Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-10-17
President Johnson's Speech 10 the
Southern Delegation.

President Johnson's speecht to the South
ern delegation, at the White house on the
18th ultimo, is exciting much comment in
the papers Of the East, meeting with great
commentator in some quarters, and re-
garded as indicating too much of q spirit
of clemency in others. The delegation
was large and the speeches somewhat long,
yet the following close of the reply Of
President Johnson contains the gist of his
remarks, and is the most interesting:
But, gentlemen, if / know myself, as I
think I do, I know that I am of the South
ern people, and l love them and will do all
in my power to restore them to that state
of happiness and prosperity which they
enjoyed before the madness of misguided
men, in whom they had reposed their
confidence, led them astray to their W
~undoing. If there is anything that can
be done on my part, IN correct principles,
on the principles Of the Constitution, to
promote these ends, be assured it shall be
done. Let me assure you, also, that there
is no disposition on the part of the Gov
eminent TO deal harshly with the Southern
people. There may be speeches published
from various quarters that may breathe q
different spirit. DO not let them trouble
or excite you, but believe that it is, as it
is, the great object of the Government to
make the union of these United States
more complete and perfect than ever, and
to maintain it on constitutional principles,
if possible, more firmly than it has ever
before been.' Then why cannot we all
come up to the work in a proper spirit ;
In other words, let US look to the Consti-
tuition. The issue has been made and de-
cided then, as wise men-as men who
see right and are determined to follow it,
as fathers and brothers, and as men who
love their country in this hour of trial and
suffering-why csnnot we come up and
help to settle the questions Of the hour
and adjust them according to the princi-
Piles of honor and Of justice: The insti-
tuition of slavery is gone. The former
status of the negro hadto be changed, and
we, as wise men, must recognize so patent
a fact, and adapt ourselves to circum-
stances as they surround US. Voices /:
We are willing to do so. Yes, sir, we are
willing to do SOL I believe you are. 1
believe when your faith is pledged, when
your consent has been given, as l have
already said, l believe it will be maintain
cd in good faith, and every pledge and
promise fully carried u tCries: 1t
will, it WILL. All l ask or desire of
the South or the North, the East or
the West, is to be sustained in carrying
out out the principles of the Constitution.
1t is not to be denied that we have been
sufferers on both sides. Good men have
fallen on both sides, and much misery is
being endured as the necessary result Of
80 gigantic q contest. Why, then, cannot
We come together, and around the com
mon altar Of our country heal the wounds
that have been made? Deep wounds
have been inflicted. Our country has
been SCARED all over. Then why cannot
we approach each other upon principles
which are right in themselves, and which
will be productive of good to alls The
day is not distant when we shall feel like
some family that have had q deep and
desperate feud,l the various members of
which have com together and compared
the evils and sufferingS they had inflicted
upon each other. They had seen the in
huence of their error and its results, and,
governed by a generous spirit of concilin-
ton, they had become mutually forbear-
ing and forgiving, and returned to their
old habits Of fraternal kindness, and be-
come better friends than ever. Then let
US consider that the feud which alienatcd
us has been settled and adjusted to our
mutual satisfaction, and that we. come to-
gether to be bound by frmer bonds of
love, respect and confidence than ever.
The North cannot get along without the
South, nor the South from the North, the
East from the West, nor the West from
the East and l say, it is our duty to do
all that in our power lies to perpetuate
and make stronger the bonds Of our
Union. seeing that it is for the common
good of all that we should be united. 1
feel that this Union, though but the crea-
ton of a century, is to be perpetuated for
all time, and that it ann be destroyed
except by the all-wise God who created
it. Gentlemen, I repeat, / sincerely thank
you for the respect manifested on this &C.
casion; and for the expressions Of appro-
baton and confidence please accept my
sincere thanks. ''"