The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-10-04
Speech of President Johnson to
the Southern Delegation.

The following arc the main points of
the very important speech made by Pres
ident johnson to the delegation from the
Southern States:
GENTLEMEN: We have passed through
this rebellion. I say we, for it was us
who were responsible for it. Yes, the
South made the issue, and know the ma
ture of the Southern people we'll enough
Ito know that when they have become
convinced of an error they frankly ack-
knowledge it in a manly, open, direct man
ner; and now, in the performance of that
lduty, or indeed in any act they undertake
to perform, they do it heartily and frank
lily. And now that they come to me, I un
derstand them as saying that eve made
the issue. We set up the Union of the
States against the institution of slavery.
We selected the arbitrator, the God of
battles; the argument was the sword. The
issue was fairly and honorably met. Both
the questions presented have been settled
Iagainst us, and we are prepared to accept
the issue" I find on all sides this spir-
it Of candor prevailing. 1t is said by all,
the issue is ours, and the judgment has
been against us, and the decision having
been made against us, we feel bound in
honor to abide by the arbitrament. In
doing this we are doing ourselves no dis
honor, and should not feel humiliated or
degraded, but rather that we are ennobling
ourselves by our action; and we should
: feel that the Government has treated us
I lmagnanimously, and meet the Govern
ment upon the terms it has so magnani-
| 81 Go Far T on, oap
!; cerned personally, / an uninfuenced by
any question, whether it affects the North
or the South, the East or the West. /
stand where I did of old, battling for the
Constitution and the Union of these Uni
ted States. In doing so I know I oppos-
t ed some of you of the South, when the
) doctrine of secession was being urged on
1.-THE country and the declaration Of our
. right to break up the Government and
disintegrate the Union,was made. / stand
to-day as I have ever stood, firmly in the
opinion that if monopoly contends
against this country it must go down and
the country must 60 up. Yes, the issue
! was made by the South against the Gov
: ernment, and the Government has tri-
:, umphed, and the South, true to her an
: cient instincts of frankness and manly
;, honor, comes forth and expresses its will
: lingness to abide the result of the decis-
:. lion in good faith. Whilo / think that
= the rebellion has been arrested and sub.
= dued, and am happy in the CONSCIOUSNESS
= of duty we'll performed, want not only
J you, but the people OF the world, thai
: while dreaded and feared disintegratior
! of the States, I am equally opposed te
!. consolidation or concentration of power
!. here, under whatever guise or name they
!. bear, and if the issue is forced upon us
:, shall still endeavcr to pursue the same
: efforts to dissuade from this doctrine o
: running to extremes; but | say let the
: same rules be applied.
As I have before remarked to you,
% am grateful to see so many of you here
:. to day. Itmanifests a spirit an pleased
: to observe. | know it has been said o
= me that my asperities were sharp; that
:, had vindictive feelings to crafty and tina
! I should not fail to avail myself of tht
:. opportunities that would present them
:, selves to crafty such despicable feelings
- If my acts will not speak for me and fol
:. themselves. then any profession 1 nigh
! now make would be equally useless. But
L
- do, I know that l am of the Southern
- people, and love them and will do all il
= my power to restore them to that state o
= : happiness and prosperity which they en-
:, joyed before the madness of misguided
, - e men in whom they had :eposed their con
:, fidence, led them astray to their own un
i i doing. IF there is anything that can b
: done on my part, on correct principles 0
10 10 the Constitution, to promote these ends
- be assured it shall be done. Let me as
y sure you, also, that there is no disposition
y on the part of the Government to dea
n \, harshly with the Southern people. Their
! may be speeches published from variou
quarters that may breathe diferen
. spirit. Do not let them trouble or excit
y y you; but believe that it is the great oh
iect of the Government to make the Un
a ion of the United States more complet
~ ~ and perfect than ever, and to maintain
~ and our constitutional principles, if pos
= sible, more firmly than it has ever befor
na been.
Ils Then why cannot We all come up to th
wv work in proper spirit? In other words
III let us look to the Constitution. The is
III sue has been made and decided. Then a
r. wise men, as men who see right and ar
to determined to follow as fathers and broth
A. ers, and as men who love their country
: in this hour of trial and suffering, wb
ke can't we come up and help to settle th
-et questions of the hour and adjust them al
d. cording to the principles of honor and {
of Justice? The institution of slavery j
ne gone. The former status of the negr
had to be changed, and we, as wise mel
must recognize SO potent fact and adal
M ourselves to circumstances as they sui
he round us. Volces-"We are willing I
m do So" es, Sir, We are willing to d
te. lso"1 L believe you are. believe whe
ed your faith is pledged when your conser
ire has been given, as / have already said.-
Il. iI believe it will be maintained in goo
re- faith and every pledge, or promise full
NO carried OUT [Cries-@It mili" AHs
le ask or desire Of the South or North, I'll
in castor West, is to be sustained in carry