, 1865-12-22
SPEECH BY PRESIDENT JOHNSON.


The following are the main points Of a very
important speech made by President Johnson to
delegations from the Southern States;
GEsILEEES; We have passsd through this re-
bellion. say ne, for It iS US who were RESPONSE
ble for il. Yes, the South made ths issus, and I
know the nature Of the Southern people we'll
enough TO know that when they have become
convinced Of an error they frankly acknowledge
II In 4 direct manner, aud when IN performance
Of duty, or indeed any act they undertake to
perform, they do it heartily and frankly and
now that they come to me, l understand them as
saying that, ''Nemade the issue-we set up The
Union Of the STATES against the institution Of
SlaTery-we selected the arbitratOr-the God OF
battles. The argument was the sword-the is
was fully and hOnorably met Both the
questions have been settled against Us, and we
are prepared to accept the issue" / find that
on all sides this spirit Of candor and honor pre-
vajls-thut the Southern people say: The issue
was ours, Sad the judgement has been against
us we feel bonnd in honor to abide by the arbi-
trament In doing this we DO ourselves no dis
honor, and should not feel humiliated or degra-
ded, but remember we enobling ourselves by
our action, aud we should feel that the Govern
ment has treated US magnnnimously, and we
meet the Government upon the terms it has so
magnanimously proAered US.
So far as am concerned, personally, am un-
influenced by any question whether il effects the
North or South, East or West. | stand where
did Of old, battling for the Constitution and the
UROn Of these United States. In doing so,
know opposed some Of you Of the South when
the doctrine of secession was being urged upon
the country, aud the declaration OF your right
to break up the Government and disintegrate the
Union was made. | stand to-day, as ever stood,
firmly in the opinion that ifa monopoly contends
against this country, it must 60 down, aud the
country must go up. Yes, the issue was made
by the South against the Government, and the
Government triumphed; and the South, true to
its ancient instincts OF tranknesS aud manly hon
or, comes forth and expresses its willingness to
abide the result Of the decision in good faith.
While think that the rebellion has been ar
rested andsubdued, and am happy in the con-
sciousness of duty well performed want not
only you but the people of the world, to know
that while dreaded~and feared disintegration
of the States am equally opposed to consolida-
tion or concentration of power here, under shat
ever guise or name they bear, and if the issue is
forced upon US, shall still endeavOr to pursuade
the same efforts to dissuade from this doctrine
Of running to extremes. But | say let the same
rules be applied.
As have before remarked to you, am graft
fed 10 see so many of you here to-day 1t man
ifests a spirit | am pleased to observe. / know
it has been said Of me that my ssperities are
sharp that had viudictiye feelings to crafty,
and that should Rot fail to avail myself of the
opportunities that would present themselves to
crafty such deSpicable feelings, Ii my acts will
not speak for me and for themselves, then any
profession might now make would be equally
useless. But, gentlemen, if know myself, as |
think ! do, know | am Ofthe Southern people,
and love them, and will do all IN my power to
restore them to that State of happiness and pros
perity which they enjoyed before the madness Of
misguided men, in whom they hadsrepOsed their
confidence, led them astray to their own undOing
Ifthere is any thing that can be done on my part
on correct principles Ofthe Constitution, to pro-
mote these ends, be assured it shall be done.
Jetm assureyOu, also, that there is no disPo-
sition on the part Of the Government to deal
harshly with the Southern people. There may
be speeches published from various quarters that
may breathe different spirit. Do not let them
trouble excite you, but believe thatit the OBJ
ject lof the Government to make the Union of
these United States more complete and perfect
than ever, and to maintain it on constitutional
principles, if possible, more firmly than it has
ever been.