The Portland daily press., 1865-11-21
An IMPORTANT Indication

On Saturday evening last Ex-Speaker Coll
fax, who is almost the only Union candidate
for that position in the next House, was sere-
naded in Washington, and in response made a
speech which was received with rapturous APP
plarlse, and is believed to reflect the views of
large majority of the members elect of the
House.
After congratulating his friends on the ad-
vent of Peace, and expressing his desire to see
our country again united and prosperous, and
after referring to the efforts at reconstruction
in the South and the election of members Of
Congress, Mr.. Colfax said:
Some OF these members of the so-called con.
federate Congress, who, at our adjournment
last March, were struggling to blot this nation
from the map of the world, propose, 1 UNDER
stand, to enter Congress on the opening day of
its session next month, and resume their form
er business of governing the country they
struggled so earnestly to ruin. They saw thew
have lost no rights. 1t seems as If burning
the ships of our commerce on the ocean, the
starving OF our prisoners OH land, and raising
armies to destroy the nation, would impair
some of these rights until their new gov
ernments are recognized by Congress-
framed for every emergency, gives to each
House the exclusive right to judge of the quail
ifications of the election returns of its MEM
bers, and apprehend they will exercise that
right, Congress having passed no law on re-
construction. -s4 5r -. ,,.,t,4,
President johnson prescribed certain action
for these States, which he deemed indispensi-
bic to their restoration to their former rela-
tons to the government, which l think are
eminently wise and patriotic. FIRST, that their
conventions should declare the various ordi-
nances OF secession null and void, not as some
have done, merely repeating them, but abso-,
lutely without any force and effect Second,
that their legislatures should ratify the consti-
tutional amendment, abolishing slavery, that
this cause or dissension and rebellion might
be utterly eXtirpated. Third, that they shall
formally repudiate the rebel debt, though by
the terms it win be a long while before it falls
due, as it was payable six months after the
recognition Of the confederacy by the Uuited
States. Cheers. This reminds me of an old
friend in Indiana who said he liked to give
notes payable ten days after "never." Laugh
ter, and cries of good.l y.,..,. s-vg.8 I'M u
But there are othere terms in which l think
there is no division among the loyal men OF
the Union - hi-Ei t'ff ~ =
-. First, that the Declaration of Independence
must be recognized as the law of the land, and
every man, alien and native, white and black,
protected in the inalienable and God-given
rights of life, and the pursuit Of happiness .oi
Second, that the amendments OF their State
constitutions, which have been adopted by
many of their State conventions so reluctantly
under the pressure of dispatches from the
President and Secretary of State, shall be rati-
lied by majority of their people.
Third, that the President can on all occa-
sions insist that they shall elect congressman
who can take the oath prescribed by the act of
1862.
Fourth, while it must be expected that
minority of these States will cherish for years
perhaps, their feelings of disloyalty, the coun-
try has right to expect that, before their
members are admitted to share in the gov
eminent of this country, clear majority of
each of these States shall give evidence of ear
nest and cheerful loyalty, not by SUCH speech
es as are so common-that they submitted the
issue to the arbitrament Of war,Cbut that
they are willing to stand by and fight for the
flag of the country against all enemies at
home or abroad.
In conclusion, said Mr.. .Colfax, can but,
echo the words Of our departed President. in
his last inaugural on the steps of the Capitol,
with malice toward none, with charity for
ALL but with firmness to do the right, as God
gives us to see the right" and all will be well.
The Geographic correspondent of the Bos-
ton Adrertiser-says this bold and forcible
speech-is The subject of much congratulation
in Washington, among the supporters Of the
President. As the members begin to arrive,
it is more and more evident that the question
of admitting the Southern applicants for seats
on their present status is already decided