Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-09-15
The PRESIDENTS SPEECH TO THE rELEeATInN
EnnM IhE SnnTM. -

NEW YORK, Sept. 12th.-The follow
ing are the main points of the very i'm
portant speech, made yesterday, by Pres
ident Johnson, to the delegations from
the Southern States
"GENTLEMEN We have passed
through this rebellion. Isay We, for il
was us who were responsible for it. Yes,
the South made the issue, and [ know the
nature of the Southern people we'll
enough to know that when they have be-
come convinced of an error, they frankly
acknowledge it, in a manly, open, direct
manner. And now in the performance
of that duty, or indeed in any act they
undertake to perform, they do it heartily,
and frankly; and now that they come to
me, | understand them as saying that we
made the issue-We set upthe union of
states against the institution of slavery.
We selected the arbitrator-the God of
battle. The argument was the sword.
The issue was fairly and honorably met.
Both the questions presented have been
settled against US; and we are prepared to
accept the issue. / find on all sides this
spirit of candor and honor prevailing.
1t is said by all, the issue was arms,
and the judgment has been against us,
and the decision having been made
against us, we feel bound in honor to
abide by the a~rbitrament. In doing this
we are doing ourselves no dishonor, and
should notfeel Inundated or degraded,
but rather that we are enobling ourselves
by our action, and we shonld feel that
the Government has treated us magnan-
lmously, and meet the Government upon
the terms it has SO magnanimously prof
fered us. So far as / am concerned, per-
sonally, / am uninhuenced by any ques-
ton whether it effect the North or the
South the East or the West. / stand
whore / did of old, battling for the Con-
stitution and the Union of these United
States. In doing SO, l know I opposed
some of you of the South, when the doe
trine of secession was being urged on the
country, and the declaration of your
rights to break up the Government and
d~isintegrate the Union, was made. /
stand to-day as | have ever stood, firmly
In the opinion that If a monopoly con-
tends against this country it must 90
down; and the country must go up. Yes.
the issue was made by the South against
the Government, and the Government
has ~triumphed; and the South, true to
her ancient instincts of frankness and
manly honor, comes forth and expresses
decision in good faith. While I think
that the rebellion has been arrested and
subdued, and am happy in the conscious
ness of a duty well performed, | want not
only you but the people of the world to
know that while / dreaded and feared
the disintrigation of the States, | am
equally opposed to consolidation or con-
c~entration of power here, under whatev-
er guise or name they bear; and if the Is
sue is forced upon us, ! shall still en-
deavor to pursue the same efforts to dis
uade from this doctrine o frunning to ex-
tremes; but I say, let the same rule be
As l have before remarked to
you, | am grateful to see SO many of you
here to-day. 1t manifests a spirit I am
to observe. / know it has been
said of me that my asperities are sharp;
that I had vindicitive feelings to crafty;
and that / should not fail to avail my
self of the opportunities that would pre-
sent themselves to crafty such despiea-
Bile feelings. IF my acts will not speak
for me, and for themselves, her any pro
l might now make would be
useless. aa |
But, gentlemen, if know myself. as I
shink / do, / know that / am of South
I'm people; and IioYe them and will do
III in my power to restore them to that