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of progress and enlightenment have failed。 Whether the oppressed
and despairing bondman； no longer able to repress his deep yearnings
for manhood； or the tyrant； in his pride and impatience； takes the initiative；
and strikes the blow for a firmer hold and a longer lease of oppression；
the result is the same；society is instructed； or may be。
Such are the limitations of the common mind； and so thoroughly
engrossing are the cares of common life； that only the few among
men can discern through the glitter and dazzle of present prosperity
the dark outlines of approaching disasters； even though they may have
come up to our very gates； and are already within striking distance。
The yawning seam and corroded bolt conceal their defects from the mariner
until the storm calls all hands to the pumps。 Prophets； indeed；
were abundant before the war； but who cares for prophets while
their predictions remain unfulfilled； and the calamities of which
they tell are masked behind a blinding blaze of national prosperity？
It is asked； said Henry Clay； on a memorable occasion；
Will slavery never come to an end？ That question； said he；
was asked fifty years ago； and it has been answered by fifty years
of unprecedented prosperity。 Spite of the eloquence of the earnest
Abolitionists；poured out against slavery during thirty years；
even they must confess； that； in all the probabilities of the case；
that system of barbarism would have continued its horrors far beyond
the limits of the nineteenth century but for the Rebellion；
and perhaps only have disappeared at last in a fiery conflict；
even more fierce and bloody than that which has now been suppressed。
It is no disparagement to truth； that it can only prevail
where reason prevails。 War begins where reason ends。
The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion。
What that thing is； we have been taught to our cost。 It remains now
to be seen whether we have the needed courage to have that cause
entirely removed from the Republic。 At any rate； to this grand work
of national regeneration and entire purification Congress must
now address Itself； with full purpose that the work shall this time
be thoroughly done。 The deadly upas； root and branch； leaf and fibre；
body and sap； must be utterly destroyed。 The country is evidently
not in a condition to listen patiently to pleas for postponement；
however plausible； nor will it permit the responsibility to be shifted
to other shoulders。 Authority and power are here commensurate
with the duty imposed。 There are no cloud…flung shadows to obscure the way。
Truth shines with brighter light and intenser heat at every moment；
and a country torn and rent and bleeding implores relief
from its distress and agony。
If time was at first needed； Congress has now had time。
All the requisite materials from which to form an intelligent
judgment are now before it。 Whether its members look at the origin；
the progress； the termination of the war； or at the mockery of
a peace now existing； they will find only one unbroken chain of argument
in favor of a radical policy of reconstruction。 For the omissions
of the last session； some excuses may be allowed。 A treacherous
President stood in the way； and it can be easily seen how reluctant
good men might be to admit an apostasy which involved so much
of baseness and ingratitude。 It was natural that they should seek
to save him by bending to him even when he leaned to the side
of error。 But all is changed now。 Congress knows now that it must
go on without his aid； and even against his machinations。
The advantage of the present session over the last is immense。
Where that investigated； this has the facts。 Where that walked by faith；
this may walk by sight。 Where that halted； this must go forward；
and where that failed； this must succeed； giving the country whole
measures where that gave us half…measures； merely as a means of
saving the elections in a few doubtful districts。 That Congress saw
what was right； but distrusted the enlightenment of the loyal masses；
but what was forborne in distrust of the people must now be done
with a full knowledge that the people expect and require it。
The members go to Washington fresh from the inspiring presence of the people。
In every considerable public meeting； and in almost every conceivable way；
whether at court…house； school…house； or cross…roads； in doors and out；
the subject has been discussed； and the people have emphatically pronounced
in favor of a radical policy。 Listening to the doctrines of expediency
and compromise with pity； impatience； and disgust； they have everywhere
broken into demonstrations of the wildest enthusiasm when a brave word
has been spoken in favor of equal rights and impartial suffrage。
Radicalism； so far from being odious； is not the popular passport to power。
The men most bitterly charged with it go to Congress with the
largest majorities； while the timid and doubtful are sent by lean majorities；
or else left at home。 The strange controversy between the President
and the Congress； at one time so threatening； is disposed of by the people。
The high reconstructive powers which he so confidently； ostentatiously；
and haughtily claimed； have been disallowed； denounced； and utterly repudiated；
while those claimed by Congress have been confirmed。
Of the spirit and magnitude of the canvass nothing need be said。
The appeal was to the people； and the verdict was worthy of the tribunal。
Upon an occasion of his own selection； with the advice and approval
of his astute Secretary； soon after the members of the Congress had returned
to their constituents； the President quitted the executive mansion；
sandwiched himself between two recognized heroes；men whom the whole country
delighted to honor；and； with all the advantage which such company
could give him； stumped the country from the Atlantic to the Mississippi；
advocating everywhere his policy as against that of Congress。
It was a strange sight； and perhaps the most disgraceful exhibition
ever made by any President； but； as no evil is entirely unmixed；
good has come of this； as from many others。 Ambitious； unscrupulous；
energetic； indefatigable； voluble； and plausible；a political gladiator；
ready for a 〃set…to〃 in any crowd；he is beaten in his own chosen field；
and stands to…day before the country as a convicted usurper；
a political criminal； guilty of a bold and persistent attempt
to possess himself of the legislative powers solemnly secured to Congress
by the Constitution。 No vindication could be more complete；
no condemnation could be more absolute and humiliating。
Unless reopened by the sword； as recklessly threatened in some circles；
this question is now closed for all time。
Without attempting to settle here the metaphysical and somewhat
theological question （about which so much has already been said and written）；
whether once in the Union means always in the Union；agreeabl