Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-09-21
MIR. FINRFROCK In BUCYRUs.

We "ere-iOf Without nearing MIN speak
we would never have known how very
much we are obliged to the Copperheads
of the District for putting such man in
nomination for Congress; and besides his
attempt at public speaking is one of the
richest burlesques we have ever witnessed.
Talk about the burlesque limitations Of
Alf Howard or Prof Kidd-they are
tame compared to the serious, studied ef-
forts of NJ. Finefrock, Copperhead candi-
date for Congress from the IXth District
of Ohio. Evidently unaccustomed to pub
lie speaking, Mr.. F. unfortunately does
not possess the personal graces that are
usually looked for in speaker, while his
failure to handle the sub jects he attempts
in such manner as to interest his hear
ers, brings out more fully his ungainly
gestures and positions, and strongly re-
minds one of the first attempts at recita-
ton of an overgrown school-boy.
We did not get to the Court House until
after he had commenced to speak, and
our first impression was that he was de-
livering funeral discourse, SO deathly
quiet was the audience. Mr.. jackson was
sitting in the Judges seat and had COM
pressed his ponderous form into the small
est compass in the corner, evidently wish
ling he could get further away. Mr. Beer
sat in the Clerks box, with his head down,
and eyes shut, and when Finefrock repeat
ed for the ninetieth time. "Bill Gibson-
spread-eagle-bloody hands," Pser's face
contorted as if in absolute pain. A more
thoroughly bored and disguised looking
audience we have never seen. They all
looked as if they had taken huge dose
of ipecac, and were compelled to repeat
the dose at intervals of five minutes.
To enable those who were not present
to appreciate the comic appearance of this
would-be Congressman, we must tell them
that in speaking, he has taOo gestures that
deserve mention. The first is holding
his long right arm out very stif1y at an
angle of about sixty degrees, and shaking
his bony fingers like the futtering of IN
unhedged gosling. The other gesture is,
bringing the appraised arm swiftly down
and striking the palm of the left hand
with his right. He alternates his gestures
the first word he utters is with the flut-
ter-gesture,- second word has the
clapping gesture, and so on alternately,
until he comes to a sentence he wishes to
make particularly emphatic, when with
each word he vigorously slaps the desk in
front of him. For short we will call the
gestures the sup" and 'down." Of the
speech itself, we have only to say that if
the generally received opinion is true, that
if man tells only part of story, and
withholds part, for the purpose of de-
ceiving his audience, he is thereby guilty
of falsehood, then was the speech Of Mr..
Finefrock but a string of falsehoods.
When we entered he was extolling ''the
great and good man Lincoln" Tat which
Jackson and Beer moved in their chairs
as if in pain, and we noticed a decided
disposition to hiss on the part of his audi
ence.
He told his audience that the present
difference between Congress and the Bx-
ecutive commenced during Mr.. Lincoln's
Administration-that Immediately after it
commenced, the Baltimore Convention
was held, Mr.. Lincoln was renominated
and elected by (up) and (down) over (up)
whelm- down ing (up) ma down jor-
(up) ity. A (slap) ma (futter) jority
down un- (up) prece- lslap) dented
(futter) in down the (up) history (fut-
ter) of (slap) elections" (up and hutter)
An almost perceptible groan from ely
mer. That Mr.. Lincoln having been re-
moved "by higher power than any of
US" viz: that Copperhead saint, Booth
that A. Johnson became President and
found policy already marked out for
him, and that said johnson was faithfully
carrying out the policy marked out by Mr..
Lincoln, and appealed to the Union men
present if in the face of this statement
they would be untrue to the memory of
the noble Lincoln and follow after the 'Ja-
cobins, revolutionists, disunionists of Con-
gress." This is favorite expression Of
Mr.. F., and he repeated it at about every
other sentence. So far-as Mr.. Lincoln's
death and Johnson's elevation to the Presi-
dency is concerned, Mr.. F. spoke the truth
but when he asserted that johnson was
carrying out the policy of Mr.. Lincoln, he
In, @w he was deceiving the people. And
To sbo,~ how utterly false this assumption
is lat ms a, ~uline the policy Of the two:
T. ,vou1d bo ~sier to define what Is not than
vbat ;s the Decnj;,r No policy which Mr.. johnson
and Mr. Seward have invented for adoption;
vet there are a few plain prI elPies which upder-
lie it. 1t is based upon tie ide uasIO ieslSL,
tion of Congress is required to rest. d..
States their forfeited privileges; it assuL sas
Congress can demand of them no conditl.
whatever, but is bound to admit them on demand !
to its halls. A State on this theory, may fight /
for years against this Union, and, throwing
dov its arms, at once take part in the govern
ment. Or, if there be any preparation Of meas
ures or time required, the President may alone
determine the duration of the penance and the
nature of the purgatives. His policy, in short.
has for its central idea the unlimited efficacy Of
a Presidential amnesty; those whom he has
pardoned other men have no right to question.
This is Mr.. Johnsons policy. That of Mr..
Lincoln is absolutely antipodal. 1t is well
known, and the proof is now in the possession
of the Government, that Mr. Lincoln, near the
close of the war, declared that he had NO power
whatsoever over,the reconstruction of the Union
that belonged to Congress His messages TO
Congress repeat it. His message of December,
1864, was specially intended to assure the South
ern people of the kindness they would receive
upon their submission; yet he explicitly limit
ed the extent of the mercy they could receive
from him. Some certain and other possible
questions are, and would be, beyond the Execu-
tive power to adjust; as, for instance the adnis-
sson Of members into Congress, and whatever
might require the appropriation of money.
The EGecutiue po,oer ksef ,Couid be greatly Ginir-
ished By the cessation Of actual scdr Pardons
and remissions of forfeitures, however, would
still e within Executive control" This was
well understood both North and South. No
language could be palmer than this, which, in
promising Executive clemency, limited it to in
1ividuals, and expressly disclaimed the power
20 extend it so far as to restore States to their
Did relations. Jefferson Davis, in his message of
March, 1865, faithfully repeated these opinions.
1T will further be remembered that Mr.. Lincoln
declared that the only terms on which hostilities
;ould cease were those stated 10 his message of
December last, in which we are informed that,
n the event of our penitent submission be would
al It'll l.