The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1865-10-28
SPEECH OF PREsIDENT JON NsoN.

The following is from late address to a
delegation of Southerrers at Washington.
Ito frequent illusions to the "Constituton"
as the measure of power: will sound rather
harshly to Republican ears.
$50 far as | am concerned personally, am
not influenced by any question whether it at
fects the North or the South, the East or the
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 doctrines
OF secession was being urged on the country,
and the declaration of your right to break up
the Government and disintegrate the Union.
stand to-day, as have ever stood, firmly in
the opinion If slavery contends against this
country it must go down, and the country
must go ny Yes, the issue was made by the
South against the Government, and the gov
ernmept has triQmphed aud the South, true
to her ancient attributes of frankness aud
candor, comes forth and expresses its wiling
ness to abide the result of the decision in
good faith. While think that the rebellion
has been arrested and subdued am happy
inthe consciousness of duty we'll perform
ed want not only you, but the people of
the world 10 know that while dreaded and
feared disintegration of the States, I am
equally opposed to consolidation or concen.
trdtl0n OF power here under whatever guise
or name they bear; and if the issue is forced
upon as, / shall still endeavor to pursue the
same efforts to dissuade from this doctrine of
running to extremes; but say let the same
rules be applied, as IhaVe before remarked to
you. | am gratifed to see so many of YOU
here to-day. 1t manifests spirit | am
pleased to observe know it has been said
of me thas my asperities are sharp, that
had vindictive feelings to crafty, and that
should not fail to avail myself of the oppor-
{ tunities that would present themselves to
crafty suce despicable feelings. 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, as | think do, know am of
the Southern people, and love them, and
Will 90 all in my power to restore them to
that state OF happiness and prosperity which
they enjoyed before the madness of misguid-
ed men, In whom they had reposed their con-
tdence, led them astray to their own undo
ing. Lftaere is anything that can be done
on my part, on correct principles of the Con-
stitutlon, to promote those ends, be assured
that it shall be done.
y Let me assure you, also, that there is no
disposition on the part of the Government to
deal harshly with the Southern people.
There may be speeches published from vari-
Gus quarters that may breathe a different
spirit; do not let them trouble or excite you
but believe thatit is the great object of the
Government to make the Union of these
United States more complete and perfect than
ever, and to maintain it on constitutional
principles. if possible more firmly than it has
ever before been. 5zgs3 S 49,
Then why cannot we all come up to the
work in proper spirit; in other words, let
us look to the Constitution The revolution
has been made ard decided. Then, as wise
men, as men. who see right and are deter
mined to follow it as fathers and brothers,
and as men who love their country in this
hour of trial and suffering, why cannot we
come up and to settle the questions of the
hour and adjust these according to the prin-
ciples of honor and of Justice. The institu-
ton OF slavery is gone. The former state oil
the negro had to be changed, and we, as wise
men, must recognize SO patent fact, and
adapt ourselves TO circumstances as they sur
round u.s. q 33