Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-05-09
Address of President johnson to the
Pennsylvania Delegation.

johnson, had an interview with Mr.
johnson for that purpose.
The committee were accompanied by
Hon. Thaddeus Stevens and other prom.
; inent Pennsylyanians. On presenting the
resolutions Mr.. Cameron said:
Mr.. PRESIDENT have only one word
to say. A large number of people,
members of the Union and Republican
party, met at Harrisburg last Thursday
and appointed this committee to come
and pay their respects to you. We have
nothing to desire but the prosperity of
your administration, and have ample con-
lilence in your ablity-a confidence
derived from your past history. Your
first great task is to close up this war
and we take it for granted that You will
act not only wisely but justly | also
take it for granted that the men who
brought on this war shall meet the fall
reward Of their guilt, while we believe
the more deluded instruments ought to
be suffered to go along their wonted way,
and do the best they can. | have no
faith in permitting those who brought on
the war to live in the same way they did
before the war commenced; and we hope
that you will find some way to take care
of them and to save and re-unite the
country. There are none here who have
come from any desire for place for them
selves or their relations, but simply from
n wish to express their confidence and
desire that you will bring the country out
of this trouble, and that the cause OF
slavery shall be ended ere even this is
brought about.
The President said:
Mr.. Chairman and gentemen-I can
only reply in general terms perhaps rs
good Il reply as / can make would he to
refer to or repeat what l have already
said to other delegations who have come
for the purpose of encouraging and in
spring me with confidence on entering
upon the discharge of duties so responsi-
ble-so perilous. All that l could now
say would be but Il reteration of senti-
ments already indicated The words you
have spoken are most fully and cordially
accepted and responded to by me. i,
too, think the time has arrived when the
people of this nation should understand
that treason is a crime.
When we turn to the catalogue of
crime we find that most of those contained
in it are understood, but the crime of
treason has neither been generally under
stood nor generally appreciated, as |
think it should be- And there has been
an effort since this rebellion commenced
TO make the impression that ii was mere
political struggle, or, as see it thrown
ont in some Of the papers, a struggle for
ascendancy of certain principles from the
dawn of the government TO the present
time, and now settled by the linal triumph
OF the Federal arms. If this is to be a
determined, settled idea and opinion, the
government is at an end, for no question
can arise but they will make it party
issue, and then to whatever length they
carry it the party defeated will be only a
party defeated, and no crime attaches
thereto.
But, l say treason is crime-the
highest crime known to the law-and
the people ought to understand it, and be
taught to know that unless it be SO con
sided there can be no government. do
not say this to indicate reyengefal or
improper spirit. 1t is simply the enun-
citation of deliberate consideration and
temperate judgment There are men who
ought to suffer the penalties of their
treason but there are also some who
have been engaged in this rebellion who.
while technically speaking are guilty Of
treason, yet are morally not. Thousands
who have been drawn into it, involved by
various iniluences-by conscription. by
dread, by force of public opinion in the
localities in which they lived-these are
not so responsible as those who led,
deceived and forced them.
10 the unconscious, deceived, con.
serlpted-in short, to the great mass of
the misled-I would say mercy, clemency.
reconciliation, and the restoration Of
their government. To those who have
deceiyed-to the conscious, influential
traitor who attempted to destroy the life
of nation-I would say, "On you be
inflicted the severest penalties Of your
crime" (ApplauSe.) ] fully understand
how easy 1t is to get up an impression in
regard to the exercise Of mercy, and if /
know myself and my own heart, there is
in 1t as great disposition to mercy as
can be manifested ON the part of any
other individual. But mercy without
justice is crime. In the exercise of
mercy there should be deliberate consid-
Grafton, and profound understanding of
the case; and / am not prepared to saw
but what it should often be transferred IN
higher court-a court where mercy and
justice can best be united. In responding
to the remarks of your chairman in refer.
ence to Tree government and the Discharge
oil my duties, l can only say again that
my past public life must be taken as the
guide to what my future will be.
My course has been unmistakable and
well defined. l know it is easy to cry
out "demagogue;" but let that be as It
may. If have spent the toll of youth
and the vigor of my life for the elevation
OF the great masses of the people, why it
was work of my choosing, and l will
bear the loss And if it is demagogism
to please the people if it is demagogism
TO strive Tor their welfare and ameliora.
ton, then am demagogue. | was
always proud when my duties were So
discharged that the people were pleased.
a great monopoly-the remark of vonr
chairman brings me to it-existed that
OF slavery, and upon it rested an aris.
tocraey' 1t Is the work of freemen to
put down monopolies, You have seen
the attempt made by the monopoly Of ,
slavery to put down the government.
But IN the making of the attempt, thereby J
TO control and destroy the government,
you have seen the government put down