Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-10-27
Senator Wilson on the Situation,

Senator Wilson made political speech
at Yonkers, N. Y, Monday evening and
seems to have talked well. His speech
is briefly reported and we quote but
single significant passage
They (he democrats) say they sup
port the policy OF Mr.. johnson, but ]
say they do no such thing. Did they
support the constitutional amendment ?
There is not a man in the country so
strong supporter as Andrew Johnson.
Do you know how much there is in this
amendment ? II authorizes the Con-
gress Of the United States to make these
slaves emancipated in all respects free
men and citizens Of the United States
That provision is now Endorsed by more
than twenty states, and | tell you Con-
gress will act up to it by appropriate
legislation. We can declare null and
void any black code Of any state. They
say they are in favor Of the policy of
Andrew johnson. Dare they stand by
him on this measure? They favor his
policy of reconstruction. Do they know
what it is? There are differences be-
tween US on several Of these points, bat
the republican party was born of free
discussion, has lived, and thrived and
conquered by it. The President said to
me the other day, that he had never
made any discrimination between those
who favor negro suffrage and what is
known as his policy. That he is in ia
vor of free discussion, from which would
eventually come forth the truth. And
tell you tonight that there will be 10 the
Congress the United States, bold, free
and candid discussion Of all these ques-
lions, and there will be no trouble be-
tween us and the President. With our
great majorities in Congress, with our
President and cabinet, we have ability
enough to settle these questions as they
arise. | have faith that all will be set
tied SO as to secure the liberties of all
the people in all the states. | would at
once, on the fall of the rebellion, have
secured the right Of suffrage to some Of
the blacks, and especially those who
fought the battles OF the Union. / be-
lieve if the President had said you must
give this right to the soldiers, to all who
read and write, and to all who pay taxes
every southern state would have adopt
ed it. But the President doubted bis
power.
Some think that we are pardoning
rebels too fast. l don't. would have
selected some two or three hundred of
the principal leaders and would not have
pardoned them-the rest should have
gone free. have never had feeling
of bitterness against those people. !
knew their blood was fairly poisoned by
the sting of slavery. / want none of
their blood or property, but do want
justice and humanity to prevail. do
want these colored wards of ours to be
free and to enjoy their civil rights. |
want nothing for the past, but l want Sc
curity for the future. You want it.
We all want it, and if we are wise and
prudent and keep the power in our own
hands, we have capacity enough calmly
to compare opinions and secure results.
II is for you to do now as you have done
in the past as you did in the gloom of
1859 as you did in 1860 and 1864
give the wealth and the power of the
great State of New York 10 the support
of the government, the Endorsement of the
great principles that underlie it-doing
this you strike strong and hearty and ev-
err memorable blows for the divine cause
of liberty and humanity the wide world
over"