Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-09-20
Important Speech by President johnson.
NEW YORK, September II

me following are the main points of tht
very important speech, made yesterday
by President johnson to delegations from,
the Southern States:
GENTLEMEN: We have passed tbropch
this rebel ion. l say ace, for it was us
who were responsible for it. Yes. the
South made the issue, ami know the ma
ture Of the Southern people well enough
to know that when they have become con.
vlnced of an error they Frankly acknowI-
edge it in direct manner, and when in
the performance of duty, or indeed anv
act they undertake to perform tkey do 1t
heartily and frankly; and now that they
come to me, understand them as saying
/ that, 1--WE made the issue-we set up the
! Union of the States against the institution
! OF slavery-we selected the arbitrator
| the God Of battles. The argument was
the sword-the issue was fully and honor
ably met Both the questions presented
have been settled against us, and we are
prepared to accept the issue" | find that
on all sides this spirit of candor and hon
or prevails-that the Southern people say:
The issue was ours, and the Judgment
has been against US and the decision
having been made against us. we feel
bound in honor to abide by the arbitra-
ment. In doing this we are doing our
selves no dishonor, but remember that we
are ennobling ourselves by our action,
and we should feel that the Government
has treated us magnanimouslv, and we
meet the Government upon the terms it
has so magnarimously proffered US"
50 far as | ara concerned personally, ]
am uninfuenced by any question whether
it affects the North or South, East or
West ! stand where | did of old battling
for the Constitution and the Union of
these United States In doing so, know
| opposed some Of you of the South when
the doctrine of secession was being urged
on the country, and the declaration of
your rights to break up the Government
and disintegrate the Union was made l
stand to-day, rs ! have ever stood, firmly
IN the opinion that If monopoly con-
tends against this country, it must 90 down
and the country must 90 up. Yes, the
issue made by the South against the
Government and the Government has
triumphed; and the south, true to its am
cient instincts of frankness and manly
honor, comes forth and expresses its viii
iingness to abide the result Of the decision
in good faith
While l think that the rebellion has
been arrested and subdued, and am happy
in the consciousness Of a duty we'll per-
formed, | want not only you, but the peo-
pie Of the world, to know that while /
dreaded and feared disintegration of the
States, am equally opposed to consolida-
ton or concentration OF power here, under
whatever Guise or name they bear, and i'll
the issue is forced upon us, | shall still
endeayor to pursue the same efforts to dis
suade from this doctrine of running to
extremes, But, say, let the same rules
be applied
As have before remarked to you, am /
gratiied to see so many of you here to
day. 1t manjfests a spirit / am pleased /
to observe. | know it has been said ol
me that my aspeTities are sharp that
have vindictive feelings to CRAFTY. and /
that | should not fail to avail rnvself Of
the opportunities that would present them
selves TO crafty such dispicable fecling, |
IF my acts will not speak for me and for !
themselves, then any profession | might /
now make would be equally useless But |
gentlemen, if ! know myself and think /
do, | know that am of the Sounthrn
people, and | love them, and will DO all
in nv rover 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 con
Gdence, led them astray to their own uu-
doing. If there IS anything that can be
done on nv part on correct principles of
the Constitution, to promote these ends,
be assured it shall be done
Let me assure you also that there is 10
disposition on the part Of tie Government
to deal harshlg with the Southern people.
There may be speeches published from
various quarters that mag breathe a diff
ferent spirit Do not let them tronble or
excite you, but believe that it is the great
object of the Government to make the
Union Of these United States more com
plete and perfect than ever, and to main
tain it on constitutional principles, if pos
sibIe, more firmly than it has ever before
been.
EcoSoaT. - Economy is prcdiga'ity
when it dries up cow to save three cents