The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-10-27
J THE UNION &c J0URNXL,
SPEECH BY THE PREMIER.

NSiSsosy oo""tu ma10 WI hhPoAohs ePoSSh
at Auburn on Friday, on the occasion OF his
reception home by his neighbop and friends.
In regaui TO the present plauof reconcilia
ton, he argued that an employment Of force
would but prolong anarchy and delay reconcil.
iation. The plan Of reconciliation we are pur.
suing has given us two gre 4 national advances
in this progress Of moral and political elevation,
which are now to be made iast and firmly FIX
cd. First, it secures voluntary abolition OF
slavery by every State which has engaged inap
instruction. and does secure an effectual adop-
tim by the slave States themselves OF the
amendmen, OF the Federal Constitution, which
declares that neither slavery nor involuntary
servitude. except for crime. shall ever hereafter
exist in any part Of the UnitedStates. Tohast-
en- this reconstruction Sir. Seward said, in the
language of the President. in the spirit OF the
Constitution. and in harmony not only with
our politics but with our religion, We must
trust each other.
TIE nscoNcILIArIoS CT THE SOUTH.
You will ask whether n reconciliation which
follows 50 closely upon military coercion can he
relief upon. Can IL be sincere Can II De per-
manenty I answer, Do you admit separation 10
be in any case possible! Does any body now 0"
lieye that il ever will hereafter become possible
viii YOU yourselves now or ever consent To II!
You answer all these questions in the negative
Is not reconciliation, then, not only desirable but
imperative. Is any other reconciliation under
the circumstance. possible! Certainly you must
accept this proposed reconciliation, or you must
purpose to delay and wait until you can procure
a better one. Good surgery requires that even
simple fractures, much more compound ones, shall
be healed. IL possible, AT the hrst Intention.
Would not lelay necessarily proong anarchy!
Are you sure that you can procure better re
cancellation after prolonged anarchy. without
employing force, Whowill advocate the employ
ment OF force merely to hinder and delay,
through prolonged anarchy, reconciliation
which is feasible aud perfectly CONSTANT with the
Cons,itutionY In what part OF the Constitution
is written the power 10 continue civil war against
succumbing States for ultimate political tri-
umph! What would this he but, In fhct, to IN
stitute new civil war, atter one hal ended with
the complete attainment VI the lawful object OF
which il was wagel!
GUARANTEES or PROGRESS.
What then. Must we give up the hope Of fur
Their elevation of classes in the several States with
out any new guarantees fOrindiyilusl liberty ani
progress. By no means. Marching IN tins pain
of progress an1 elevation Ut masses IL whatwe
have been doing always in the season OF peace,
and what We have been doing still more eiiectua-
Ia in the prosecution Of the war. IL isa national
march as onward and irresistible as the late con-
hiet between free anil slave labor was vigorous
aud irrcpressble. Enthusiastic applause) The
people who have 80 steadily adhered to the true
path OF Democratic progress and civihzstion
m H.. not. n md 81
50 many difficulties aud at such fearful cost in
war, will now have new Inducements and en-
couragements 10 perSeyere in that path until they
shall have successfully reduced to verify the
sublime assertion of the political equality ot all
men, which the iouulers in their Immortal declar-
alton, lail down rs the true basis OF American
Union. prolonged applause.)
FEARS OF the PRESIDENT
Some of you fear that the President may be too
lenicnt to those Southern leaders who plugged
the country into the calamites Of civil war Tx
cent those of YOU who have BEEN MANNED or be-
reaveL, has any OF you suffered more of wrong,
insult and irsoenee at the hands Of those leaders
than he has, Can we not forget where he can
forgiven Are you aware that his terms OF anu
nesty 10 offenders are far more rigorous than
those which were offered by Abraham Lincoln!
Have YOU ever seen the majesty OF law more firm
IL maintained than IL has been by him in the cN-
crcise Of discriminating clemency! (Apphuse).
Some of YOU seem To have been slightly dis
iurbel by professions or demonstrations ~ favor
toward the President, made By parties who have
heretofore opposed his administration, as well rs
the administration " his predecessor. (Laugh
teri Those who hitherto opposed tue President,
but now profess 10 support him, either are sin
cere or insincsre. Time must prove which is the
fact fthey are sincere, who that has a loyal
heart must not rejoice IN their late though not
too long delayed conversion II they are insin.
cere are VIC either less sagacous, or have we less
ability now than heretofore to countcract treach-
cry 10 the national cause!
Perhaps you fear the Integrity of the man.
confess, with "a full sense of my accountability,
that among all the public men whom have net
or with whom have been associated or concern
ell in this or any other country, no one has SEEM
ed To me TO to be more wholly free from per
sonal caprice and selfish ambition than ANDREW
johnson none to be more purely and exclusively
moved In public action By love OF country aud
good will to mankind.