very
moderate conditions proposed by the
people of the Northern States and by
Congress l trust they will understand
the temper of the people so far as TO
believe that we are not any longer to be
trified with, and n if they delay un-
reasonably to accede to our terms. the
conditions now offered them will be
finally withdrawn, and others far more
hard and rigorous will be substituted for
them.


l am glad to meet with the members
of the Grand Army of the Republic. 1t
is noble organization, banded together
not only TO protect each other, to look
after the interests of the widows and the
orphans of those who have fallen in the
service of our country, but also to pre-
serve and cherish the recollections of
loyalty, friendship and affection, which
bind one soldier to another. l am not
myself 4 member of this order. l am
sorry that l am not entitled to be; but
| have such ali intimate connection with
the army that went forth from our State,
that feel am at least near relative


The army preSe we'd the Government
1t crushed the rebellion. That we are
to day one people, and have one govern
ment we owe to the army. The army
will also preserve the nation at the bal
lot box The great body of the SOL
diers are true to the principles for which
they fought. Our enemies felt that they
could not succeed without dividing the
vote of the army, and hence attempt
has been made by detection of some
few officers to divide the soldiers vote.
1t has signally failed. 1t was quite as
/ unanimous in Indiana the other day,
their elections, as at any time during
the war.


The soldiers have taught the world a
! lesson which before it never could have
understood, and one which the politi-
clans and the governments of Europe
have always hetherto refused to believe.
We were told that when the war was
over and this army disbanded, the men
would be so FAR incapacitated for the
pursuits of peace and dissatisfied with
civil life, as t become adventurers and
mere ramblers, and that they never
could devote themselves again to the or
dinary employments of society. We
were told they would come home with
bad habits, addicted to dissipation l
never believed that, for the material of
our army it was essentially different from
that which composed the armies of Eu-
rope. The result has proved far better
than we anticipated. Our soldiers came
home from the field more quiet. better
behaved, and better instructed in the
knowledge OF the world than they were
when they mt out, and are now our
most peaceahie and valuable citizens, as
they were before the most gallant men
to be found enrolled on the pages of
history.


1 have confidence in the future happi-
ness and prosperity Of our country. l
believe that all will yet be well / do
not believe that God has permitted this
nation to pass through the severe trials
it has experienced and make the great
i sacrifices our people have made in vain.
l believe |. at while we now have some
mbarrassmcnts growing out of the pc
culiar circumstances tat surround us,
| they will in time all be cleared away,
/ hat -, e., ~ =;
we shall be happy, united an pros
porous people. believe that the fleets
of this war will be highly beneficial to
the South-that the ''soher second
| thought Of the Southern people, togeth-
er with the influence of emigration, the
distribution of capital and industry
throughout the South. the revival of
! trade and the influx of strong element
/ from the North and from Europe will
| have wonderful effect upon the charac-
ter of the Southern people-thas is ma
lignity will disappear and the better
feelings prevail.


The country has declared in favor of
! the Constitutional Amendm cnt-upon
/ the plainest issue that politicians have
ever had to debate before the people
The people have declared for it. | trust
+ that all the Northern States will ratify
+ that amendment. trust the movement
j is sprin2ing up in the South to day. that
+ will result in the same thing there.
Allow me, gentlemen, again to thank
,,o,, Cor this axcaIJeot yuuSic for tho com
pliment of your appearing here at this
time, and TO express the qualification
+ feel at meeting so many of my friends
/ At the conclusion of Governor Nor
ton remarks, Major Popp spoke as fol-
i lows:


GOVERNOR MoRroN-In behalf of the
/ gentlemen present am happy to say
that we have not come here in an hour