The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-11-08
Policy Of the Government.
THE POLITICAL PORTION OF SECRETARY M'cuLLocHs
SPEECH AT FORT WAYNE, OCTOBER y.

, THE POLITICAL PORTION OF SECRETARY M'cULLocH'
SPEECH AT FORT WAYNE, OCTOBER u.
But you will expect, perhaps that say something
his (Mr Liucons) successor. In any other place an(
under any other circumstances / should not fee
at liberty to make any particular auson to the presi
dent of the United States holding, do seat in hi
cabinet But knowing that many ofyou, my towusmer
and neghbors have been OF the opinion that the settle
ment of the great questions which would necessarily
come up for settlement at the close of the would
require the part Of the chief magistrate profoundeI
wisdom and broader craftsmanship than was required
during ITS continuance, and that not few have been
deeply anxious lest Mr.. johnson might be unequal to
the prodgous work that has been deyolyed upon him
feel constrained say that there is in my judgment
no ground for apprehension on the subject Trying
and difficult is his situation, Mr. Johnson is master
OF It, He possesses in eminent degree, the qualities
that mt hlm for the presidency at the present time
southern man, thoroughly acquainted with the effects of
slavery upon society," he knows how to deal with south
erh men III their present circumstances. Ardenty at
tached to Tennessee the love which he bears TO his
State entirely subordinate to that which he bears to
the Unlon Jealous of State rights he is equally eal
| GUS OF the rights of the general government A
radical and uncompromlsing enemy of nulhhcation
secession and every form OF disloyay he Is equally
enemy to any measures which, IN his Judgment are
calculated by depryng the States OF their just rights
under the constitution to convert the federal govern
ment into despotsm. Raised in slave States, and un
til recently STAKEHOLDER, he never has had any love
for slavery and always has been the opponent of the
arisocracy that based upon it. BY nature and by
educaton he is just the for the great work of
beious States And nc mas TAKEN VI ms WGrk
with devotion an energy and prudence that promise
the best results. He is also of excellent judg
ment and great singeness of purpose Honest himself
he expects honesty in others. Although long in public
life, and leading politician OF his school, he is in
sense PARTISAN Unassumlng IN manners, he IS yet
selfposSessed and dgnied He listens to the advice
of those in whose Judgment he has confidence but
upon his CONVICTIONS, and generally according to
his first impressions. With great decision of character
he is never hasty in action Stern and unyielding in
his adhesion to principle and duty he is OF kind
l.. IL, ,,+,y TT,vt l.,
bic energy fought his way up from low to a high
estate, he Is III hearty sympathy with those who
treading the same upward path. He is in q word,
clear headed, upright encgeuc, seltreyug statesman;
a dignihed courteous and kind hearted genteman.-
His administration viii be characterised by force and
energy and independence Of Jacksons with very little
of its partisan character Under his direction the great
work of reGstablishing civil government at the south
under the federal constitution is goug rapidly for
ward-too rapidly, 1t seems according to tde opinion
at the nOrt whose opinions are entitled to great
sderation. | know, sir, that many doubt the wisdom
of Mr.. Jonsons policy that many of the opinion
that by their ordinances of secession the rebellous
States had ceased be States under the conston and
that nothing should be done by the executive in aid of
the restoration their State governments until congress
had determined what terms they should be restored
to the Union winch they had voluntarily abandoned and
attempted to Destroy that the people of these States
had appealed the sword and been subugated by the
sword they should be governed by the sword until the
lawnakng powers had disposed of the subject of re
construction; that State which had passed ordinances
O secession and united with the socaed Confederate
unless its preliminary proceedings all men, irrespec
tive of COLOR should be permitted yote nor without
provisions in its constitution for the absolute enfran
chlSement OF the negro. some even 60 farther than
this and demand the confscaon of the property of all
rebels and the application of the PROCEEDS the pay
ment of the national debt. These are not apprehend
the views of respectable minority know that they
not the views of majority Of the people north.
The better opinion is that the States which attempted to
secede ceased to be States in the Unon that all
their acts Of secession were of no effect that during the
progress OF the revolt the exercise OF the federal au
thority merely suspended and that there never
moment when the allegiance of the people of the
nsurrecuonary States not due to the government
and when the government not bound to extend its
authority over them and extend nrnfocton "a those
~ -" PIoICCtioh W lnose
called Confederate government OF all the State govern
which had been formed in opposition the federal
government ceased to have even nomiha existence,
and the people who had been subject to them were
left for the time being without any government what
ever. The term Of office Of federal officers had expired
the Offices had become vacant by the treason OF those
who held them. There no federal revenue officers
no competent federal judges and no organised federal
courts Ncr were the people any better of as far as
State authority regarded. When the Contederacy
collapsed all the rebel State governments collapsed with
it, so that with few exceptions, there no persons
holding civil office at the south by the authority of any
legitimate government Now, as government is at all
times necessity among men, and as 1t especially
so at the south where violence and awessness had full
sway, the question to be decided by the president was
simply this Shall the people at the south be held under
military rule until congress shall act upon the question:
shall immediate be taken by the executive
restore TO them CIVIL After mature
sideraons, the president concluded It to be his duty
adopt the latter course and an satisfied that in doing
So he has acted wisely. Military rule will not be i'll de-
mand by the people of the Culed States one moment
longer than there absolute necessity for it, Such
an army would have been requisite for the govern
ment of the people Of the SOUTH subiugaed people,
until congress might prescribe the terms which they
could be restored to the Union, would have been t.
severe strain upon republican institutions, and too
expensive present condition of the treasury The
president has therefore gone to- work to restore the
Union by the use from the necessity OF the case of
portion of those who have been recently in arms to
overthrow it. The experiment may be regarded as a
dangerous one; but it will be proved, sPprshsnd to
have been udicous Never were people SO dis
gusted with the work of their own hands the
great of the people of the southeven before the
collapse of the rebellion-with the government which
attempted to be set up by the overthrow of the
government of their foretathers Never people
completely subJugated as the people OF the rebel
States. l have met great many of those whom the
president is using IN his restoration policy and they
have impressed me most tayorably. ! believe them to
be honest in taking the amnesty oath, and in their
pledges of fidelity to the constitution and the Union.
Slavery has perished-hiS all acknowledged with
it has gone down the doctrine of secession State SOW
eregnty has been discussed IN congress, before cou
in the public journals, ard among the people and at
last when madness ruled the hour, this question was
submitted to the final arbtrament of the sword The
question: all admit, has been fairly and definitely
decided and from this decision OF the SWORD mere WIZ
be appeal 1t is undoubtedly true that the men OF
the south feel at the result put they accept the
situation and are preparing for the changes which the
war has produced in their domestic institutions, with an
aacTty and exhibition OF good feehng which has,
as it has gratifed me- In the work
APresident has aimed to DO only that
d n to be done, exercising only that
pdV24as be properly exercised under the
Constitution, winch guarantees to every State repub
lcan form Of government Regarding slavery as hay-
ing pershed in the rebellous States, either by the pro-
ton of his predecessor by the result of the war;
and determining that rebel who had not purged him
seohs treason should have any part in the restoration
of the civil governments which he is aiding to establish
he has considered within the scope of his authority
60 further and enfranchse the negro For this he Is
censured by many true at the north ana e" ex-
will be sustained BY the people, and that the result viii
yindicate the wisdom Of his course But while the
those who under mistaken notions in regard to the
character of the government, joined in the rebellion,
but not until (after struggle their part to prevent
If the States 10 which they belonged had passed the