The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-09-13
speech Of President johnson 70 me


| t'GENTIEAfEN: We have passed thrOugI
this rebellionI say we, for it was u
who were responsible for 1t. Yes, til
South made the issue, and / know tn
nature of the Southern people wei
enough to know that when they hay
become convinced of an error the,
frankly acknowledge it, in u manly
open, direct manner, and in tn
performance of their duty, or indeed ii
any act they undertake to perform, the,
do 1t heartily and frankly, and now
that they come TO me, understand
them us saying, that we made the is
sue, we set up the Union of the Statei
against the institution of slavery, VIZ
selected the arbitrator, the God of bat
ties; the argument was the sword, thu
issue was fairly and hOnOrably met
both the questions presented have beer
settled against us, and we are prepared
to accept the issue. ! find ON all side.
this spirit of candor and honor prevail.
ing. 1t is said by all, the issue was our
and the Judgment has been against us
and the decision being mnde against ui
we feel bound in honor to abide by the
arbitrament. In doing this we are doing
ourselves no dishonor, and should moi
feel Inundated or degraded, but rather
that we are ennobling ourselves by oui
action, and We should feel that the gov
eminent has treated us magnanimOus.
the terms it has so magnanimOusly
proGered us.
So far as ! am concerned, personally,
| am uniniluenced by any questions
whatever. 1t affects the North and the
South, the East and the West. l stand
where did of old, battling for the CON
stitutiOn and the union of these United
Suites. In doing so know / opposed
some of you of the South when the
doctrine of secession was being urged
upon the country, and the declaration
OF your right to break up Vour gov
ernment and disintcgrnte the Union
was made. / stand to-day as hive
ever Stood-firmly in the opinion that
If Il monopoly contends against this
country, 1t must go down, and the
country must 90 up. Yes; the issue
was made by the South against the
Government, and the Government has
triumphed; and the South, true to her
ancient instincts of frankneSs and mnn-
ly honor, comes forth and expresses its
willingness to abide the results of the
decision in good faith. While think
the rebellion hns been arrested and sub
dued, and am happy in the conscious
ness of IL duty we'll performed, want
not only you but the people of tho
world to know that, while feared and
dreaded the diSintegratiOn of the States,
am equally opposed to the consolida=
ton or concentration of power under
whatever guise or name they may bear,
and if the issue is forced upon us, /
shall still endeavOr to pursue the same
efforts TO dissuade from this doctrine of
running to extremes, but, say, let the
same rules be applied.
As 1 have before remarked to YOU,
am grntified TO see so many OF YOU here
to-day. 1t manifcsts spirit that am
pleased to observe. L know il Inns been
said of me that my asperitics are sharp;
that had Yindictiye feelings TO crafty,
and that l should not fail to avail nv
self of the opportunities that will pre-
sent themselves to crafty such despi-
cable feelings. If my acts will not
speak for themselves, then any profess
stons l might mako now would be
equally useless; but, gentlemen, if /
know myself, as think do, know
that am one of the Southern people,
and love them, and will do ali III nv
power to restore them to that state of
happiness and prosperity which they
enjoyed before the madness of misguid-
ed men, in whom they had reposed
their confidence, had led them astr,Iy
to their undOing. If there is ANYTHING
that can be done on my part on correct
principles of the constitution to pro-
mote these ends, be assured it shall be
done. Let me assure You also that
there is no disposition on the part of
the Government to deal harshIy- with
the Southern people. There may be
tiers that breathe different spirit
do not let them trouble or excite YOU,
but believe that il is as IL is. The great
object OF the Government is to make
the union of these United States more
complete and perfect than ever, and to
maintain it on, constitutional princi-
pies, .ifpossible more firmly than it has
ever before been.
Then why cannot we come up to the
work in proper spirit? In other words,
let us look to the constitution. The
issue has been made; then as men-men
who see right, and nre determined to
follow it as fathers and brothers; and
AS men who love their country in this
hour OF trial, and help to settle the
question of the hour, and adjust them
according to the principles of honor
and of Justice. Tho institution OF
slavery is gone. The former status OF
the negro had to be changed, and we,
as wise men, must recognize SO potent
n fact, and adapt ourselves to circum-
stances as they surround us. Voices
1--WE are willing to do so! Yes, sir; we
are willing to do SOFT ! believe you
are. / believe that your faith is pledged.
When Your consent has been given as
have already said, 1 believe twill be
given in good filth, and every pledge
or promise carried out. [Cries of ait
WHIT All 1 ask or desire of the South,
or the North, the East or the West, is
TO be sustained in carrying outthe prin-
ciples of the constitution. 1t is not 10
be denied that We have been grent
sufferers on both sides. Good men
have fallen, and much misery is being
endured as the necessary result of 50
gigantic II contest. Why, then, cannot
we come together around the common
nj NJ -,
wounds that have been lMRde2
Then why cannot we approach each
other on principles which are right in
themselves, and which will be produe-
tive of good to.Nll. The day Is not dis
tant when we shall feel like some fam.
lily that has had n deep and desperate
teud, the various members of which
and sutIerings they had INFLICTED OF
each other. They had seen the influ.
ence of their folly, and governed by Il
generous spirit of Cancellation, they
become naturally forbenring and for
giving, and return to their old habits Of
fraternHl kindness, and become better
friends. than ever. Then let us consid.
or that the ieud which Alienated us has
been settledand adjusted to our mutual
satisfaction, that we como together t.
be bound by firmer bonds of love. res.
pect and confidence than ever. The
North cannot get along without the
South, nor the South without the North
the East without the West, nor the IYest
without the East. ! say it is our duty
to do all TINT in our power lies to per.
petunte and make stronger the boiid d.
of our Union, seeing that it is for thC
common good of all that we should bt
united. feel TINT this Union, thonGl
but the creation of II century, isto *
perpetunted for all time, and that. Il
cannot be destroyed except by. the all
wise God who created it. Gentlemen
repeat, L sincerely thank you for thu
aspect manifested on this occasion ;ant