To those who may have entertained the idea, that the work of restoring order and securing to all the citizens equal rights, nothing can be more comprehensive than the language of the committee of investigation. In alluding to this point, the report says:—
“Looking to the modes provided by law for the redress of all grievance—the fact that Southern communities do not yield ready obedience at once, should not deter the friends of good government in both sections of the country, from hoping and working for that end.
“The strong feeling which led to rebellion and sustained brave men, however, mistaken in resisting the Government which demanded their submission to its authority; the sincerity of whose belief was attested by their enormous sacrifice of life and treasure, this feeling cannot be expected to subside at once, nor in years. It required full forty years to develop disaffection into sedition, and sedition into treason. Should we not be patient if in less than ten, we have a fair prospect of seeing so many who were armed enemies, becoming obedient citizens?”
During the Three Brief Years in which the present administration has held sway over the destinies of the nation, what has been accomplished? Upon its accession to power, the people of the South were struggling under political disabilities, and a consequent social condition that had detached them from the onward march of civilization, and was hurrying them back to anarchy and ruin. They had become morose, bigoted, violent.
The law of revenge had usurped that of order. They writhed under the results of the war and the downfall of their cherished institutions, and they had sworn that what could not be gained by a war upon the nation at large, should be had by a local war of extermination upon the—to them—offensive portions of the races, black and white, that opposed, or would not coincide with them.
It was a delicate question; but the wisdom of the newly chosen leaders of the nation have been equal to the emergency, and, to-day, light begins to dawn in the dark places; the supremacy of the law is being established, and by a continuation of the same wise and humane policy in the future, the people of all the States may abundantly hope for the restoration of peace and harmony in the South, where, but so recently, all was chaos and confusion.
In view of what has thus far been said, I call upon my countrymen, everywhere, not to be deceived as to the real issues of the hour.