Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-05-08
SPEECH OF PREsIDENT JOHNSON
SUPPORT OF PENNSYLVANIA PLEDG
ED-VISIT OF PENNSYLVANIANS.

SUPfOhI Of ZEN i LN ANi0 TLEDG-
ED-YISIT OF PENNSYLVANIANS.
A delegation of leading Peunsylvanians,
headed bs General Simon Cameron and Thad-
deus Stevens, called upon President Johnson
on Wednesday, at the Treasury Department.
General Cameron stated to the President that
the gentlemen who accompanied HIM were ap-
pointed at a meeting recently held at Harris
burg, to proceed to Washington, and present a
series OF resolutions which were adopted at
said meeting; th he did not intend TO make
a speech, but simply desired 10 assure him
that the people OF the Keyst State, Of wlom
those present were the representatives, in
tended 10 give him and his Administration a
cordial and hearty support, ana closed by
adding that but two Of their entire number
were Office holders, and that none of them
desired office. The President responded as
follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentemen-I can only
reply in general terms; and, perhaps, as good
a reply as | eau make would lie to refer TO or
repeat what have already said to other dele
cations, who have come for the purpose OF en-
couraging and inspiring me with confidence On
entering upon the discharge of duties so re-
suonslble, so perilous. All that | could now
say would be but reiteration Cf sentiments
already expressed of intentions already indi.
90.
fully and cordially accepted and responded to
py ME. /, 100, think the time has arrived
when the people OF this nation should under
stand that treason Is q crime. When We turn
TO the catalogue of crime We find that most of
those contained 10 it are understood, but the
or me of treason has neither been generally
understood nor generally appreciated as
think it should be; and there has been an ef-
fort, since this rebellion commenced, to make
the impression that il was mere political
struggle. or, as | see il thIogn out in some of
| the paper, d struggle for the ascendancy Of
certain principles from the dawn If the Gov.
| ernment TO the present time, and nt W settled
| by the final triumph of the Federal arms. Ii
| 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 ii a
| party issue; and then, TO whatever length they
ca ry it. the party defeated will be only a
| party defeated, aud no crime attaches thereto.
| But / say treason is crime, the highest crime
| known ID the law, and the people ought TO
understand il, and be taught to know that uu-
less il be so considered there can be no Gov
ernment do not say this TO indicate re-
yepgeful or improper spirit. 1t is simply the
| enIlnciation of deliberate consideration and
temperate judgment.
There are men who ought to suffer the pc
/ nalties of their treason but there are also
some who have been engaged in this rebellion
| who. while. technically speaking, they are
| guilty of treason, yet who morally are not
| thousands who have been drawn into it, in
VOWED by various influences, 0y coiscriptioD,
by dread, by fore OF public opinion In the To-
calities in which they hvod-they are not SO
responsible as are tn, Sc who led, deceived and
forced them. To the unconscious, deceived,
| conscripted-in short, TO the great mass OF the
mis- ed-I would say mercy, clemency, recon-
cilistion, and the restoration OF their Govern
meut. To those who have deceived-to the
conscious, influential traitor, who attempted
| to destroy the life of nation-I would say, on
YOU be inflicted the seyerest penalties OF your
crime. lApplause.
| an impression in regard TO the exercise of
mercy; and if know myself and my own
heart, there is in it as great a disposition to
mercy as can be manifested on the part of any
other individual; BUT MERCY WITHOUT JUSTICE
| IS A CRIME. In the exercise of mercy there
should be deliberate consideration and pro-
found understanding of the case; and l am not
prepared to say but what it should best be
transferred to higher court, court where
mercy and Justice can best be united.
In responding to the remarks of your
Chairman In reference to free government
aud the discharge of my duties, | can only
say again, that my past public life must be