Year: 1872

!


In the United States Senate, last
Monday, Mr.. Buckingham, of Con-
necticut, made a few remarks in op-
position to a pending Bill removing
the disabilities Of Ex-Governor Vance,
which elected from General Ransom,


Of North Carolina, tho following clio.
quont speech:


Ono word in reply to the honora
bio Senator from Connecticut. Let
me say that l have. formed the ac.
quaintance Of that Senator, and have
been impressed with his courteous
bearing to gentlemen on this floor
! and his apparent desire to do right.
But let me tell that Senator that the
sentiments which he has just given
utterance to are not the sentiments to
cultivate the peace and harmony of
the country, or to cxalt its charaot CT
in the opinion of the World. Let
mo say to the Senator and to the
country that this great Republic cam
not afford to be wanting in magma
nimity.


recall no instances in the History
of civilized nations when the charac-
ter or the interest of people has
suffered from tho exercise of magma
nimity-that highest virtue in indi.
viduals and States. must say that
the Senator does not comprehend the
! genius and temper of tho people Of
tho South. They are brave, genor-
; Gus, fair people, and the spirit and
principles Of honor are, as they have
ever been, very doar to their hearts.
1t is true they took up arms
against the Government, and for four
years manifested under unspcakable
trials their devoted virtues, that if
thoy did not make their efforts sue.
cessful, at least vindicatcd them from
dishonor. The war is over. The
people and States Of the South lave
in good faith acknowledged their al
legiance to tho Government of the
United States nothing but injustice,
suspicion and distrust OH the part of
the North can interfere with the
harmony SO essential to national pros
perity.


The South desires peace and JUS
tice, liberty and equal rights-a con-
stitutional government. With these
the Union will be perpetual 1t is
true, Mr.. President, that with the
people of my state and her Southern
sisters l took up arms against the
government, and stood faithfully, I
trust, by their fortunes until all hope
was extinguished. Nor do I blush to
name it here. 1t IS not proper, nor
have 1 the desire to discuss tho right
or wrong of these events which have
now passed into history. 1 prefer,
greatly prefer, as our people do, to
, unite with all patriotic men in heal
ing all our wounds and bending all
our energies to promote and secure
the peace, happiness and honor Of tho
whole American people. Aud let
me here in my place say that if dan
ger should from any quarter threaten
this country-if war with England,
with France, with Spain, with any of
the great powers upon earth should
unhappily GOMEZ trust | should be
found standing with my gallant friend
lMr. Blair} and the equally devoted
Senator from Illinois (tr. Logan) in
defending the honor and the flag of
| the country.


And let mo say to the Senator from
Connect icut that if you will do the
South justice, and trouble should un"
happily come upon the country, you
will find the brave spirits among that
noble people locking their shields
with the gallant men of the North in
defence of the common homo and soil,
and that the same high courage and
heroic devotion and unshakcn forti-
tude which have ever characterized
our people, will be again displayed
under the flag that Washington first
unfurled. Let me again say to the
Senator from Connecticut that this
great Republic will best cherish its
honor, its great name, and its mighty
destiny by the exercise now of justice,
magnanimity, generous and affection
ate confidence toward tho people of
the South.