Year: 1866

edged their cause lost. ..


Rarely in the history of civilized
man have we a parallel of the savage
spirit with which@tley carried on the
war. With q hatred fiendish beyond
comparison, they disregarded the laws
of war and the common sentiments of
humanity by refusing to accept the sur
render of prisoners, choosing rather to
butcher them after they had thrown
down their arms and begged for quar-
ters. They bayoneted the wounded
who fell into their hands; they put
prisoners in death-pens by thousands,
to destroy their lives by the process of
exposure and starvation; they sported
with the suffering of their prisoners,
and taxed their ingenuity to invent
new methods of torture; they invaded
the sanctity of the grave by digging
up the buried dead who had fallen in
battle, braFely fighting for their coun-
try, and dishonoring their bones by
appropriating them to base and de-
grading purposes, in savage dcrision
of these brave men who loved their
country better than life and who died
to redeem it from the bloody grasp of
a wicked, relentless, Goddess rebellion.


These are the men, these plottcrs
and teachers of treason and leaders of
the rebellion, who are clamorous for
an immediate, unconditional return to
their original status in the Union.
do not array these charges against
them to increase the indignation they
naturally inspire in the breasts of all
Christian people, but desire that the
world shall know, now and hereafter,
the men with whom we have to deal
in the work Of reconstruction, that the
world may comprehend the force of
circumstances with which we are sur.
rounded.


do not doubt there are loyal men
in all. those States. l do not doubt
they are all tired OF the wicked war
they have been waging against the
Union. l do not doubt they are con-
WINGED it was not only q great folly,
but great crime, to begin that war,
and that it has proved an ever-mem-
orable curse to them, and to the entire
South, in the terrible desoation Of
life and property it has wrought. And
further, do not doubt that it leaves
stings and wounds and scars, as well
as heart-burnings and hates and curses,
unuttered they may be, but deep-seated
and bitter, that in many need but a
word to move their souls to mutiny,


Now, sir, while l am ready to for
give the offender who manifests sim
cere repentance, however great the
crime, and while l am anxious for an
early restoration of these people to
their lost estate, cannot forget the
care ! am sworn to take of the Con-
stitution Of my country, and with it
the great structure of free government,
which requires that should first look
to the household of faith, and to be
Very sure that in all that is done or
proposed no unnecessary danger is to
be risked to the country. Much as |
sympathiZe with these misled people,
and much as i desire that they be
healed, am more bound in duty and
affection to those who have stood firm
in their integrity and preserved the
nation from the wrath of its assailants.


Much has been said as to the rela-
tion which the rebel States have sus-
tanned and do now sustain to the
Union. 1t is question about which
great differences Of opinion exist, but
in the light view the whole subject,
do not conceive it important how the
conclusion may settle down on that
question our duty is the same, the evil
is the same, and the remedy the same
There was a time when these States
were all in harmony with the Union,
enjoying its protection, and sharing its
prosperity; their Senators and Repre-
81 natives were occupying honorable
seats in this Capitol, making laws for
the nation; their men of mark-and
they had many Of thcm-wcre com
manders in our Army and Navy, in
diplomatic service abroad, judges of
Federal courts, Cabinet ministers, were
everywhere where distinguished ability
was required. Suddenly these Halls
were abandoned by them; judges and
marshals and postmasteTs and com
manders of fleets and armies, of forts
and arsenals, custodians of the public
property and treasure everywhere in the
South, renounced the national authOri.
ty and their allegiance to it, and took
part with the rebellion. State Iegis


latures and State conventions ASSEM-


bled and adopted, in all possible solem


nifty, ordinances ofsseeession, and the
entire machinery of Il new hostile gov


ernment was installed and assumed


life and motion, and all the yisibl,


ligaments by which those States wer,


connected with the Union, to appear


ance,. totally severed. These are, the


facts, call them hX what name yol


will. Unconstitutional, as we con


tend, and therefore void in legal con


temptation, but, nevertheless, aimee


to be effectual in dissolving the Union


and practically for four years as com


pletelSsuccessful as though warranted


by express constitutional provisions


For four years these insurgent state


were without representation in Con


gress, without the recognized right I,


such representation for four years tn


civil authority of the national Govern


lnent was suspended in those States
our custom-houses were abandoned O


in the control of rebels; our postal sys


tenn broken upj, our Federal court
| a. l. -. a a. II ID.