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Poem
December 12, 1865
The Norfolk Post
Norfolk, Virginia
What is this article about?
John G. Whittier's poem addresses the Thirty-Ninth Congress, urging them to enact justice by granting equal rights and voting to freed slaves, promote national reconciliation after the Civil War, and forgive without vengeance.
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Full Text
The Norfolk Post.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1865
TO THE THIRTY-NINTH CONGRESS
O people-chosen! are ye not
Likewise the chosen of the Lord,
To do His will and speak His word?
From the loud thunder storm of war
Not man alone has called ye forth,
But He, the God of all the earth!
The torch of vengeance in your hands
He quenches; unto Him belongs
The solemn recompense of wrongs.
Enough of blood the land has seen.
And, not by cell, or gallows-stair,
Shall ye the way of God prepare.
Say to the pardon-seekers: Keep
Your manhood; bend no suppliant knees.
Nor palter with unworthy pleas.
Above your voices sound the wail
Of starving men; we shut in vain
Our eyes to Pillow's ghastly stain.
What words can drown that bitter cry?
What tears wash out that stain of death?
What oaths confirm your broken faith?
From you alone the guaranty
Of union, freedom, peace, we claim :
We urge no conqueror's terms of shame.
Alas! no victor's pride is ours
Who bend above our triumphs won
Like David o'er his rebel son.
Be men, not beggars. Cancel all
By one brave, generous action; trust
Your better instincts, and be just!
Make all men peers before the law,
Take hands from off the negro's throat,
Give black and white an equal vote
Keep all your forfeit lives and lands,
But give the common law's redress
To Labor's utter nakedness.
Revive the old, heroic will.
Be in the right as brave and strong
As ye have proved yourselves in wrong.
Defeat shall then be victory,
Your loss the wealth of full amends,
And hate be love and foes be friends.
Then buried be the dreadful past.
Its common slain be mourned, and let
Its memories soften to regret.
Then shall the Union's mother-heart
Her lost and wandering ones recall,
Forgiving and restoring all:
And Freedom break her marble trance
Above the Capitoline dome,
Stretch hands and bid ye welcome home!
JOHN G. WHITTIER.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1865
TO THE THIRTY-NINTH CONGRESS
O people-chosen! are ye not
Likewise the chosen of the Lord,
To do His will and speak His word?
From the loud thunder storm of war
Not man alone has called ye forth,
But He, the God of all the earth!
The torch of vengeance in your hands
He quenches; unto Him belongs
The solemn recompense of wrongs.
Enough of blood the land has seen.
And, not by cell, or gallows-stair,
Shall ye the way of God prepare.
Say to the pardon-seekers: Keep
Your manhood; bend no suppliant knees.
Nor palter with unworthy pleas.
Above your voices sound the wail
Of starving men; we shut in vain
Our eyes to Pillow's ghastly stain.
What words can drown that bitter cry?
What tears wash out that stain of death?
What oaths confirm your broken faith?
From you alone the guaranty
Of union, freedom, peace, we claim :
We urge no conqueror's terms of shame.
Alas! no victor's pride is ours
Who bend above our triumphs won
Like David o'er his rebel son.
Be men, not beggars. Cancel all
By one brave, generous action; trust
Your better instincts, and be just!
Make all men peers before the law,
Take hands from off the negro's throat,
Give black and white an equal vote
Keep all your forfeit lives and lands,
But give the common law's redress
To Labor's utter nakedness.
Revive the old, heroic will.
Be in the right as brave and strong
As ye have proved yourselves in wrong.
Defeat shall then be victory,
Your loss the wealth of full amends,
And hate be love and foes be friends.
Then buried be the dreadful past.
Its common slain be mourned, and let
Its memories soften to regret.
Then shall the Union's mother-heart
Her lost and wandering ones recall,
Forgiving and restoring all:
And Freedom break her marble trance
Above the Capitoline dome,
Stretch hands and bid ye welcome home!
JOHN G. WHITTIER.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Political
Liberty Independence
War Military
What keywords are associated?
Thirty Ninth Congress
Reconstruction
Civil War
Equality
Reconciliation
Whittier
Freedom
Justice
What entities or persons were involved?
John G. Whittier
Poem Details
Title
To The Thirty Ninth Congress
Author
John G. Whittier
Subject
Address To The Thirty Ninth Congress On Post Civil War Reconstruction And Equality
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains
Key Lines
O People Chosen! Are Ye Not
Likewise The Chosen Of The Lord,
To Do His Will And Speak His Word?
Make All Men Peers Before The Law,
Take Hands From Off The Negro's Throat,
Give Black And White An Equal Vote
Then Buried Be The Dreadful Past.
Its Common Slain Be Mourned, And Let
Its Memories Soften To Regret.
And Freedom Break Her Marble Trance
Above The Capitoline Dome,
Stretch Hands And Bid Ye Welcome Home!