The Howard union. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-21
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
How the states are TO be Restored.

bne IOlOWluB is TeVlStu copy Ol tne
speech made by President Johnson on Mon
day, at the interview accorded 10 the Rep.
resentatives of nine Southern States:
GENrLEMEN-I can only say, in reply to
the remarks of your chairman, that | am
highly gratified TO receive the assurances
he has given me. They are more than |
could have expected under the circum-
stances. l must say was unprepared to
receive so numerous a delegation on this
occasion il was unexpected had no
idea il was to be so large, or represent so
many States. When expressed as did
my willingness to see at any time so many
Of you as choose to do me the honor 10 call
Upon me, and stated that should be graft.
fled at receiving any manifestation of regard
you might think proper to make, | was
totally unprepared for anything equal to the
present demonstration. | ain free TO say it
excites in my mind feelings and emotions
language is totally inadequate TO express.
When look back upon my past actions,
and recall period scarcely mere than four
short years ago, when stood batting for
principles which many Of you opposed and
thought were wrong, was battling for the
same principles that actuate me today, and
which principles thank my God you have
come forward on this occasion to manifest a
disposition to support. say now, as
have said on many former occasions, that
entertain no personal resentments, enmiies
or animosities to any living soul south of
Mason and Dixon's line, however much he
may have differed from me in principle.
The stand then took / claim to have been
the only true one. remember how stood
pleading with my Southern brethren when
they stood with their hats in their hands
ready to turn their backs upon the United
States how l implored them to stand with
me there and MAINTAIN our right and fight
our battles under the laws and Constitution
Of the United States. think now, as |
thought then, and endeavored 10 induce
them to believe, that our true position was
under the law and under the Constitution OF
the Union with The institution of slavery in
it; but if that principle made an issue that
rendered disintegratIon possble-if that
made an issue which should prevent us
from transmitting TO our children country
as bequeathed to US by our fathers--I had
nothing else to do but stand by the Govern.
ment, be the consequences what they might
said then, what you all know, that was
for the institutions Of the country as guar.
anteed by the Constitution, but above al
things was for the Union Of the States,
remember the taunts, the ,ieers, the scowi:
with which l was treated. | remember
the circle that stood around me, and remem
Der the threats and intimidations that wert
freely uttered by the men who opposed me
and whom wanted to befriend and guild,
by the light that led me but feeling con
scious IN my own integrity, and that
was right, needed not what they nigh
say or do to me, and was inspired and en-
couraged to do my duty regardless of augh
else, and have lived to see the realization O
my predictions and the fatal error of thos
whom l vainly essayed 10 save from tn
results could not but foresee. Gentlemen
we have passed through this rebellion.
say we, for it was we who are responsible
for it. Yes, the South made the issue, an
1 know the nature of the Southern peopl
well enough to know that when they hav
become convinced of an error they frank
acknowledge it, in a manly, open, direc
manner; and now. in the peri ormance {
that duty, or, indeed, in any act they under
take to perform, they do it heartily an
frankly; and now that they come TO me
understand them as saying that "We mad
the issue. We set up the Union of tn
States against the institution of slavery; W
selected as arbitrator the God OF battles; I'll
arbitrament was the sword, The issu
was fairly and honorably met, Both tn
questions presented have been settled again
us. and we are prepared to accept the issue
find on all sides this spirit of candor al
honor prevailing. 1t is SAID by all-tl
issue was ours, and the judgment has bee
given against u.s. and the decision havir
been made against us, we feel bound
honor to abide by the arbitrament, In doir
this, we are doing ourselves no di,hono
and should not feel Inundated or degrade
but rather that we are ennobling ourselv
by our action; and we should feel that Il
Government has treated us magnanimousl
and meet the Government upon the terms
has so magnanimously preferred. So far
lam concerned personally, l am uninfuenc
by any question, whether it affects Il
North or the South, the East or the We
stand where did of old, battling for Il
Constitution and the Union OF these Unit
States. In doing so, know l oppos
some Of you gentlemen Of the South VIII
this doctrine of secession was being urg
upon the country, and the declaration
your right to break up the Government a
disintegrate the Union was made. sta
to-day as | have ever stood, firmly in {
opinion that If monopoly contends again
this country the monopoly must go dOv
and the country must 60 up. Yes, the
sue was made by the South against I
Government, and the Government h
triumphed and the South, true to h
ancient instincts of frankness and mar
honor, comes forth and expresses her wi
ingness to abide the result of the decisi
in good faith. While think that the
bellion has been arrested and subdued, a
am happy in the consciousness Of a dl
well-performed, | want not only you,
the people of the world to know that VIII
i dreaded and feared the dsintegration
the States, | am equally opposed to consc
dation or concentration of power he
L