The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-10-05
s~af rsPEECH OF I.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
'"I'H '~ TO THE u
SOUTHERN DELEGATION.

! NEW TURK, DepC' ll.-Ine f0llCw-
ling are the main points of the very
i important speech made yesterday by
Ptesident Johnson to the delegation
from tho Southern States: awe"
GENTLEMEN:AWe have passed thro'
this rebellion. Il say we, for it was us
who were responsible for it, Yes the
South made the issue, and i Ilknow the
nature of the Southern people we'll
enough to know that when they have
become convinced oflan error they
frankly acknowledge it in a manly,
open, direct manneryahd now in the
performance Of that duty, or indeed
in any act they undertake to perform,
they do it heartily and frankly. And
now that they come to mo, Iaunder-
stand them as saying that. %We made
theissue. We setup the Union Of the
States against the Institution of Ella
very. We selected the arbitrator, the
God of battles; the argument was the
sword. The issue'was fairlyand hon
orally met. Both the questions pre-
scnted have been settled against us,
and we are prepared! to accept the'iss
sueP J1find on all sides this spirit of
candor and honor prevailing. 1t is
said by all, the issue is ours, and the
judgement has been against us, and
the decision having been made against
us, we feel bound in honor to abide by
the arbitrsment! In doing this we
are doing ourselves no dishonor, and
should not feel bumiliated or degra-
ded, but rather that We are ennobling
ourselves by our action; and we sho d
feel that the Government has trea ted
sus magnanimously, and meet the Gov
ernment upon the terms il has so
magnanimously proffcred ns. SO far
4 as l am concerned personally, Il am
uninfuonced by any question, wheth-
er it affects the North or the South,
the East or the West. stand where
| did of old, battling for the Constitu-
ton and the Union Of these United
States. In doing so l know l oppo-
sed some of you Of the South, when
the doctrine of secession was being
urged on tho country and the decara-
ton of our right to break up the Cow
ernment and disintegrate the Union,
was made. | stand to-day as l have
ever stood, firmly in tho opinion that
if u monopoly contends against this
country itlmust SO. up. Yes, the issue
was made by the South, against the
Government, and the Government
has triumphed, and the South, true to
her ancient instincts of franknoss and
manly honor, comes forth and express
es its willingness to abide tho result Of
the decision in good faith. While
think that the rebellion has been ar,
rested and subdued, and am happy in
the conciousnoss of a duty well per-
formed, l want not only you, but the
people of the world, to know that
while dreaded and feared disintrcga-
ton of the States, | am equally oppo-
sed to consolidation or concentration
of power here, under whatever guse
or namo they bear, and If the issue If
forced upon us shall still endeayor tc
pursue the same efforts to dissuadt
from this doctrine of running to eX
:. tremes; but | say let the same rules b(
applied.
4 AS | have before remarked to you
III am grateful to see so many of you
here to-day. 1t manifests spirit
am pleased to observe. L know it has
been said of me that my aspcritie'
were sharp; that had vindictiye feel
ings to crafty, and that | should no
ail to avail myself of the opportunities
that would presentthemselvesto graf
: ity such despicablo feelings. If my
, acts will not speak for me and TO
themselves then any profession nigh
now make would be equally useless =
7 But, Gentlemen, if know myself, q
| think | do, l know that l am one o
the Southern people. love them anc
will do all in my power to restor
them toIthnt state Of happiness 4 pros
!, pcritywhich they enjoyed before th
madness Of misguided mon, in whom
they had roposcd thor confidence lee
l them astray to their own undoing. |
there is anything that can be done OF
, my part, on correct principles of tn
Consultation, to promote these ends
: be assured it shall be done. Let m
assure you, also, that there is no dis
+ position on the part of tho Govern
$ mcnt to deal harshly with the South
. ern people. There may be Spcechc
published from various quarters tha
= may breathe a different spirit. d
not lot them trouble or excite yor
G but believe that it is the great objoC
p ofthe Government to make the Unio
>, of the United States moro complet
: and perfect than ever, and to maintai
i it and our constitutional principles,
Z possible, more firmly than it has eve
before been. Is is ,
Then why cannot we all come up
the work in a proper spirit In otl
u er words, let us look to tho Constitr
h ton. The issue has been made an
,f decided. Then as wise men, as me
who see right and are determined
follow as fathers and brothers, and
- men who love their country, in th
q hour of trial and suffering, why can
wa como up and help to settle II
questions Of the hour and adjust ther
, according to the principles of hont
D. and of Justice? The institution OF sl
l- very is gone, The former status OF Il
], NEGRO had to be changed, and we,
; wise men, must recognize so potent
n fact and adant hnrsalvpa To oircumStal