Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-07-01
SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT.
H1s Interview with the south
Carolina Delegation.

pointment: Judge Frost, Isaac L. Holmes,
George w. Williams, w. II. Gilliland, ]. A.
steinmeyer, Frederick Richards, William
Whaley, james H. Taylor, II. II. Gill, and
Joseph a. Yates.
The President said it was his intention to
talk plainly. so there might he no misunder-
standing. Therefore, it were better they
should look each other full in the face, and
not initiate the ancient Augurs, who, when
they met one another, would smile Mt their
success in deceiving the people.
He said if this Union was to he preserved
it must be on the principal Of fraternity,
both the Northern and Southern States
maintaining certain relations to the Gov
ernment. A State cannot go out OF the |
Union and therefore none of them having |
gone out, we must deal with the question |
of restoration and not reconstruction. lie |
suspected that he was a better State-rights |
man than some of those now present.
Mr.. Holmes. You always claimed to be.
(Laughter
The President replied: He always thought
that slavery could not he sustained outside
the Constitution of the United States, and
that whenever the experiment was made 1t
would be lost. Whether ii could or could
not he was for the Union, and if slavery set
Government must tsiumph and slavery per
ish. The institution of slavery made the
issue, and we might as well meet it like
wise, patriotic, and honest men. All insti
tutions must be subordinate to the Govern
ment. and slavery has given way. He could
not, if he would remind it to its former
status
He knew that some whom he now adj
dressed looked upon him as great peoples
man, and u radical; but, huwever unpleasant
it might be to them, he had no hesitation
in saying that before and after he entered
public life he was opposed to monopolies,
and perpetuit:cs, and entails. Fol- this lie
used to be denounced as a demagoguc.
When they had monopoly in the South,
in slaves, though he had bought and hcld
slaves, he had never sold one. From the
Magma Charta we haG derived our ideas of
freedom of speech and liberty of the press,
! and unreasonable searches, and that private
property should not be taken for public
uses, without just compensation. He had
these notions fixed in his mind, and was
therefore opposed to this class of lcgisla-
ton. Being providentially brought to his
present position, he intended to exert the
| power and influence of the Government so
as to place in power the public heart of this
}
the great masses are not like mushrooms
about stump, which wet weather supplies.
He believed that this nation had been sent
on great mission To afford an example of
freedom and substantial happiness to all
! the Powers of the earth. The Constitution
of the United States, in speaking of persons
to be chosen as representatives in Congress,
says: The electors in each State shall have
the qualifications requisite for electors of
the most numerous branch of the State
Legislature.
Here we find resting place. This was
the point at which the rebellion commenced.
All the States were in the Union, moving in
harmony; but portion of them rcbellcd,
and, to some extent paralyzed and suspend
ed the operations of their governments
There is a constitutional obligation resting
apon the United States Government to put
down rebellion, suppress insurrection, and
to repcl invasion. The slaves went into
the war as slaves, and came out free men
of color. The friction of the rebellion has
rubbed out the nature and character of
slavery. The loyal men who were com
PEELED to bow and submit to the rebellion
should, now that the rebellion Is ended,
stand equal TO loyal men everywhere
Hence the wish of restoration, and trying
to get back the States to the point at which
they formerly moved in perfect harmony.
He did not intend to serve any particular
clique or interest. IIe would Guy to the
delegation that slavery is gone as an institu-
tion. There was no hope that the people
of South Carolina could be admitted into
the Senate or the House of Representatives
until they had afforded evidence by their
conduct of this truth. The policy, now
that the rebellion is suppressed, is not to re-
store the State governments, through mill
tary rule, but by the people While the
war has emancipated the slaves, it has
cmancipated u larger number Of white men
He would talk plain.
The delegation said that WAS what they
desired.
He could go to men who had owned fifty
or a hundred slaves, and who did not car,
as much for the poor white man as they did
for the negro. Those who own the land
have the capital To empty, and therefore
some OF our Northern friends are deceived
when they, living aiar of, think they car
exercise u greater control over the freedom
than the Southern men, VINO have beer
reared where the institution of slavery pre-
vailed
Now, he did not want the late slavcholG
ers to control the negro votes against whit,
men. Let each State judge OF the teposi
tory of its own political power. lie wa
for emancipating the white men as well a
the black.
MIR. Holmes asked-Is that not atogethe
, accomplished
The President replied that he did no
think the QUESTION was fully settled Tn,
question rs to whether the black mel
! shall be engrafted in the constituency viii
be settled as We 60 along He would no
disguise the fact that while he had beel
prosecuted and denounced at the South a.
traitor, he loved the great mass of tn,
Southern people. lie opposed the rebellion
at its breaking out and fought it every
, where; and now he wanted the principle
Of the government carried out and main
} tanned.
: Mr.. Holmes interrupted by saying: w
J want to get back to the some position a
9 you describe, as We are without law; N,
courts are open and you have the power t,
assist us.
The President replied The Government
cannot go unless it is right. The people o
Q South Carolina must have a Convention an,
amend their Constitution by abolshing sla
very, and this must be Done in good faith
and the GDnvpntion nr ,,1,,a