The New York herald., 1865-04-23
His Reply to the Indiana
Delegation.
Treason the Highest Crime
Known in Law.
The President Opposed Equally to Dis
solution and COnsOlida ton,
&C., &C., &c.


Mr. johnson President OF the United States and as
ssred him Of their full confidence and support He re-
ferred appropriately to the nhuman murder of President
Lincoln, aud to the confidence affection with which
no had inspired the people Of the United States He also
reerred appropriately to the approaching end OF the
Dellon and The duties imposed upon the President and
the people, and the moral and legal responsibility of those
who arc guilty Of the crime OF treason He dAs the
crime OF treason is individual its character SO
It's punishment Rebels have the power forfeit their
own personal rights, civil and political; but they
have no power directly or indirectly, to work
the destruction OF State He then referred the ,atu
or States In rebellion and discussed the powers aud mode
OF reconstructing State governments
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
The President then stepped little forward and began
by stating that he did not desire make any exposition
of his future policy than he had already made but
that 1t clearly to be derived from the history of his
ife adding that he might adopt tho Governors senti
addedBut in entering upon the discharge of the duties
devoving upon by the sad of the
nation Of the Chief Magistrate Of the nation and as you
are aware in surrounding circumstances which are pc
culiary embarrassing and responsible doubt whether
you are aware how much appreciate encouragement.
and countenance from my fellow citizens Of Indiana
The most courageous individual, the most determined
will might Justly shrink from entering upon the discharge
|of that which lies before But were a coward or
timid to receive the countenancs and
have from you and from various other parts Of the
country would make courageous and determined
man. mean In the proper OF the term for there
Is much moral courage and the firm calm discharge
Of duty as in physical courage But in entering upon
the duties imposed upon me by this calamity require
not only courage bat determined will and assure you
that on this occasion your encouragement Is peculiarly
acceptable to In reference TO what my admnistra
ton will be while occupy my present position must
refer you to the past You may look back evi
dence of what my will be And reference to
this dabolical and hendish rebellion sprung upon the
go back and take my in the pas;
and from that determine what my future will DO
Nine has been but one straightforward and answering
course, and see no reason why should depart
from IT, As to making declaration, or manifesto or
message what you may please to call it, my past is
better foreshadowng OF my future than any state
meut paper that might he made Who, four years
ago, looking down the OF time could have de
ncaied thar which has ranspred since thens Had any
done and presented it, he would have been looked
upon insane; it would have been thought q fable
fabulous as the stories OF the Arabian Nights-as the
wonders of the fsmp'of Aladdn-and would have been
dV'ut ~ We ANEW 80 lttie years
ago OF what has passed then know as little what
events will arise in the four years But a. these
events arise shalt be controlled in the disposition Of
them by those rules and ncipes by which have beer
guided heretofore. Had it not been for extraordinary
efforts in part ng the mach merry OF the State you
would have had rebellion rampant in Indiana as We
had II in Tennessee. Treason the less treason
whether IL be in free State or in slave State but III
there could be any difference in such a crime he who
commits treason in free State is greater traitor than
he who commits IL in slave State There might some
little excuse for who based his treason on his pos
session OF slave property; but the traitor State
has excuse but supply to be traitor tApplsuse) Dol
not, however understand to by this that any
man should be exonerated from the penalties and
punishments Of the crime Of The time has ar
rived when the American people should underst tand
what crime is and that should be punished ami It's
penalties enforced and innired. We saw in our
statutes and courts. that burglary Is crime that
murder is crime tba, arson Ia crime
aud that treason crime; and the constitution OF the
United States and the laws OF the United States say that
treason shall consis, svying against them and
giving their enemies aid and comfort have just re
marked that burglary is crime aud ha, It's penalties
that murder is crime aud has its penalties and 20 on
through the long catalogue OF crime To illustrate BY
sad event which before lbc> minds OF all and which
has draped this land in mourning who there here Who'll
would say If the assassin who has stricken from our
midst beloved and revcrcd By all and passed him
from time 10 eterniiyto that bourn whence travel
Ter reurns-who, repeat who here would say that the
assassin, if taken, should not suffer the penalties Of his
cr,me. Then. II YOU take the life Of individual for
The murder OF another, and believe that his property
should be condscated what should be done with who
trying to asssssnste this natons what should be done
with him or them who have attempted the life OF al
nation composed OF thirty millions OF pcoples We were
living at time when the public mind had almost be
come obvious OF what treason s The time has arrived
my counirymen, when the American people should be
educated and taught what crime and that s
crime, and the highest known 10 the law and the
constitution. Yes, treason against a State, treason
against all the siacstreason sgans the government Of
the United staies--s the highest crime that can be
and those engaged in IL should suffer all It's
penalties know it is very easy to get up sympathy
and sentiment while human blood - about 10 be she'd
easy to acquire arepuaton for leneucy and kindness
but sometimes its effect and practical operations
produce misery and to the mass Of man
kind Sometimes individual whom the law has
overtsken and on whom It's penalties about be i'm
posed will appeal aud plead with the Executive for the
exercise OF clemency but before exercise he ought to
ascertain what mercy and what ia mercy II In al
very important question, and which deserve, the
consideration Of those who morsze upon crime and the
morals OF naton-wheher in cases action should
not be suspended here and transferred TO Hin who con
ros all There n innocence has been invaded If wrong
has been DONE the Controller and Giver Of All Good
one Of whose attributes Us mercywll II right II IL.
not promuging anything that have not heretofore
said 70 say that traitors must be- made odous
that treason must be made odious, that traitors
must be punished and impoverished Applause
They must no, only be punished but their social power
must be- destroyed II not, they will still maintain an
ascendancy, and may again bccomc numerous and pow
erf for in the words Of former Senator of the United
states, "Whsn traitors become numerous enough trca
becomes respectable Ana say that after making
treason odious every Union aud the government
should be enumerated Of the pockets OF those who
have inflicted this great suffering upon the country zap
plsusel But do not understand me a. saying this In
spirit of anger; for. understand my heart ths
reverse v yha eass, AID ra4s ~ usa w RssAlAal