Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1865-04-12
President Lincoln's Speech.

Nnmhers Of persons assembled in front of the
President S House in Washington, last night,
AMI aron their call, the President came out,
and addressed them. After an alluslon to the
causes Of the rejoicing, &c, he went on to dis.
cuss the subject OF the reconstruction OF Lou
and then proceeded as follows;
'We all agree that the seeded States SO
called, are out of their proper practical relation
with the Uuion; and that the sole object OF
the Government, civil and military, In regard
to those States, is TO again get them INTO that
urepef D. actical relation believe it is not only
pos.lbe, but in fact easier to do this, without
deciding or even considering whether these
States have ever been out Of the Union, than
with it Finding themselves safely at home,
il would be utterly immatera whether they
had ever been abroad. Let us join in doing the
avts necessary to restoring the proper practical
relations between these Statesand the Union;
and each forever after lnnocently indulge MS
own opinion whether, IN doing the acts ne
bruughu the States from without into the
Union, or only gave them proper assistance,
they never having been out OF 1t.
The amount OF constituency, SO to speak, on
which the new Louisiana government rests,
would be more satisfactory TO all, 1t 1T contain
ed fifty, thirty, or even twenty thousand, IN
stead of only about twelve thousand. as 1t
roaliv does: 1t is also unsatisfactory to some,
that the elective franchise is not given to the
colored man. [ would myself prefer that 1t
were now conferred on the very intelligent, and
on those who serve our cause as soldiers. Still
the question is not whether the Louisiana gov
ernulent, as it stands, is quite all that is de-
slrable. The question is, Will it be wiser to
take it as it is, and help to improve it; or to
Reject and disperse it?' Can Louisiana De
brought into proper practical relation with
the Union sooner by sustaining, or by discard
ing her new State government
Some twelve thousand voters in the hereto
fore slave State OF Louisiana have sworn allie
glance to the Union; assumed to be the rghttul
poitical power Of the State; held elections
organized free government; adopted tree
State constitution, giving the benefit OF public
schools equally to black and white, and en-
towering the Legislature to confer the elective
franchise upon the colorcd man. Their Leg.
lslature has already voted to ratify the constl-
tutional amendment, recently passed by Con-
gress, abolishing slavery throughout the natlon
These twelve thousand persons are thus tully
committed to the Union, and to perpetual
freedom in the States-commltted to the very
things, and nearly all the things, the nation
wants-and they ask the nations recognition
and its assistance to make good that commlttaL
Now, if we reject and spurn them, We do our
utmost to disorganize and disperse them. we
in effect say to the white man, y on are worth
less, or worse; we will neither help you nor be
helped by you" 70 the blacks, We say, This
cup OF liberty which these, your old masters,
bold to yor lips, We will dash from You, al AND
Leave you to the chances of gathering the spilled