The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-09-14
Important Speech Of President John-

, N" AVAAs sept. lz.--Ihe following are
Inc main points Of q very important speech
l le.l py PRESIDENT johnson 70 the delegates
Of the Southern States; II
9EsTLENEN We have passed through the
rebellion. u say we, for Il was Us VIA. were
responsible. Yes, the South made the issue.
and l know the nature 81 the Scathern
people well enough 70 know that when thev
have become coavincsd of a. error. fbssv
will frankly acknowledge it in an open and
direct manner and in the performance of
that duty, OF indeed in the act they under
take TO perform, they do il heartily and
iranely. Now that they come to me. thew
understand me as saying that we made the |
issue; we set up the union Of the States
against the institution Of slavery; we settled
the arbitration by the God Of battles The Il
argument was the sword. The issue was /
fairly and honOrabiy met. The questions
presented have been settled against Us, and
We are prepared 70 accept the issue.
find on al sides this spirit Of cahdor and 4
honor prevailing. It was said By ali The /
issue was ours and the judgment has been
sgainst US. We are bound by honor to ae-
cept by arbitrament. In doing this we are /
doing ourselves no dishonor, and do not feel ,
Inundated or degraded, but rzther that we
are ennobling ourselves By these actions,
and we should feel that the Government has /
treated u msgnanimously, and meet the
Government upon the terms il has 20 nsg-
unanimously offered as. SO far as ] am con- /
cerned personally, am not Influenced by
any question whether il 6ppears in the North
or South, the East or West. staud where
/ did Of old, battling for the Union and Con-
| stitution Of the United States. IN doing
/ this know opposed you Of the South when
/ secession was being waged on the country.
! and you declared your right % break up the
! Government and disintegrate The Union.
stand as 1 ever stood, firmly IN the opin-
| ion that monopoly combined against this
country must go down and the country
must go up. Yes, the issue was made 81
the South, true to her ancient attribute 81
frankness and candor, comes forward and
! expresses her willingness 10 abide by the
dec sion in good faith. While I rejoice that
the rebellion has been arrested aud s1ielued
/ am happy in the consciousness Of a duty
wei performed.
I now not only would have YOU, but the
people Of the world 10 know, that. while
declared and feared a disinteRration Of the
states, am equally opposed 70 the consoli-
uation OF concentration of power here under
whatever guise or name. They bear an is
sue which y 8 fraud upon us. / shall still en-
deavor to pursue some efforts 10 dIssuade
them from this, but say let some rules be
applied, as have beiO e remarked 70 YOU
am grstihed 20 see 50 many Of YOU here
/ to-day. II Inaniiests a spirit that am
pleased TO observe. know that il has been
said OF me that nay aspirations are sharp.
that had vindictive feelings to CRAFTY. and
that should not fail to avail myself Of 90
portOnities that would present themselves
e TO crafty such despieable feelings. II my
/ acts viii not speak for me and for them
selves, then any professions that | mig ht
now make would be useless.
p But, gentlemen, if / know myself as I
3 think do, know 1 am Of the Southern
, people, and love them, and will do ali in
nay power 70 restore them 70 that state OF
happiness and prosperity which they en-
: loyed before the madness Of misguided men
in whom they had reposed their confidence
led them astray. II there is anything thai
, can be done on my part, on correct princi-
= pies OF the Contribution 10 promote these
b ends, be assured it shall be done. Let me
assure you also that there is no disposition
on the partof the Government 10 deal harshIN
> with the Southern people.
There may be speeches published from
,, various quarters that may breathe a differ
eat spirit, but do not let them trouble or ex
cite you, but believe that It Is the great oh
iect Of the Government to make the Uniol
r Of these United States more complete an,
10 perfect than ever, and maintain Il on consti
n, tutional principles-if possible more hrnlr
then it has ever be ore been.
Then why cau't we ell come up To IN
work in proper spirit? Ia other words le
s. us look TO the G Institution. The issue ha
T. been made and decided Then as wis
IL men-men who see right aud are deter
mined TO follow il as fathers and brothers
as and Is men who love their country in Ia
le hour Of her trial and suffering Why can
4. we come up and help 10 settle the question
of the hour, and adjust them according {
the principles Of honor and Justice Tn
institution Of slavery is gone The iorme
ne status Of the negro had b. be changed, an
OF We ts wise men, must recognize 80 potent
a. fact snd adapt ourselves 20 circumstances q
at they surround us. (Voices-1'We ars willln
w 10 DO 80. Yes, T, We are willing 70 do so =
D. believe you are, or believe when YOU
az faith is pledged, when your con sent has pee
lie given, IS ! have already said, / believe
a. will be maintained in good Iaith, and ever
r promise fully sustained. (Cries of at will
is Whist / ask or desire Of the South or th
II North, or the East or the West ia to be su.
ot tanned in carrying out the principles Of VI
IN Constitution. IL is not to be denied that "
be have been great sufferers on both sides
a. good men have falen, aud much misery
,st being endured necessary result Of such
e. contest. go Then VIII
ii- can't we approach each other on prineipl,
in which are right in themselves, aud whic
,es win be productive Of good TO sll.
The day is not distant when we shall fe
re like the same family that has bad endle
Of feuds, the various member Of which ha-
lat csme together and compared the evils M
cd suflerings they had inflicted on each othe
tx they had seen the influence Of their err
om and IL result, and, governed by spirit
ted conciliation, thty had become mutually "a
md bearing aud forgIying, aud return to tho
old habit Of fraternal kindness and becou
better friends than ever. Then sf US co
= slider that the feud which alienated us b
been settled and adjusted 70 mutual satisfs
the lion; that we come together to be bound
md iirmer bonds Of love, respect, aud con
the dence more than ever. -'-
The North cant get along without d
South, nor the South without The North; II
has East without the West, nor the w est wit
e., out the East, and I say il is our duty 10
zen all that lies in our power 10 perpetuate al
ard make stronger the bonds Of our Union IN
nk, IL is for the common good Of al thai '
AID should be united and free that The Uni,
he is but the creation OF q century. 10 be ne
ate petaated for ali time, and il cannot be d
lai stroyed except By the AL wise God wi
he created il. -
YES Gentlemen, I repeat sincerely thank v,
aus for the respect manifested on this oecasio
vas and for the expressions Of appreciation al
uri eonhdence please accept my thauks.
lad The leader OF the delegation replied:
OUT Mr.. President: On behalf Of the delee
OF ton | return You my sincere thanks ,
De your kind, generous, ay, magnanimous e,
,o>e preston OF kindly feeling 10 the people
rate the south
ded The visitors then retired. M
= as