The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-11-19
WASHINGTON.
SPEECH OF HON. SCHUYLER C0LFAX
lie is Disposed to Doubt the Loyal Pro-
fessi0ns Of the Southern Leaders.
e~~o->~-~N~~>~~~~~-~>o~~~-~
Some Proof Of Their Sincerity Demanded
Before the Admission of Southern
Representatives to Congress.
Return Of General Howard From
His Southern Four.
The Loyal Whites and Negroes Desire tho
Continuance Of the Military.
&c. &c. &c.
WASHINGTON, Nov. IS, 1855.

WASHINGTON, Nov. Is, 1885.
sKRENADs TO HON. SCHUYLER coLFAx.
This evening a.arge crowd OF friends Of Speaker Col
fax repaired TO his quarters and compmented him with
serenade In response to calls the honorable
gentleman appeared and addressed them follows-
MY FRrENDs-I thank you for this pleasant sercnade
with which you welcome me on my return to this
sphere OF public duty Since left here have travelled
you all aware, many thousands of miles the
plains and mountains Of the Pacific SLOPE and up that
coast to he British possessions in the extreme north
west bull will detain you with any illusions to its
scenery or Incidents as have already promised to
speak in regard to them in this city next month My
thoughts naturally this evening the ausp
'Cous condition OF our country compared with
the closing OF the last Congress- Then an alien and
hostile flag waved cities and forts and camps and
regiments, and went home in March to assist in
raising more troops, called for by the President. Now
there peace over all the land and the flag Of the repub
Tic waves unquestioned every our national
domain Chcers) We knew the value our ntitu
lions until the hour of their peril If failed there
would have been resurrection from the tomb OF ma
tons But thanks to our heroic defenders Gibbon
will write the history our decline and fan Checrs0
shall hail the day when all the States shall reyove in
their appropriate orbits the central government
aud when we can behold them "distinct the pillows,
but one as the sea- But cannot forget that history
teaches that eight after SURF nder OF
Yorktown In the Revolutionary War; though fathers
were OF one mind as to its necessity before the cons
ton adopted and the Union thus established II IS
suspicious that the ables Congress that during
my knowledge OF public affairs meets next month"; to
FACE and settle the momentous questions which will be
brought before II. 1t will not be governed by any
spirit of revenge, but solely by duty to the country
have no right to anticipate its action do bind my
self to any inexble, unalterable policy But these
ideas occur to me- and speak of them with the frank
ness with which should always express views.
Last March, when Congress adjourned the States
lately in rebellion represented in a hostile Con
gress and Cabinet, devsing ways and means for the
orally known, but 1t has been repeated to me,
,on the testimony of members Of the called Con
federate Congress- that General Lee the military Head
OF the rebellion declared last February in his official
character that the contest utterly hopeless but that
their Congress and Cabinet determined continue the
struggle, and twenty thousand fell after that time
both sides in the battles around Petersburg Richmond
Five Forks and other battle fields Since the adjournment
of the United Staos Congress not single rebeous
voluntarily surrendered, not an army laid down its
pons not regiment abandoned their falling cause but
the Union armies conquered peace, not by compromise
voluntary submission but by the force Of some
o. these members of the called Confederate Congress-
who at our adjournment last March struggling
TO blot this nation from the map Of the world
PROPOSE understand to enter Congress the opening
day Of its session next month"; and resume their former
business OF governing the country thew struggled SO
earnestly TO ruin. They say they have lost rights
1t scemsas II the burning OF the ships of our
the ocean, starving our prisoners the land and raising
armies TO destroy the nat would pair of these
rights until their new governments were recognized by
formed for every emergency gives to each house the
exclusive right to judge Of the qualifications Of the cleo
exercise that right Congress having passed no law on re-
construction President Johnson prescribed certain action
for these States which he deemed indispensable to their
restoration their former relations the
which / think emneny wise and patriotic First,
shat their conventions should declare tho various ord
nanccs OF secession null and vod-not, some have
DONE merely repeating them--but absolutely without
any force and effect Second, that their Legislatures
should ratfy the constitutional amendment abolshing
slavery that this cause Of disscnson and rebellion might
be utterly extirpated. Third that they shall formally
repudiae the rebel debt though by Its terms it will be
long while before IL falls due, 1t payable six
months after the recognition Of the confederacy by the
United states. tCheers.) This reminds me Of an old
friend in INDIANA who said he liked to give his notes
payable ten days after convenience. daughter, and
cries OF s'Good y "Good " But there are other terms
men Of the Union First-That the Declaration of Inde
I,endonce must be recognized as the law of the land,
and every man. alien and native, white and black. pro-
tected In the nalenable and God given rights of fe,
liberty and. he pursuit of happiness" Mr. Lincoln, in
that emancipation proclamation, which is the proudest
wreath in his chaplet Of fame (chccrs) not only
the slave but declared that the government
would maintain that freedom. tArpausc) We cannot
abandon them and leave them defenceess the merry
of their former They must be protected in their
rights OF person and property and these recmen must
have the right to sue In courts Of justice for all Just
claims and TO testify also, to have seCurty against
outrage and wrong call them freemen, not freedmen.
The Inst phrase mght have answered before their free
dom fully secured; but they should be regarded now
rs frccmen OF the republic: Goud and enthusiastic
chccrs.) Sccond-The amendments OF their State
situations which have been adopted by many OF their
from tho President and the Secretary Of State should
be ratified by majority Of their people We all know
that but very small portion OF their voters participated
in the election OF the delegates 10 those conventions
and nearly IL not ALL tho conventions have declared
them In force without any ratification by the people
when this crisis has passed can they not turn around
and ay that these adopted under durcss by dele
gates elected BY meagrc vote under provisional gov
ernos and military authorities and ratified by
popular votef And could they not turn the anti.
Iccompton argument against us and insist a. we did
that constitution not ratified by the people may have
effect, BIT moral effect whatever. Thfd-The pres
dent can all occasions insist that they shopd eject
Conressmcn who could take the oath prescribed by the
Of 1852; but In defiance Of this and insulting the
President and the country, they have IN large
majority Of instances, voted down merci.essy Union
men who could take the oath, and elected those who
Boosted that they could and would feel dsgraced
IL they could. Without mentioning names,
gentleman elected In Alabama by large majority
declared In his address the people before the election
chat tie iron pen Of history would record the cnancpa
zion act ms the most monstrous deed OF cruelty that
darkoned the annals OF any nation and another
who avowcd that he gave all pos ble aid aud
fort to tho rebellion aud denounced the Congress of 1862
probation) Tho South Is filed with men who cannot
aake the oath. II declares, ~ have not volun-
conscnpt in the Southern army can take that oath be-
he forced into the ranks by their Consumption
act, and every man who stad At home md refused to
ccpt CIVIL military Office could take that oath;
these not the choice OF the states lately rebellion
Fourth-wbilc u must be expected that minority or
these States will cherish Tor years. perhaps their feel
ings OF disoyaly the country has right expect that
before their members admitted share In the gov
OF this country clear majority ~ the people
each these should give evidence o their car
and cheerful loyalty not by such speeches rs arc 20
common that they submitted the issue to The
Of war, but that they willing to stand by and
fight for the flag OF the country against oil il enemies
nj home abroad Tho danger now Is in too much pre-.
ciptaon, Let us rather make haste slowly, and
then hope that the foundations Of when
thus reconstructed the basis OF indputabe loyalty
will be eternal as tie stars Applausc In President
johnson have mistaken confidence canno, for.
get that in the Senate, at the opening Of the re.
bellion he was the only Southern member who de-
nounccs IL and It's originaofs and thai c faith
full among the faithless found tApplausc) Nor do
forget that when on htr way from the capital his
home, insuitcd though he NJ many railway stations,
he never fat red In his devotion TO the Union Nor
forget his speech when Military Governor OF Tennessee
80 meeting of the colorcd men at Nashville, in
-xbi In "A IA tnft
and an equal chance IN the Of life and let him
coed who has the most merit. ion all remember his
speech TO the coorcd regiment Of the District ~ Column
ba where he repudated that stcieoypcd declaration
that this lis white man country Alone, aud insisted
thai IL was theirs also You remenbcr also hi
10 the south Carolina delegation that the only right syH.
tenn was TO protect !" all men, both white aud
black and that II they got general principle,
tight details and coaterais would follow.
We all remember too. hls earnest despatcheN