Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-09-16
From the N. o. Evening Times OF Thursday
Speech by President Johnson TO
Southern Delegates.

WAsHINeToN, Sept. l3.-The following
are the main points of very important
speech made yesterday by President John
son, to delegation IRON the Southern
States
"Gentlcmcn, we have passed through
the rebellion. ! say we, for it was we who
were RESPONSE BILE for it. The South made the
issue, and know the nature of the South
eru people we'll enough to know that when
they have become convinced of an error,
they frankly acknowledge it in a direct
manner, and know that in the performance
Of duty, or indeed any act they undertake
TO perform, they do it free hearted and
frankly. And now that they have come
TO me, | understand them as saying that
We made tho issue, we set up the Union Of
States against tho institution of slavery;
we selected the arbiter of the God of bat
tlss. The argument was the sword. Tho
issue was lairly and honorably met; both
tho questions presented have boon settled
against IFS, aud we are prepared to accept
the issue.
~ find on all sides this spirit of candoi
| and honor prevailing. The issue was ours
| and the judgment has been against ns; and
the decision having boon made against us,
| we feel bound in honor TO abide by tho
| arbtrament. In doing this we are bring
| ing ourselves TO no dishonor, and should
not feel Inundated or degraded, but rather
that we are ennobling ourselves by our ae-
tions, and VIC should feel that the Govern
mont has treated US magnanimously, and
meet the Government upon the terms it
has so magnanlm ously prottered to us. So
far as | am concerned, personally, am
uninAuenced by any question whether it
| affects the North, South, East, or West. |
| stand whore ] did Of old battling for the
Constitution and the Union of the United
| States.
| ''1n doing so know | opposed some Of
| you Of the South. When the doctrine Of
secession was being urged on the country,
and you declared your right to break up
| the Government and disintegrate the
| Union, ! stood as | have stood, firmly in
the opinion that if monopoly combined
| against this country, it must go down and
| the country must go up.
"Yes, the issue was made by the South
| against the Government and the Govern
| mont has triumphed, and the South, true
| to her ancient instincts of franknoss and
| manly honor, comes forth aud expresses its
| willingness to abide the result of the de-
cision in good faith.
been crushed and subdued, | am happy in
| the conscientiousness of duty we'll per
| formed.
~ wsuld not only have you but tho
whole world to know that while | dreaded
| and feared disintegraton of the States, |
am equally opposed to consolidation and
| concentration Of power here under what
1 ever guise or name it may bear; and if the
issue is forced on us, | shall endeavor ~
| pursue the same efforts to disBuade frGSn
| this doctrine. But say let the same rules
| be applied. AS ! before remarked to you,
] am gratified to see and meet many of you
here to-day. 1t manifests spirit | am
pleased to observe. | know it has been
said Of me that my asperities were sharp;
| that have vindictive feelings to crafty.
Such despicable feelings!
| If my acts will not speak for me and
for themselves, then any profession |
might now make would be useless.
| Gentlemen: If ] know myself, as |
| think do, know that am of the South
| ern people, and love them, and will do all
| in my power to restore them to that state
Of happiness and prosperity, which they
enjoyed before the madness OF misguided
mon in whom they had reposed their CON
| fidence, led them astray.
| "If there is anything that can be done on
my part, on the correct principles Of the
Constitution, to promote these ends, be an
sured IL shall be done.
''The day is not far distant when we
shall again feel like the same family that
| has had endless feuds, the various members
ofwhich have como together and compared
the evils and suffer- ng they had inflicted
on each other.
''They had seen the influence of their err
Sc al al kxya
ally forbearing and forgiving, and return
| ed to their old habits Of fraternal kindness,