The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-11-10
Mr. seward In Auburn.

very frankly, his opinion OF his associ- .
ates in the Administration, which be
fore and since the death of President
Lincoln has certainly Leen one of the
most united and harmonious the coun-
try has ever known OF the present
Executive he says:
Some Of you fear that the President
may be too lenient to those Southern
leaders who plunged the country into
the calamities of civil war Except
those of you who have been manned
or bereaved, have any OF you suffered
more of wrong, insult and insoence Mt
the hands of those leaders than hc
has? Can we not forget where we
can forgive? Are you aware that his
terms of amnesty are far more rigor-
GUS than those which were offered by
Abraham Lincoln? Have you ever
seen the majesty of the law more firm
~ maintained than it has been by him
III the exercise of discriminating elem
ency? Applause.
slightly disturbed by professions or
demonstrations of favor toward the
President, made by parties who have
heretofore opposed his administration,
as well rs the administration of his
predecessor. Laughter These who
hitherto opposed the President, but
now profess to support him, either
are sincere or insincere. Time must
prove which is the fact. If they are
sincere, who has loyal heart must
not rejoice in their late though not
/ too long delayed conversion ? If they
are insincere are we either less sa-
gacious, or have we less ability now
/ than heretofore to counteract treach-
cry to the national cause
Perhaps you fear the integrity of
the man ! confess, with lull sense
of my accountability, that among all
the public men whom have met or
with whom | have been associated OF
concerned, in this or any other coun-
try, no ono has seemed to me to be
more wholly free from personal ca
price and selfish ambition than An
drew Johnson; none to he more pure
ly and exclusively moved in public ac
E ton by love of country and good vii
to mankind.
OF the legal member of the Cabinet
be speaks in these complimentary
terms
| wish you all could understand Mr.
Speed, the Acknowledgement, as | do
| do not know whether he is to b,
, more admired for varied and accurat,
, learning or for what seems to be M
ntuitive faculty of moral philosophy
Only the delicate nervous system
9 which we all enjoy but so seldom ap
preciate, seems to me to furnish par
: allel for his quick sensibilities in tn
4 discovery and appreciation of truth
= Applause Firmer than most mel
h in his convictions, and drawer in hi
hopes of the progress of humanity, h
is nevertheless temperate, thoughtful
and wise in the conduct of administra
y ton.
" The Secretary of State, it will b
+ perceived in the following sentences
Il is ready to acknowledge, in the strong
e est terms, the indebtedness of tn
country to the Secretary of War.
OF Mr.. Stanton / am to speak i
q even more exalted praise. Applause
Z, My acquaintance with him began ami
% the hours of deep and overwhelmin
?. solicitude which filled what may lustl
be called an interregnum which occur
u red between the election of Abraham
N Lincoln to the Presidency, in Noven
4 Der, 1860, and his Inauguration, ami
the dangers of revolution, siege an
assassination, in March, 1861, an
1t while Edwin NJ Stanton was an actin
~ member of the waning administratio
of James Buchanan. From that tim
Is through all the period which elapse
8 until April, 1865, when the siege
n the capital was raised, and the fearfl
& tragedy of the country was closed wit
the assassination of the Chief Magi
trate who had saved it, | hourly sa
! and closely observed, by night and |
| QuN, lllt DNCttNuiN VI W III.
saw him organize and conduct
u war of pure repression, greater tina
e. any war which mankind had befol
t experienced In ali that time, l sa
s. no great or serious error commute,
saw, as you have all seen, the grea
est military results achieyed-resul
\ which the whole world regarded F.,
:, impossible. There is not one of tho;
results that is not more or less strict
T. due to the fertile invention, sagaciol
IS. preparation, and indomitable pers
"a verance and energy of the Secretary
n. War Applause. Ihave neyerknow
him 20 express or even beiray thOugl
in regard 10 our country which W
not divine. What remains to be don
% by exhibiting military force. in brin
ad ing the msurreetionary States out fro
d, anarchy into condition of intern
ly peace and cooperation with the go
~. eminent. may be safely trusted TO hii
he
-- A new coal mining machine. VIII