The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1865-06-08
President LlnsoIn,s Last Speech
His Views of ReconstructOn.

On the evening Of April 11th, just
three days before the assassination Of
President Lincolo, the Executive De-
partmeuts, including the Presidents
Mansion, were illuminated aud adorned
with trapsparencies and natiodal Gags,
in honor Of the fall Of Richmond.
Thousands Of persons aocked to the
Executive Mansion. The President, 10
response to unanimous call, appear cd
at the upper window and made speech,
as follows:
We meet this evening not in sorrow,
but in gladness of heart. The evaeua-
tion of Petersburg and Richmond and
the surrender of the principal insur
gent army, give hopes of a righteous
and speedy peace, whose joyous ex-
preston cannot be restrained. In the
midst Of this, however, He from whom
all blessings aow, must not be forgot
ten. ..l..t.-.... s.....- .....r
A call for National Thanksgiving is
being prepared, and will be duly pro-.
mulgated; nor must those whose harder
part gives US cause Of rejoicing be over
looked. Their honors must not be par.
colled out with others, l myself was
near the front, and had the high pleas
ure of transmitting much of the good
news to you; but no part of the honor
for plan or execution is mine. To Gen.
Grant, his skillful officers aud brave
men, all belongs. The gallant navy
stood ready, but was not in reach to
take an active part. By these recent
successes and the receut re-inauguratiou
of the national authority, the recon.
struction which has had large share Of
thought from the first is pressed muct
more closely upon our attention. 1t ii
fraught with great difficulty. Unlike
the case of war between Independent
nations, there is no authorized organ
for us to treat with. No one man ha
authority to give up the rebellion fo
any other man. We must simply begil
with, and mould from disorgauized an,
discordant elements. Nor is it small
dditional. embarrassment that we, tn
loyal people, differ among ourselves a
to the mode manner and measure 0
reconstruction AS a general rule,
abstain from reading the reports of at
! tacks upon myself, wishing not to. b
] provoked by that to which l cannO
properly offer an answer. In spite o
: this precaution, however, it comes to NJ.
, knowledge that L am much censured 70
some supposed agency in setting up an
: seeking to sustain the new governmen
: of Louisiana. In this l have done jus
, 80 much, and no more than the publ
e knows. In my annual message of DE-
: cemb Der, 1863, and the Accompanying
It proclaim alton, l presented plan of re
Q construction, as the phrase goes, whic
8 | promised, if adopted by any Stat
would be acceptable, and sustained b
e the Executive Government of tho nj
e tion. l distinctly stated that this wi
: not the only plan which might possib
: be acceptable. l also distinctly pr
h tested that the Executive claimed =
e right to say when or whether mbe
: should be admitted to seats 10 Congress
II from such States. ia-s 7i'tot aa' .
y This plan was in advance submitte
&c to the Cabinet, and approved by evel
member of it. One of them suggestt
that l should then and in that coniun
r. tiou, apply the Emancipation PROCLAIM
ton to-tbe heretofore excepted parts
d Virginia and Louisiana; that shou
s. drop the suggestion about apprentic
'e ship for the freed people, aud that
: should omit the protest against my oV
% power In regard to the admission
t. members of Congress. But even
Ie approved every part and parcel of q
plan which has since been employed
s. touched by the action Of Louisiana.
- Tho new Constitution of Louisiar
)" declaring emancipation for the who
State, praCt tically applies the proclaim
It tion to the part previously sxempte
a 1t does not adopt apprenticeship for t
10 freed people, and is silent, as it cou
Of not we'll be otherwise, about the adm
,s sion of members to Congress; so that,
n it applied to Louisians, every memu
# Of Che Cabinet fdlly approved the pls
,o The message went to Congress, aud
h read many concentrations of the pla
in written and verbal; and not single {
lection to it from any professed eman
pationist came to my kuowledge, un
O. after the news was received at Washiu
II. ton that the people of LOuisisua }
II; begun a movement in accordance "
~ ttr sTs s'aa g.fsa,sar ar... etr
| From about July, 1852, | had cor