The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-08-25
important speech by secretary
Harlan.

On Wednesday evening last Secretary
HARLAN OF the Interior Department was
serenaded in Washington, and in response
spoke as follows:
have no doubt that nothing but feeling
of friendship for me can account for the ores.
ence Of the greater number of YOU here to.
night II any are prompted by any other mo-
tive, l do not DOUBT that 1t Is on account OF
their respect for the government which now
dominates over our entire and common conn.
try; for the administration that is now enforc.
ing the laws of the republic, from Maine to
California, and from Minnesota to Texas: and
possibly, may say, I am indebted for this COM
pliment on account of my connection with The
You must not expect me tonight to develop
what will be in the future policy Of the indi.
vidual elected to the highest position in the
gift Of the American people. No one is au-
fhorized to speak for him but himself, and
doubt very much whether he now knows what
wiz be the policy which he win be compelled
py circumstances to follow In the future. We
may. however, Judge OF the future by bis OIL
cial acts in the past
Iknowsthat large portion of the American
people feel deep solicitude on the subject Of
the probable success of bus administration; and
there are those who are the enemies OF his
administration. az they were Of that Of his
predecessor, who are anxious to array against
him those by whose votes he was elevated to
his present position. Some may fear that, now
that he has been elevated TO place and power,
he may turn against those who have elected
him. Those who fear this know but little of
the man whom they have honored with their
votes. Cheers. I would ask those who
have fears upon this subject Was he not nom
mated BY the same convention that nominated
ha atoAT MA ha nt x1A
nomination and place himself voluntarily upon
the same platform? Was he not elected to
the second place by the same electors who
chose Abraham lincoln to the first? And
after succeeding 10 the chair made vacant by
foul act Of assassination, was not his first no
that he desired the continuation Of their ser
vicos2 And have they not continued, each
with his accustomed portfolio. with . solitary
exception, and that change made In pursuance
Of arrangements made by his predecessor?
Did he not, when the time came, Yeiterate the
proclamation Of emancipation which had been
issued by his predecessor, and distinctly in
form the leaders of the rebellion that they
must accept as one result of the terrible strug-
gle through which we had passed, that slavery
could not hereafter exist In the United States?
IApplAuse.] Has he ever faltered in the de-
claration Of the doctrine that the rebellion was
. great crime, and that those who perpetrated
IL Luu6k 6uuCI kuC pCuhky VI JuC INV, UulcoD
they applied to the Executive for clemency2
ICriee of NO." and 'Good."
What act of President johnson differs from
those of his predecessor in any material point
Of view? Does any enc suggest his policy
for the restoration of Southern States p When
he came into Office, seven States, previouslyin
rebellion, had been entirely or partially reer-
ganized by bis predecessor: Missouri, Arkan-
sas. West Virginia, Virginia. Tennessee, Lou
isiana and Texas. l believe, however, that
the latter State was pro tbrmd out Of the Union.
In what, may ask, does the plan President
johnson now proposes for the Carolinas, Ala
bama, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi differ
from that applied to the other States have
mentioned by President Lincoln? Can any
one name any important difference between
the two classes? l apprehend not. Nor can
any one suggest that the question of suffrage
was settled differently in the States first named
from the latter.
Now, may inquire OF the friends of the late
President-those who thought his policy good
they have to complain of the policy of Presi-
dent Johnson? Does any one believe THAT, if
President Lincoln had occupied the Presiden-
tial chair. his own policy would be changed
by himself, without material change Of cir
cumstances? If not, who has the right to
complain of his SUCCESSOR? We may have our
individual opinions on collateral questions
we bad those differences of opinion while Pres
ident Lincoln occupied the Presidential chair.
flhey were not then sufficient excuse for sun
dering the Union party as the result of suffer-
ing the country to be destroyed, are they now
sufficient cause to permit this great party to 60
to pieces, and the country to ruin as conse-
Guence? This partyl which, through mill
tary power, suppressed the rebellion, which
has had no parallel in history, has now the
great responsibility imposed upon it to keep
its columns intact, AID its men massed, until
the disorganized States are reor gained, and q
feeling of friendship and unity is restored
throughout our whole country.
If, then, we as Union men, have no cause
to complain of the President tor any thing
which we could not allege with equal force
against his predecessor, let US see that we give
him no cause TO break with u.s.
Allow me. 10 retiring. to thank you for the
honor of this call.
Secretary Harlan then retired, amid
cheers and music by the band.
Dissatisfaction among the Troops I'm
Virginia..Order by Gen. Terry.