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OXFOK'!), N. G., WFDNKSUAV, JIAY 12, 1875
NUMISKK 19.
E^Oall'UMT HSTKACTS 1-'£E«>JI
•iEM. KAM.EO.W’a SI'BSitEJ IS
■ Tllai SEMA’i’E O.B 'a’MEUK£'l'.EB.'
STATES.
For nearly tliroe years I Iiave
sat silently in tins Clianiber, with
the hope that by pursuing’ a
course, as I thought, i f impartial
and patriotic duty toivard all an.l
ever}' jiartof the cpuinry, I iniglit
liave some influence in satisfying
northern Senators iliat the South
desired peace with the North and
a restored and fraternal Union of
all the States of the Ifepublic. 1
came from the true Slate of Forth
Carolina to the Senate of the
United States n-ith a sacred pur
pose to reconcile diti'ereiiees and
disputes, to bury in oblivion every
bitter recollection of war, and to
convince the peo].)le of the Forth
that our people of the South sin
cerely desired to live with them
in concord under the common
protection of a constitutional and
united Government. Before this
greatest and best desire of ni'i’
life, the desire of having a itart in
restoring the Union of the States
firmly in the hearts of all our
people, all other passions sank in-
tp insigiiificauce. This was die
great object of my political exist
ence. To accomplisli it, no sac-
rltice seemed too dear, e.vcept the
dishonor of my State and the
Sriuth. 1 know this inesliinabie
blessing to my counti'y could on
ly be eonsumin.ited by our doing
full justice to the North and b-i
the North doi g full justice to us,
and 1 had fait i that both soctiom
would be oi.pial to that great du-
t If this faith was rigliy I saw
for my countr)' tlm grainiest des
tiny upon eartli ; if it was false,
I beheid in die future in tiling but
apjialliiig darkness. I'o , u dess
this Uinon is liascd np-ni tliC
toundatioiis of justice aim the id'
fections of ail the people, nothing
but force can maintain it; and a
Union liabitnall)' supported by
force ceases to lie a free govern
ment and becomes a despotism,
die stronger and the sterner in
jiroportion to the extent of terri
tory and the magnitude of the in
terests it dominates, I had too,
and still have, tins thought, one
that to many of you niay ajipear
strange and unnatural, but still
tincere and true and ardently cul
tivated in my bosom, tliiit as 1
had fouglit for the South and its
cause had failed and the Union
had been established, it became
me as a true man to rendtr to
the Government of my country,
now embraced by me, tlie same
devotion—for I could liaie no
greater—that I had exhibited to
the Soutli.
With these sentiments, Mr.
President, i took the oath of of
fice on die right of the chair
which you now occupy. With
any others in my breast I never
would have taken a seat in this
Chamber. I felt the pride of a
man when these thoughts stirred
within me. I knew that they did
not lessen in any sense my duty,
my love, iny very soul for the
people of the South. I felt that
these sentiments were compatible
with tlieir highest honor, and that
in entertaining and acting upon
them here, I but represented their
own generous and jiatriotic sensi
bility. I knew we had passed a
dark and stormy night, but 1 also
know that ])olitical jusdee ivas
the ip'eat elemont wliicli, like.fho
smi ill ihe morning, would dispel
from the hearts of our jieople ev-'
ory cloud and memory of the
tempest.
With Ihese convictions I have
tlioiig'ht most anxiously, day and
night, upon my duly since the
commencement of this debaie. It
is ti'ue I Iiave had no doubt at
any time—I could not possibly
have a doubt—as to the character
of the events that have transpir
ed at Few (drleaiis. Unless ihe
lessons of hum.an history and tliC
principles of free government had
been suddenly eclipsed in niy
judgment, I could have on that
subject but one oiiinicii. But
my anxiety lias been in reference
to the right course for me to pur
sue ill meeting the issues that
have arisen in this discussion. I
have considered that subject with
the deepest concern. 1 have de
voted to it the best tliought I pos
sess. 1 have lirought to it as pime
patriotism as I can feel, and 1 am
tirofoundl}' thankful that a para
mount regard for the purposes
which I ha\'e declared to animate
me as a Senator imperatively
commands me not to depart a
hair’s breadth from the lino oi
those purposes in conseiprence of
ail)' of tlie provocations given in
this discussion. Acting under
this high dut\', I feel tlia-t I owe
it to the noble State that honors
me witli her confidence, to the
iinojile of the South ivlio have my
sympathy and alfcctioii, and to
me country at whose altars 1
mnn,ster, to surrender the natimal
and just resentments excited by
unproN okod as,?aults of a person
al and sectional character, as an-
nil cr offering to the jicaco of my
coiuitry, and to speak thi-i day
without passion or prejudice for
tlie safety and honor of the na
tion. Yes, sir, I am thankful,
profoundly thankful that my wdsh
I'or liaruuiny is too deejih' cher
ished, my resolution to reconcile
and restore too firmly fixed, to
be shaken by unjust utterances
here or elsewhere.
I do not intend to irrit.ate or
to give ofi’enso in what 1 shall
say iiore. If any person thinks
so he mistakes me. I wish to
liouv oil on these troubled -waters.
1 desire to heal these wounds. 1
seek to cure this malady, I do
timie it. 1 am speaking to-day
with all the solemnity of a man
who defends a great peoiile, and
if I sliould utter one word that
might retard, or prevent, or in
any way hinder a thorough re
conciliation between the sections,
I should deplore the day that I
was born. I ask Senators now to
think with me on this question.
It has been a custom in this Sen
ate—rvliich is the most deliberate,
the most courteous, the most re
fined, the most exalted legislative
body upon the earth, where eve
ry propriety of speech, every
courtesy of manner, every senti
ment of duty is strictly observed,
where Senators are tender cf the
feelings of brother Senators—to
speak of the southern people as
traitors, as red-handed murderers,
as stained with barbarism, as hav
ing attempted the darkest andtlio
bloodiest horror in human histo- ^
ry. Senators, it is but jtut tOj
you for me to say that when you
so spea.k x'ou do not utter your
own convictiou.s. You are oblig
ed to say you do not in justice to
t’ourselvea. For if x'ou think
that the southern jicojile, eight
luillions of tlicni, the loaders of
them, arc traitors, murderers, and
assassins, how dare you, in the
light of your duty to x'our coun
try, to 3'onr fauiilies, and to v’our
God, coinseut to embrace them as
countrymen and brothers ? Y"ou
did not believe it; j'ou do not be
lieve it. Y^on know you do not
believe it.
I’erliajis there is something in
the history of this .southern jieo-
p!e that justifies this I'rightful sus
picion and tills the minds of tien-
ators -101111 alarm and dread. Tiiat
cannot be. For they are the
children of the brave English an
cestors who for love of cii’il and
religious libert}' left the shores of
I'hirojie and settled the Few-
World. Tfisy are the immediate
desceiidaiits of the bold and ivi.se
men ivho helped to establish
American mdepeiidonoo and to
frame this grand and iiiagiiificeut
Government. Their illusti’ious
fathers have oertrunly liiuided
doll’ll to them the passion for lib
erty and the principle of consti
tutional freedom. We have iii-
lierited it for eight liimdred 3'ears
I’rom our ancestors ; hut those an
cestors iiave not transmitted an}-
taint of or example for- secret
treasons. Li the E'nglisli hcai't
tne spirit of conspirac}' never
found a congenial home. It is
the growth of other-' soils. But
have not recent events, 3-0U iviU
sa}’, furnished i-easonaliJo grounds
fir these appieheiislons of a se
cret colossal organization hostile
to the Government f Has not the
South just emci'ged from a gigan
tic war ivhieh menaced the verv
existence of the Union 1 That is
ver}' true ; but reiiieinber that it
was ojicn, hold, defiant war—
throateued for 3-ears, proclaimed
here, published to the world ; de
clared b}' the press, from the jiul-
pit, and the hustings ; the opin
ion of mankind and the blessings
of Heaven invoked in its behalf,
and the lives of a people offered
to vindicate its justice. It was
no concealed, Jiidden, m3'sterious,
masked eouspirac}'. ^Ilad it been,
never, never could it have enlist
ed the devoted hearts of the no
ble people ivho sacrificed evei-}--
thiiig hut honor around its shrine.
Its purposes were spoken here ;
they were never concealed or de
nied. Its councils were in the
light of heaven. Its lines of bat
tle stretched across the continent.
Brave hearts in broad day w-ere
its defenses, and around it clus
tered the hojies and pride of a
pure and patriotic people. Are
courage, truth, honor, coustanc}^
fortitude, and unsiilied virtue
evidences that the people who
possess them will descend from
that high estate,, and, forgetful of
all dut}-, resort to tlie lo-svest
practices of cowardice and crime f
if this be true, human character
is indeed worthless, national hon
or a mockery and an imposture.
Mr, President, is this hostility
b( tweeii tlie sections never t)
cease! Is tlie temple of J anus
never to be closed f Will not a
war wliich cost so much precious
bl )od, so muchdoi r-boiiglittreas-
iire, suffice for this insatiate jias-
sion f Have ivo not had suffering
enough ? "What other sacrilico is
necessai’)' to ajijiease this mad
demon, ibis gory M oloch of hate I
Are nioi’c priceless olferlngs \’et
to be burned on his altars before
peace w ill come ? IVill nothing
apjieiise this destructive god of
discord hut the ruin, the over
throw of free government, and
the iicrpetual miser}- and strife of
this great people '? Is this -war,
thi.s feud, to last betw'oon the sec
tions forever ? Is there nothing
that will stop its fur}', nothing
that will quell its Ikanies, nothing
that will alia.}-tho wild winds that
fail its fires I It has not been
quenched in blood, it ha.s not been
exliausteil in desolation ; the dis
tress, agon}-, and sorrow- of eight
inillions of people Iiave not soften
ed its angry spirit; ten years of
hitter anguish liai'e but exasper
ated its malignant heat. It is here
to-day in uiiF.liated fierceness,
spreading dismay and baleful
shadows over all tho land. Is
tliere no exorcism for tins hate
ful fiend of dissension ? No calm,
cpiiet spirit to walk on the bitter
waters of sectional strife and bid
them be still ?
Senators, theliighestand holiest
motives tliat ever ii-mpired the
breasts of mortals should impel us
here on tliis floor to comjxise this
que.slionl'orever and give peace and
repose to the entire country. Tho
South demands it to seciue and
1-1-store lier rvasted fortunes, and to
educate her people, and to give
tliem comfort and material life. The
Fortli requh-es it iliat she may
have a market fin- lier jiroduct^
and a great support in all times
of distress from w-hatever cause
or quiu-ter it- may come. Both
need it for their mutual safety,
happine6.s, honor, and existence.
It is our duty to settle this dis-
lurhhig and harrassing difference.
We cannot escape itiw-e caiiot
leave it to time ; w'e cannot ti-illo
iuid palter with it. It involves the
life of tlie nation, the hapjiiness
of millions, tlie fate of free gover-
inent on the earth. If wo are
not equal to th« great event, if vre
have not the ability and patriot
ism to discharge it, if -ive are not
able to accomplisli tliis tho first
object of our office, let us at least
have the manly courage to ac-
kuowedge our ivaekiiess and
hravely surrender our places to
those w-ho are superior to our in
firmities, and who can and -will
march up to the Hue of this higli
duty and wisely and nobly perform
it. We can at least do that; and
if wo can render 110 other or bet
ter service to our country-, w-e
ought certainly to he men and
give -way to those who can.
Tho groat father of our coun-
tr}r, in Ids faretvell address, the
last w'ords he spoke to the nation,
-warned us against these sectional
lines and divisio-ns. We did not
heed that paternal wai-ning-. Dis
obedience to it brought us innu
merable -w'oes, and tliere is but
one road back to a condition of
peace, prosperity, and liberty.
That road was marked out by the
founders of tlie Kepiiblio, and un
less it be faitlifully follotved,. w-e
TV-ill w-ander off into a wild cai'eei-
of uncertainty and tumult, ending
finally, w'liere all the other free
govenncii' s haveonded, in despot
ism. Bemeniber the civil -waiS
ot the Grecian rejiuhlics were soon
followed by the Kouiaii, along the
same road, from freedom. Tlie
w-ars between Athens and Sparta,
bet-sveen Sparta and Bceqtia', be
tween first two and finally all tlie
free states of Attica, left Greece
an eas}- victim for Tliilip, Their
dissensions, their w-ars, their fac
tious broke down the Spirit i-f
libert}', and the Greeks wlio,
when united, made Tliermopylm,
Salainis, and I’latea immortal,
succumbed, when divided, to Ma-
cedoii, almost without a struggle,
forever obliterated their greatnei-s
and their liberties. Heaven for
bid that we siiould repeat their
melnncliol}- examples.
.ill'. Ih’csident, arc W'eto revive
hero the sti'ifos of tho unhapp}^
}'ears that preceded the war’?'
A-re these noble Halls, dedicated
to human libert}-, to become arei .-
as for the exhibition of mad pas
sions ? Is tho genius, the cour-
"age, the resistless energy of this
wonderful peo2)lo to bo iiervcrted
aiid wasted liere in aiigi-}- coiilro-
vers}-, mutual crimination and ro--
criniination, in wicked, blind ef- '
forts to jiuU down and destroy tiio
great sections of tlie Union I Are
all the powers of our minds a.iitl
tlie forces of our lienrts to be fqr-
ever enlisted in the execrable at
tempt to destroy and degrade tliei .
clraracter- of sister Stales ? ' 'Is '-
discord to reign here foreverf"
Senators, the terible calamities of
such a^com-se cannot be doubted,
1 will not even dare to foresee or
predict them. I -n-ill simply my
how niucli nobler, grander, wiser
would Tvo he if wo would unite all
our faculties; our hopes, our pur-
jioses, our aims, om- efforts in tlie
works of paefying all our conflicts,
rclormiiig’ our errors, improving
our institutions, and giving, sta
bility, beauty, and beneficence
to our Go vermeil t.
Then, Senators, in tho name of
our great forefathers who for civil
and religious liberty bi-aved tlio
ocean, the tenqiest, the forest, and
tho savages to rescue freedom
from its fate in Europe and plant
it in this new woild ; by the mem
ory of those patriots who one
hundred years ago gave their
blood and treasure like evater to
establish our independence; by
the names of those who have fall
en ou every field from Lexington
to Ajipomattox, let us be friends,
eouuti'3'men, brotliers. I invoke
the. senator of Massaclmsetts bv
the memory of North Carolina’s
succor in lier darkest hour : I in
voke the Senators from New A^ork,
Pennsylvania, New J6rse}y Dela
ware by the memories' of their
united struggles witli Arirginia,
Carolinas, and Georgia ; I invoke
the Senators from every State—
from the great daughters of Vir
ginia and North Carolina, from,
those mighty Commonwealtli.s-
that sprang from the Louisana.
purchase by Jefferson and were
saved by the valor and patriotism
of soutliern men under Ja.ckson—
I invoke all this day and this hour
to gather around the family altars
and end forever and forever tln.S'
fratricidal strife. And Tve shall
rear upon the ruins of our error.s.
and follies,, over the prejudices,
jiassions, and hates of the jiast n, '•
grander and nobler temjile of Tvis- '
(Cotttimied on fourth paye.)
ism