The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-06-06
II ugh NJ &C llllOch.

Hugh McCulloch.
We rather like the blunt speech of the
Secretary of the Treasury at the Presiden-
tial and Cabinet scramble. The Scotch are
preyerbally square takers and HuGH is no
exception. Old Stevens denounced him in
most bitter terms for the speech which fol-
lows:
FELLow-C -CITIzENs-My position in ref
crcnce to the issues which are now en- gage
ing the public attention are not, appre-
hend, misunderstood by you. Cheers. J
| will say, thercfore-as suppose | must
say something on this occasion-that the
general policy of the President in reference
to the southern states and the people re-
Gently in the arms against the federal gov
ernmcnt has commended itself to my dclib-
crate judgment (cheers, and, although it
has been violently and in some instances
vindictively assailed. l have an abiding
conviction that it will be approved by the
people when they shall be allowed to pass
judgement upon it.
suppose, gentlemen, that none of us ex-
pected that, ut the close of this great war,
in which much bad blood was shed, and
more good blood shed, we should have
bright and calm skies. We anticipated
that at the close of this war, great ques-
tions would come up for settlement, the
discussion of which would be likely to
agitate this country, to shake it from
centre to circumference; but we know also
that the people had not been wanting
in any previous emergency, and we had
confidence they would be prepared to cope
with and settle satisfactorily any questions
that might be presented. Applause. =
That faith in the people and faith in that
good Providence which, having led this ma
ton through the Red Sea of battle, is not
likely to desert it now that the dreadful
passage has been accomplished.
The President policy is Straightforward
Ineligible, practicable, and no better
policy can be prescnted-and more in con-
sonance with the principles of the govern
ment, better calculated to preserve the SUI
premacy of the federal authority, while it
trenches not on the reserved and legitimate
rights of the States, more just, humane,
better fitted to bind the people ofthis great
country in Il common brotherhood, at the
same time that it places just condemnation
on treason, and vindicates the majesty of
the law. If betterpolicy can be present
ed, there is no man in the United States
who will more willingly embrace it than
Andrew johnson. (llearty cheers.) But.
until that better policy be presented, he
must be false to himself, false to his record,
and must, in fact, cease to be Andrew
Johnson fhe does not adhere to his policy
and sink or swim with it. (Cheers.) 1t is
pretty good evidence, after all, gentlemen,
of the correctness of his policy that Con-
gress, after having been in session nearly
six long months, has been unable to pre-
sent one which they can agree upon as a
substitute. Cheers and laughter.) 1t
was once said, think by John Randolph,
that of all tinkers the Constitution-tinker
Were the most to be despised. Cheers
If the old man could rise from his grave,
what would he say to the present Congress,
in which every third man at least is Con-
stitution-tinker? (Cheers and laughter
But they are not wise enough to amend
that grand old instrument, the work of
their fathers and of the founders of this re-
public-the glory of the United States and
the admiration of the world. (Cheers.)
My fellOw-citizens, there is but one
proposition that has been presented which
stands even the ghost of chance Of ac-
ceptance by the people of the north, and
that is the proposition basing representa-
tion on the voter; and whose fault is it that
that is not part of the Constitution to-
day? Why was it tnot submitted with the
amendment abolishing slavery? Whose
fault was that? Was it the fault of An
drew Johnson?
Fellow-citizens, have only this to say:
l have desired and hoped for the continu-
ance of this great Union party with which
l have ever been identified, but if its lead
ers can present nothing better than the
programme of the reconstruction commit
tee, l am greatly apprehensive that its
days will be numbered. trust, fellow-cit-
izcns, this will not the case; that it will dis
card its hostility and its attempt to contin-
ue alienation between the two sections Of
the country; and that it will embrace
those principles which look to harmony
and to restoration of peace. If it should
do this it will still continue to be the great
and controlling party of the country and
cover itself with imperishable glory. If
it does not, its days are numbered, and the
epitaph that will be written will be at
knew how to prosecute the war with vigor,
but it lacked the wisdom to avail itself Of
the benefits Of victory" (Applause.)
New YORK, May 24.-Postmaster Gen.