Mr. Speaker, I have but one other thought to express, and I pledge the House that I will then conclude these remarks; not, however, without thanking everybody here for the great and unusual courtesy that has been extended to me, as well as for the attentive hearing that I have received alike from the House and from these crowded galleries. Mr. Speaker, if we can get through this rebellion completely and satisfactorily; if we can steer safely between Charybdis on the one side and Scylla on the other; if we survive the storm and the strife ; if we can march safely through the dark and dreary wilderness of rebellion and civil war, and if we can come out of it with the American Union as formed by Washington and his compatriots; if we can come out of it with our free and matchless Constitution maintained substantially in all its parts; if we can come out of it and still boast of our American nationality; if we can come out of it with the farther boast that, though we have passed through these great trials, we have not only saved our Constitution and Union but we have caused the sun of freedom to shine on an additional four millions of human beings; and if the old ship can once more be righted, and set sail on calmer seas, smooth and tranquil, where is the man who feels a just pride of country and who cannot realize the great influence which the American Republic with freer institutions and a broader Christian civilization shall exert on downtrodden humanity in every land and beyond every sea? Ay, sir, let ours be the chosen land, let ours be the land whither the weary wanderer shall direct his footsteps and where he can enjoy the blessings of peace and freedom. Let ours be the "bright particular star," next to the star that led the shepherds to Bethlehem, that shall guide the downtrodden and oppressed of the entire world into a harbor of peace, security, and happiness. And let us, kneeling around the altar, all thank God that although we have had our trials we have saved our country; that although we have been guilty of sins we have wiped them out; and that we at length stand up a great and powerful people, honored by all the earth, "redeemed, regenerated, and disenthralled by the genius of universal emancipation."