Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-02-27
The PEOPLE IN COUNCIL |
MEETING AT MARYLAND INSTITUTE
GREAT ENTHUSIASM!
President Johnson Endorsed
TIE SPEECHES ON THE OCCASION
Senators Doolittle and Cowan.
THE RESOLUTIONS, &c.

'io Vi the principles and views powerfully adyo-
Gated in his Veto Message" attracted an immense
congregation at the Maryland Institute last evening
The spacious hall crowded to its utmost capacity
long before the meeting was organized-thc Blues
Band IN the meantime, enlivening tho scene with
several patriotic airs.
Inc rear of the hall, directly over the speakers
stand. was handsomely decorated by the national en-
sign.
About shalfpast seven o'clock several Of tho ora
tors announced for the occasion entered the hall
and upon reaching the platform were greeted with
applause. This was followed by. "Three cheers fer
Andrew Johnson, from the crowd present.
AT the appointed hour, Hon. P. W. Grain approach
ed the front of the stand and nominated Lieutenant
Governor c. c. Cox as President of the meeting This
unanimously concurred in, and Henry Webster
ESQ, was chosen Secretary. Upon assuming the
chair Mr.. Cox said:
FELLOW -CITIzENs:-I cannot be insensible to the
manner OF this reception, much less to the distin-
gulshed and unexpected honor of being invited to
preside over so large and intelligent an assembly as
ant to reflect that for the first time for years those
who have been separated in their councils and op-
posed IN opinion. are again together, [Cheers The
national emblems which adorn these walls-the
strains OF patriotic music which greet our ears
clearly indicate that here to bury old animos-
leS and to sacrifice prejudices and differences
upon common altar-and that altar, the country
tremendous cheers. l hail this meeting there
fore. as the harbinger of auspicious era in
our city and State, an era of returning concord and
friendly intercourse among those who have been
so sadly and widely esranged. rejoice that we can
meet upon one broad platform, and would that
here in our dear old State full of promise if we
but true to interests the last lingering
cause of Irritation might be put out of the way and
zens, and as friends Cheers.
We are assembled tonight, for the purpose of ex-
pressing hearty and unqualified concurrence in
the policy and administration of President Johnson
Applause. That policy is simply 20 restore to the
great constellation of States such of them as have
every hindrance out OF the way, to return to the
wholecountry, from center to circumference, that
substantial peace without which it is vain to hope
for Soundly restored nationality.
The tragedy which introduced Mr. johnson into
the Presidential Office need not recite The Execu-
tive of the nation had been suddenly deprived of life
the war had Just ended and all the delicate duties
and responsibilities, all the perplexing problems Of
the opening era became suddenly transferred to the
new President. The inquiry natural as to the
precise course he would pursue. That question has
been fully answered, and you will agree with me
man in the right place. tApplause From the first
hour of his entrance into office he has been accessi
b Courteous na % kind patriotic pa and statssmane; @ nj;
! functions. and conscentiOusly resolved to do his
whole duty to the whole country, North and South.
| lCheers.
1t is not to be presumed that his official acts would
please every body, and hence have sprung up as you
know, unhappy differences of opinion, eliminating
in open antagOnism to the course Of the President
Special objection has been offered to the OF the
| Freedmens Bureau bill, 1.-THE Bureau BillI
| nlSSeul, CI WHICH you nave uOuDteSS all heard
much within the past week or two. This opposi-
| ton appears somewhat unreasonable, since the
existing bureau. which has certainly progressed
most avOraby in the Southern States, has yet by the
admission of the friends of the measure one
longer to after the proclamation of the end
| of the shall have been announced The message
| in my opinion, is calm, temperate, respectful
| statesmanhke and unanSworable paper, applauseI
and in saying so wish to treat with entire respect
| those who may differ from in the views | ad-
The President, in the exercise of guaranteed priv
4
bity which he could not have evaded, if he would
has nterposed his diSapprOval of measure arrayed
n his judgment, against the safeguards OF popular
hoIrty; society and good goyernment tending TO
tihfal bankruptcy by the overwhelming expenditure
i Ffould Occasion armiDg the Executive with auto
cratic powers; forcing legislation upoa large part o.
the Union represented by no voice in the Congress o.
| the United States. and by diminishing the whole
some incentive to labor and economy really damap.
ing the intere.. Of the colored race, which in com
mon with all humane and patriotic men, the Presi
dent would tain protect and improve by every suia
| BILE means in his reach IAppause.l 1 have no hes
ItaIon In giving to tins measure my own humble but
cordial support, and | mistake the temper of the
times if this be not the judgment of large proper
| tlon OF the American people. 4Cheersl
| The day of extreme theories of public policy Is
fast passing and those from the northern or southern
stand point who entertain such views, must give
way before the grand national conservative army
which is marching with steady tramp to the rescue
IncreasSed applause.l Upon the deck OF the old
| merely trim the sails, but control the helm-who
| instead of adding teTrors to the whirwind and
| difficulties and dangers thicken around him. We
have all reason to be proud of the Executive of the
ban be ns Andrews johnson
| stands as sublimey intrenched as the great Ken
tuekian. when he declares that he will not b. can
ddate for reelection; but at the same time pro-
nOunces with ringing emphasis, that during the
| four years upon which he has entered he intends
HIMsELF, TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
| STATES!
Will you then, the sovereign people, sustain him
in the policy so happily inaugurated by his lamented
oh, hn
| out in good faith? In you reposes the strength
upon your wisdom and faithfulness the destinieS
the nation hang. Public officials are, after all, but
| your servants: You are the masters. The will o
the people is the law of the land. and the who
has the temerity recklessy to oppose that will must
| will sweep him from the path.
But am conscious of transcending the limits of
mere Introductory address, and will close what have
to say; [cries of go ont; especially, as dstin-
guished gentlemen are present so much more capable
of entertaining you, and to whom you are ALL know
| desirous to give your attention.
| Before | sit down, permit the expression of my
sincere qualification that so large and highly re-
spectable portion of the mercantile and business
interests of the city is represented here tonight
| However the sources of our prosperity may have
languished during the war now, a city and
State occupying far better relation to the future
| than we have ever enjoyed No brighter day has
dawned upon any part Of the country than now gilds
| the soil of Maryland. The tide which leads to all
that is great and prosperous at its food. If fail
to seize the advantages of the hour the fault will be
| our own. Remember success must be in proportion
10 UNITY OF council ana e1ort 10 this end let
culcate that divine precept which the Son of Mary
taught the fishermen upon the banks of the Jordan
| Love thy neighbor!" Let US have rest and not
For myself the strife of arms over desire to cul-
tivate no longer the sentiments inspired by war
wish them tossil2ed as soon possible. ] want to
see the sword converted into the plowshare and
the spear into the pruning hook and the country to
learn war no more. tCries of Hear, hear" and
| applause We should be done with wrangling
| and fighting | repeat we want, peace--solid
peacepeace in which old animosities shall be buried
beyond the possibility of resurrectonod feuds
gotten-peace which will open the choked channels
of enterprise, individual, municipal State and ma
tiona and by uniting all hearts and hands, strength
en- the Government, and contribute towards the ad-
vancement and elevation of the whole undivided
country. North and South, East and West. Loud
The smoke of battle longer hangs over the from
tier; the flag floats again everywhere: the South has
surrendered in good faith; acquesced in emancipa-
tom endorsed through her Legislatures the Consti-
| tutional amendment. and her Representatives are
| knocking at the doors of Congress for admission.
| let them in. We have no right to keep them out.
| The sooner the different parts of the Union are
brought together, the better for them and for US.
tax to support the Government, and refuse them
the right Of representation. Prolonged applause,
continuing for some time.
| [ will not detan you longer than to extend my
sincere thanks for your kind attention, and to ex-
press the hope that the influence of this meeting may
be for good not only here in midst, but in every
| part OF this old Commonwealth of Maryland.
| RESOLUTIONS.
Tne following resolutions. offered by Judge Grain,
were then read by the Secretary and unanimously
adopted:
This meeting has been assembled to enable the
people to express their opinions in relation to the
reconstruction policy and the message of President
| johnson.
| 1t was known that The people of Maryland, with
an unanimity never before surpassed would endorse
these measures as wise, patriotic, and calculated
not merely to maintain the UniOn but to combine in
its support nearly the entire population of the State
The masses of the people the friends of President
Johnson and desire nothing more than this Oppor-
tunlty to make known their determination to do all
that men do to sustain the Chief Magistrate in
but for the entire country. Therefore,
Be Il ResOt0ed, That this meeting endorse and ap-
prove the reconstruction policy of President John
son, and We. who are here assembled, pledge our
selves to maintain hls just and righteous measures.
| Be q Re3OtUed, That in the veto message which
President johnson has lately sent to the Congress of
the United States he has shown himself to be true
termiDaton to maintain the Union and Constitution
of the United States and to extend to all parts of
the country a Republican form of Government with
all the rights OF representation to which the people
North and South are justly and equally entitled
Resotged, That we cordially approve the decara-
tion of President johnson, that the Constitution of
the United States is to be maintained in the spirit of
our forefathers who adOpted it, and against all the
factOuS aggressOrs who are striving to overthrow
it and to make the Federal Government an arbitrary
and consolidated power. And that We will unite with
the President in main taing Institutions not
ly in form, but in spirit and substance with all the
rights safeguards and securities essential to its
preservation.
Resoued, That under existing circumstances it is
future urnsnpritv of hot