Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-08-04
ga a.rbman & Stair 5ournaI.
MONTPELIER. AUG. 4, 1895.
SPEECH OF HON. H. l.. DAWES.
By Il. p. WALTON

/ tne Nalueu representative OF tnat ulstTlct IN
Congress, WAS called upon to reply to a senii-
ment Ia honor Of the President Of the United
States, which ended with the words -" Let
Gus to man sustain and assist Andrew
johnson in his wise ard earnest efforts to
''restore and maintain allegiance to theUnion."
Mr.. Dawes began by expressing his extreme
conviction that the final successes Of all the
struggles Of our country depend more at this
moment than at any other in our history" up
4" on the fidelity and capacity Of one man,
=" sustained by public confidence, without
which, in our government, all other strength
lis weakness" He then proceeded to state
the grounds Of his own confidence in the Pres
ident, which he based upon and illustrated
by a sketch Of his early life and public career.
Then, after pointing out effectively the sim
plicity and power of that system Of govern
ment, by which in such momentous condi-
ton Of affairs the wheels Of government NOV
ed on quietly and Mr.. Johnson became Presi-
dent be went on 10 say -
"Mr. Johnson took up the unfinished work
Of Mr.. Lincoln where he left it, and is finish
ing as be began. And here lies the second
ground Of my faith in him. He resisted all
attempts Of misguided or selfish men to in
ducs change in policy or counsellors -
Touching the restoration of civil government
in rebel States, wherein both his fidelity and
capacity are to be tested 10 the utmost, aud
whereon his fame as statesman will ulti-
rnately rest, be is literally finishing the work
as Mr.. Lincoln began Il. The interest which
has gathered around all that was said and
done by the great martyr in his last few days
on earth has disclosed that the day preced-
Jog his death was spent in one OF the most
earnest and, at the same time, harmonious
Cabinet meetings Of his administration, con-
sidering the method 20 be pursued in the res
toration Of civil governments in the rebel
States. 1t is now no breach of confidence to
say that one of the most earnest in this work
Of the members OF his Cabinet has since spo-
ken of than Cabinet meeting as the most hope
ful he ever attended. Said he: l lett it
happier than at any moment Of my life since
| l entered the public service. Clouds that had
hung about our pathway began to vanish, and
obstacles that had hitherto seemed insur-
mountable to pass away There was abso-
Lutte unanimity in that last Cabinet council. L.
! Ard the result was plan for the restoration
of civil government in Virginia and North
/ Carolina-then agreed upon and reduced to
writing. That plan just as then adopted may
I be found in the subsequent procamstions Of
President Johnson, in regard to civil govern
ments in those States, and applied substsnti-
ally to other States. So that criticism Of this
plan is criticism of the wisdom of President
Lincoln and his Cabinet. Denunciation OF
! President Johnson for his course towards re-
bellious States is denuncatiop Of the result of
all Mr.. Lincolus education in the school of
the war, his growth in grace, of his spotless
character and earnest heart, adopted and ap-
proved by that knowledge of the character of
traitors, by that service among them in crush
ing the rebellion, and that varied experience
which Mr.. Johnson brings to the administra-
/ ton of affairs. Under such circumstances
would dstrust myself when found attempting
( to battle and thwsrt the efforts now made to
restore civil administration in rebelliousS
or to impair the public confidence in those to
whom Providence has intrusted this great
work. submit that it would be quite time for
me to reexamine my own positions, upon fnd
ing them to differ from those thus taken.-l
Least of all is there occasion, under such cir
cumstsnces. to sound the war cry. or spread
distrust in the public mind OF those who have
carefully wrought out from the most varied
experience and the most faithful service
{ policy stamped es this is with the concurrent
approval Of the men who stood around the
President through the four years OF terrible
trial to which he was subjected, and, standing
above all others, the last public act of the
! greatest of martyrs. There may be room for
difference, but there can be none for dis,rust
Every day teaches us that peace has its prob
lens quite as difficult OF solution as those OF
war, and no man has authority to announce,
er cathedra, the key by which that solution
is reached. The end sought may be clear,
and clearly indispensable, but the way to it
hedged up with difficulties or clouded in dark
ness.
Take the question of negro suffrage or
equal suffrage in the restored States, upon
which the policy of the admins tration tow
ards those States encounters at this time or
| ganzed opposition smong its friends, and is
( promised resistance even to the exclusion of
representation. To every man who has
studied the rebellion and the nature of the
! institutions Of which il was born, it is appa-
rent that, with the present law of suffrage in
those States, there can be in the new order
of things no permanent peace, because no
| real republicanism, no equality. The power,
! by existing laws, is in the hands of a few to
the exclusion of the man ), and that few, those
who have been stepped in the rebellion.
Caste and color have built up barriers utter
ly incompatible with republican institutions.
The whole existing social system founded in
force and violence, is at war with the theory
upon which the government is built, and can
not longer exist under it. This must be up
rooted. Every disability based on color or
race must be beaten down, and every right,
privilege and duty under the government
must have no other limitation but capacity.
This is the end to be attained, standing out
clearly in the noon-day sun, and never to be
lost sight OF. But the means by which that
end is to be obtained are not 90 apparent.
And in the conflict of opinion that has here
arisen charity has found no place. An ex-
ecutive edict or ukase commanding universal
suffrage is demanded as a condition of further
support, and the penalty of exclusion from
representation by arbitrary vote of each
house is held over every State in which the
rebellion has existed that does not, con-
dition precedent, establish universal suffrage.
Now, in this demand. some things are for