The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-06-16
RECONSTRUCTION AND NEGRO
SUFFRAGE.
Speech of Gen. John A.
Logan in New York.
PRESIDENT JOHNSON SUSTAINED

on Wednesday night last, to receive General
dent JOHNSON, was the largest, as we'll as the
most enthusiastic, of any ever held in the city.
Next to Gen. GRANT, the greatest interest was
felt to hear the speeches of Major Generals
BLAIR and LOGAN. The former made short
speech, endorsing the North Carolina recon-
struction scheme of President JOHNSON to the
fullest extent. There was then such Vehe-
ment and decided call for Gen. LOGAN as could
not be resisted, and the General coming for
ward, was received with loud cheers.
SPEECH OF MAJOR GENERAL LOGAN.
AS my friend General Blair desires that the
power of the people shall be felt, l am only
cory that he should desire to see an exercise
OF that great power upon me. lCneers anu
laughter. Still as he is, l myself pretending
to be soldier, cannot disregard the voice OF
the people. To you who are assembled mere
tonight, We who are far from home, many OF
Us recently from the field. return our most SIN
cere thanks for the manner in which you have
eomplimented those who have served your H.
terests and the interests OF the country. APP
plause I What the subject for discussion is
here tonight cannot say. | have neither
asked any one who knew, Nor have L read the
="
the purpose of making circus OF certain OH
GERS, do not know. Laughter. But no
matter for what il was called, We are glad to
see you ALL Ny friend, General Blair, suggest
ed an idea to me that it was called for the pur-
pose of approving Of the administration of
President Johnson. Cries of Yes" and
cheers. So far a5 his administration has de-
yeloped itself, l certaialy have no fault to find
whit. Cheers. What there may be to OBJ
iect in the future / do not know. If there is
that which is Objectionable in the future, then,
as matter of course, as the questions arise,
the country has ight to decide for Itself as to
whether he is right or wrong. Applause.
The great questions that have been before the
people for the last four years are now settled.
The rebellion is suppressed. Loud cheers.
Slavery is forever dead. Tremendous cheer
ing. The power of this great government
has been felt and is well understood, not only
at home but abroad. Renewed applause.
The supremacy of the laws OF this country,
with its constitution, has been maintained by
the proves of Americans. Cheers The
people of this country have satisfied them
selves because there once was doubt) that
they can maintain the law and the constitution,
can suppress rebellion and cause men to bow
in humble submission to the law of the land.
Applause. This, then, having been done,
other questions naturally will arise. We now,
as matter of course, all of US, when we see
our friends returning from the bloody scenes
we have witnessed, feel proud; We hail the
time with Joy; We all shout in one accord at the
coming of peace and good times to this CONF
try again. Applause and three hearty cheers
for Logan
VIEWS On RECONSTRUCTION.
The questions which will cause some discus
sion in The cOunuy-One at least Is the reOr-
ganization of the States that have been in re-
bellion against the government. The great
question then is, how is this to be done? How
are we as people, great and magnanimous
people, TO act towards those, our subducd en-.
emies? How are these States to be organized,
to be recognized through their Representatives
in Congress? How are they to be dealt with
by the Executive? by the administration by
the people? There are different opinions in
reference to how it should be done. Such men,
who are wise men, LOO, and considered SO by
the country, contend that these States are now
in q territorial condition, and that the same
power must be exercised by the government in
those States IS is exercised over territories
prior to their admission into the Union. This
idea is advocated by some. The opposite.
however, is advocated by, / think. more. /
myself disagree with those who think these
States are but territories. Applause. l I'M
derStood when this rebellion was organized
againt the government. and when the EXecu-
tive called into requisition the power of the
Federal government, it was 10 suppress insur-
rection and rebellion against the laws and the
constitution of the land-not for the purpose
of wiping out and obliterating States. Cheers.
Then ii was understood that the States could
not secede. Secession was unlawful and I'M
warranted Secession could not be submitted
to by the people Disintegration of this gov
eminent would not be submitted to by the peo-
pie of the United States. We then fought
those battles upon the theory that a State
could not secede--that the States were in the
Union and could not go ont of the Union.
TCries OF Good" and applause Hence we
said. when jeff. Davis Kisses assumed to
be President OF portion of this country, that
he mas no right TO act, because they were then
States-as they ever had bccn-of the Union
of these States. (Cheers.) We have main.
tanned that proposition. Secession has been
defeated. and the question forever settled here
in the Union. (ApplIuse) Now, | do not
want to admit that JET Davis ever had GOV
ernment-(crics of Never land | do not
want TO admit that jeff. Davis and the leaders
of the rebellion should not be convicted of
treason and punished rs traitors. (Cries of
'Good'0 Hence il we desire TO punish trait
ors we have got to keep oar own record
straight; ana, as we want TO maintain the law
and the constitution, we have got the law and
the constitution on our side to do it. CHEERS
This. then. is one Of the questions that is dis
cussed BY people in the couutry-or at least |
learn so by reading the newspapers. have
not heard anv person make speech that
know of on the subject; but l have learned
through the papers that this was discussed.
on NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
The next proposition that l Understand is de-
cided before the people is this: The State hav-
ing been reduced to q territorial condition.
then it was the duty of the President of the
United States to declare that certain men
shonld be permitted to organize this territorial
government, and others should be excluded
that is, that he should declare that certain men
have right 10 vote who never had by law
right 10 vote. l maintain this as being the
correct distinction. President johnson has
right 10 exercise such power as is necessary to
assist in putting the machinery of these States
in motion. He has right, for the time being,
to appoint man as Governor. They are under
military authority now. He has q right to ap-
point persons to govern them and they may
have q head for the purpose of recognizing
their civil departments. 4ApplpHse) When
he has done that, and they organize. the
State is then in existence; not only as it
has been before. but it can exercise the same
functions that il had before in the Government
of the United States. The constitution de-
clares that each State shall regulate tie quail.
d.