The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-05-18

son for that purpose
The committee were accompanied by Hon
Thaddeus Stephens and other prominent
Pennsylvanians. In presenting the resolu
tions Mr.. Cameron said:
Mr.. SIMON CAMERoN's ADDRESS.
Mr. PRE5lD EMIT have only one word t.
say. A large number Of people, members
Iof the Union and Republican party, met al
Harrisburg last Thursday, and appointed
this committee to come and pay their re
spects to you. We have nothing to desire
but the prosperity of your administration,
and have ample confidence in your ability
a confidence derived from your past history
Your first great task is to close up the war,
and we take it for granted that you will
not only act wisely, but Justly. | also take
il for granted that the men who brought on
this war shall meet the full reward of their
guilt, while we believe the more deluded in
struments ght to be suffered to go along
their wonted way, and do the hest they
\ can have no faith in permitting those
who brought Cd the war, to live in til ; same
way they did before the war commenced /;
and we hope that you will find some way
to take care of them, and to save and re
unite the country. There are none here
who have come from any desire for place for
themselves or their relations, but simply
from a wish to express their confidence and
desire that you will bring the country out
Of this trouble, and that the cause of slavery
shall be ended ere this is brought about.
!, THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
Mr. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN-I can
only reply iii general terms perhaps as
good a reply as | can make would be to
refer to or repeat what have already said
| to other delegations who have come for the
purpose of encouraging inspiring me with
confidence on entering upon the discharge
of duties so responslble-sO periIous. All
that could say would be but reiteration
Of sentiments already indicated The words
you have spoken are most fully and cor
daily accepted and responded to by me.
too, think the time has arrived when the
people of this nation should understand
that treason is crime. When we turn to
the catalogue of crime we find that most of
those contained in it are Understood, but the
crime of treason has neither been generally
understood nor generally appreciated, as l.
think it should be- Aud there has been MI
effort since the rebellion Commenced toI
make the impression that it was Il mere Do
litical struggle, or as | see it thrown out in
some OF the papers, struggle for ascendan.
cy of certain principles from the dawn of
the Government to the present time, and
now settled by the final triumph of the Fed
eral arms. If this is to be determined. /
settled idea and opinion, the government is
at an end, for noquestion can arise bat
they will make it, party issue, aud then
to whatever length they carry it the party
defeated will only be party defeated, and
no crime attaches thereto But, say trea-
son is a crime-the highest crime known to
aw-and the people ought to understand
it, and be taught to know that unless it be
so considered there can be no government.
do not say this to indicate revengeful or
improper spirit. 1t is simply the enuncia-
ton of deliberate consideration and temper
ate judi ment There are men who ought
to suffer the extreme penalties of their
treason but there are also some who have
been engaged in this rebellion who, while,
technically speaking, are guilty Of treason,
yet are morally not. Thousands who have
been drawn into it, involved by various in
fiuences-by CONSUMPTION, by dread, by
force Of public opinion in the localities in
which they lived-these are not so respon
sble as those who led, deceived and forced |
them. 10 the unconscious, deceived, con
scripted-in short, to the great mass of the
mlsled-l would say mercy, clemency, re-
cancellation, and the restoration of their
Government To those who have deceived
to the conscious, Influential traitor, who
attempted to destroy the life of nation, |
would say, Son you be inflicted the severe
penalties Of your crime" Applause. | |
fully understand how easy it is to get up an
impression in regard to the exercise of mer-
cy; and if know my own heart, there is
in it as great disposition to mercy as can
be manifested on the part of any other in
dividual. But mercy without justice is
crime. In the exercise of mercy there
should be deliberate consideration, and a
profound understanding of the case; and
am not prepared to say but what it should
be often transferred to a higher court-a
court where mercy aud justice can best be
united.
A great monopoly-the remark of your
chairman brings me to it--existed, that of
slavery; and upon it rested an aristocracy. !
1t is the work of freemen to put down mo
nopolles You have seen the attempt made !
by the monopoly of slavery to put down
our government. But III the making of
that attempt, thereby to control aud de |
stroy the government, you have seen the |
government put down the monopoly and de
stroy the institution. Applause, Institu- |
tons OF any kind must be subordinate to |
the government, or the government cannot
stand, | do not care whether it be North or !
South. A government based upon popular
judgment must be paramount to all institu-
tious that spring up under that government
if the government does not put them down, |
they will put it down. Hence the main por-
top of my efforts have been devoted to the
opposition Of them. Hence l have ever OPP
posed arstocracy-oppo it III any shape
But there is kind of aristocracy that has
always, that always will, command my re-
spect an approbation-th aristocracy of
talent, the arlstocracy ofvirtue, the aiistoc
racy OF merit, or an aristocracy resting up
on worth the aristocracy of labor, resting
upon honest industry developing the in
dnstrlal resources of the country-tllis com
mands my respect and admiration-my sup
port in life
| In regard to my future course in connec-
ton with this rebellion, nothing that lean
saw would be worth listening to- If my
past IS not sufficient guaranty can OILY
add that have never knowingly deceived
the people, and never have betrayed FREUD
I-LApplause ] Accept my profound and sin
cere thanks for the encouragement you have
/ given me- aud believe me when | say that
your encoura cement, countenance and con
idence are great aid and great spur
Ito the performance OF my duties Once
more | thank yo for this manifestation OF
your regard and respect.