Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-05-10
SEND GREETING!
OLNU GhIbIING
The People of Pennsylvania TO the Presi-
dent of the United States.

of whom participated in large meeting
held at Harrisburg on Thursday, April 9th,
was appointed to present the preamble and
resolutions then adopted to Andrew John
son, President of the United States Ac-
cordingly, nearly all the gentlemen of the
accompanied by Hon. Thadeus
Stevens, paid their respects to Mr.. johnson
at his rooms in the Treasury building Gen
Cameron introduced the members of the
committee, individually, to the President,
after which, in the following language. he
presented the preamble and resolutions
which the committee was charged to convey
to the Chief Executive:
Address OF General Cameron.
Mr.. President: i have only one word
TO say a large number of people, members
of the Union and Republican party, met at
Harrisburg last Thursday, and appointed
this committee to come and pay their re-
spects to you. We have nothing to desire
but the prosperity of your Administration,
and have ample confidence in your ability
confii derived from your past history
Your first great task is to close up this war,
and We take it for granted, you will act not
only wisely, but justly. | also take it for
granted that the men who brought on this
war will meet the full reward of their guilt,
while we believe the mere deluded instru-
ments ought to be suffered to 90 along their
wonted way and do the best they can. We
cannot doubt that the men who made
the war-who have killed in battle thou
sands of our sons.and brothers. and who have
suffered other thousands 20 die from starva-
ton In loathsome prisons be permitted
to live in the country which they have 6sss
graced and denounced: and we hope that
you will find some way to take care of them
and to save and reunite the country There
are none here who have come from any de
sire for place for themselves or THEN rela-
tions; they are substantial men from all
parts of our great State, who have no inter
est so strong as to interpose with their love
of country They hope and believe you
will bring the country out of its present
trouble; and, above all things, they feel as
sured that, by your hand, no arrangement
for peace will be made that does not put an
end to slavery forever.
The Presidents Reply.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN Il
can only reply in general terms and, per-
haps, as good reply as | could make would
be to refer to or repeat what J. have already
said to other delegations, who have come
Tor the purpose of encouraging and inspiring
me with confidence on entering upon the
discharge of duties so responsible, so peril
Gus. All that | could now say would be
but n reiteration of sentiments already indi-
Gated. The words you have spoken are
most fully and cordially accepted and re-
sponded to by me. |, too, think the time
has arrived when the people of this nation
CHI NM fnn hot tr.al
When we turn to the catalogue of crime
we find that most of those contained In il
are understood but the crime Of treason
has neither been generally understood nor
generally appreciated, as L think it should
be; and there has been an effort, since this
rebellion commenced, to make the impress
sion that 1t was mere political struggle, or
as | see it thrown out in some of the papers,
a struggle for an ascendancy of certain prin-
cipieS from the dawn of the Government to
the present time, and now settled by the f.
nal triumph of the Federal arms. If this
is to be determined, settled idea and opin-
ion, the Government is at an end, for no
question can arise but they will make it a
party issue and then, to whatever length
they carry it, the party defeated,will be only
a party defeated, and no crime attaches
thereto. But L say treason is a crime, the
highest crime known to the law, and the
people ought to understand it, and be taught
to know that unless it be so considered there
can be no Government. | do not say this
to indicate a revengeful or improper spirit
1t is simply the enuciation Of deliberate con-
slderatlon and temperate judgment.
There are men who ought to suffer the
penalties of their treason butthere arealso
some who have been engaged in this rebel
lion who, while technically speaking, they
are guilty of treason, yet who morally are
not-thousands who have been drawn into
it, involved by various influences. by con
scription, by dread, by force of public opin-
ion in the localities in which they lived
these are not so responsible as are those who
led, deceived, and forced them. To the I'M
conscious, deceived, conscripted-in short
to the great mass of the misled-I would
say mercy clemency, reconciliation, and the
restoration of their Government. To those
who have decelved-to the conscious, inf1u-
ential traitor who attempted TO destroy the
life of nation-l would say, on you be in
hicted the seyerest penalties of your crime.
Applause.
[ fully understand how easy it is to get up
an impression in regard to the exercise of
mercy; and if | know myself and my own
heart, there Is in it as great disposition to
mercy as can be manifested on the part of
any other individual BUT MERCY WITHOUT
JUSTICE Is A CRIME In the exercise of
mercy, there should be deliberate consider
ton and profound understanding of the
case; and | am not prepared to say but
what it should often be transferred to high
er court, a court where mercy and justice
can best be united
In responding to the remarks of your
chairman and in reference to free govern
ment and to the discharge of my duties; |
can only say again, that my past public life
must be taken as the guide to what my fu-