Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-10-23
IMPORTANT SPEECH OF SECRETARY
SEWARD.
His Ree,p,Iou N HAM.

from ASSASSINATION, and 70 renew their express
sions of friendship. In response 10 their address
of welcome Mr.. Seward spoke at length In vim
dicadon of President johnson policy and OF
the domestic and foreign policy OF the country
generally.
After congratuIating the audience at the re-
turn OF peace, referring to the dark days Of 1881
Mr.. Seward said:
'To me reassn seemed TO suggest in his case
as necessity resulting from circumstances,
that that leader, while he should be q capable,
infeXible and devoted patriot. should Also be A
citizen of hesitating bordering Staia-a slave
holder in practice, though not in prInciple and
vet IN principle and association a democrat
Andrew johnson, OF Tennessee, completely
filled those complex conditions, and with the
consent of the whole American people he as
sumed the great responsibility. Loud ap-
plause.l The insurrection soon became iagi-
uous. insolent, defiant, and announced. 10 the
astonishment of mankind, that the pretended
Tree empire which II was building by usurpa-
ton within forbidden borders was founded
UPON the corner stone of slavery. The newly
iuaugurated President, Lincoln, with decision
not unacconpanied by chartcristic prudence,
announced that thenceforth slavery should be
deemed and treat, a a public enemy. APP
plause.l Andrew johnson accepted the new
CondiuCns Of his popular leadership which this
ANNOUNCEMENT cr ated, and thencefofward he
openly, freely, and honestly declared, not only
that the erection OF a new edifice should be pre-
vented, but the corner stone of slavery itself.
the rock of all our past as well as of all our
then future dangers should be uphfted and re-
moved, and cast out from the republic. IRE
newed applause.l Whatever NAV have oeen
thought by you. or by me, or by Others, that
TINE, IL Is now apparent that the attempted
revolution culminated when the national ban
ner was for the fret line successfully replaut-
ed by our gallant army on the banks OF the
Cumberland, and when Tennessee, first
among the border States which had been
reluctantly carried into the rebellion, offered
once more a foOthold and resting place TO the
authorities of the Union. FroSa that time.
While IL was yet necessary to prosecute the
war with such energies human nature had
never before eNerted- u was at the same time
equally neediul, with wisdom which has
never been surpassed, To prosecute the beDel-
cent work OF restoring the Union and harmontz.
ing the great political family, which although
IL had been temporarily distracted, was des-
uned, nevertheless, 10 live and grow forever
under that majestic protection. loud ap-
plause.l The abolition OF slavery was thence
forth equally an element OF persistent war and
OF returning peace. lContmUed applause
He neither reads history with care nor studips
tie ways of Providence with reverence who
does not see that, for the prosecution OF these
double, diverse, and Yet equally important
purposes OF war and peace, Andrew johnson
was fifty appointed 10 bs a Provisional Gov
ernor in Tennessee-the first OF a series OF Pro-
NisIonal Governors afterward u be assigned
10 the lnsurrectiOnary States. and was snbse-
quently elected Vice President of the United
States. (Renewed applause.l We con-
tnually hear debates concerning the origin and
authority of the plan of restoration New
converts, North and south, call il the Presi.
dents plan. All speak Of it as IL t were new
and recent deyelopement On the contrary,
We now see that IL II not specially Andrew
Johnson's plan, nor even a new plan in any
respect. II Is the plan which abruptly vet
distictly offered itself TO the last
AT the moment have before recalled, when the
work of restoration was 10 begin; a. the mo-
ment when, although by the world unper-
celved, II did begin, and IL is the only plan
winch thus seasonably presented itself; and,
therefore, is the only possible plan which then
or ever afterwards could be adopted
The plan Of reconciliation We are pursuing
mas given US two great national advances in
this progress Of moral and political elevation
which are now 70 be- made last and firmly fixed
First, IL secures a voluntary abolition of sla-
very by every State which has engaged IN IN
surrecuon; and secondly, il must secure, ana
does secure, an efeetual adoption, by the late
slave States themselves, of the amendment of
the Federal Consultation, which declares that
nelther slavery nor involuntary seryitude, ex-
cept for crime. shall ever hereafter exist ia any
part OF the United States. fApplause1 The
people who have so steadily al keTed 10 the true
path of democratic progress and civilization,
through all the seductons of peace, and through
so many difficulties, and at such fearful cost in
war, will now have new Inducements and
encouragemenis To perseyerei in that path until
they shall have successfully reduced TO a
verify the sublime assertion of the political
equality of all men, which the founders in
their immortal declaration, laid down as the
true basis of American Union. PROLONGED
aPplause.l 1t is certain that the plan of recon-
cuIation which have thus largely explained.
must and will be adopted. [Applause.l Ii
may, however, be hindered or hastened. How
can IL be hInderedl You are yourselves aware
OF the answer when you fasten upon any yfo-
lent faetious or sedItious exhibition of passion
or olscontent IN any OF the lately rebellious
States, and argue from it the failure of the plau
You argue justly. Every turbulent and fac
tious person in the lately insurrectionary
States is resisting, hindering, and delaying the
work OF reconstruction TO the extent of bis
ability. But the case is precisely the same
with ourselves. = .
Manifestations Of doubt, distrust, crimina-
uon, contempt or defiance, in the loyal States,
are equally injurious, and equally tend 10 de-
lay the work OF reconciliation. How, then
SHAH 1t be hasteDed reply, virtually, in the
language Of the President-in the spirit of the
Constitution and in harmony, not oRly with
our politics but with our religion" We must
trust each other" ...
OF the Treasury Mr.. Seward said he believed
that the fiscal system under which the nation
has been conducted through greater difficulties
than any other country ever encountered was
ganized by Mr. Chase, but was the oniy one
which, under the then existing circumstan-
ces, could have been successful. IApplauseI
4 mere mas been since no departure from thai
plan, nor any relaxation in pursuing il. by
either bis immediate successor, Mr.. Fessenden,
or by Mr.. McCulloch, the present Incumbent
Intrlcate financial questions must continue 10
present themselves, but he would safely leave
them 10 the Secretary Of the Treasury.
Mr.. Cameron he regarded while SecretIryof
War as in all things honest, earnest Jealous,
hhN peAfiObSs III MI ne Sdl0. 81
to speak in even more exalted praise. TAp-
plausel Ny acquaintance with him began
amid the hours of deep and Overwhelming So
hcltude which filled what may justly be called
an interregnum which occurred between the
election OF Abraham Lincoln TO the Presiden-
ey, IN November, 1860 and has Inauguration,
amid the dangers Of revolution, siege and as
sassination, ia March, 1861, and while Edwin
NJ stanton was an acting member OF the
waning administration OF James Buchanan
rom that tune, through all the period which
elapsed until April, Ise5, when the siege of the
Capital was raised, and the fearful tragedy OF
The country was closed with the ASSASSINATION
OF the Chief Magistrate who had saved IL i
hourly saw and closely observed, by night and
by day, the Secretary of War. i saw him or
ganize and conduct war OF pure repression
greater than any war which mankind had be-
fore experienced. In all that time saw no
great or serious error committed. / saw as
you nave all seen, the greatest military results
acme ved-results which the whole world re-
garded as impossible. There is not one of those
results mat is not more or less directly due to
me lernIe invention, sagacious preparation and
ndomitable perseverance and energy of the
secretary Of War. [Applause,l / have never
known MIN 10 express or even betray thought
ID regard 10 our country which was not df-