The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-05-24
Tho National Union Club Call on
the President and Cabinet.
Remarks Of the President
Remarks OF Assistant Secretary OF
State Fred. w. Seward.
SPEECH OF SECRETARY MeCULLOCH
SPEECH OFSECRETARY STANTON
SPEECH OF POSTMASTER GENERAL DESSISON
Letter. Of Me..r.. Harlan and speed

The President and the various members Of his
Cabinet wsre sersnsdsd last night BY the National
Union Club. attended BY very largo eoncourse Of
citirens numbering several thousand. t..
The President was the hrst to DO oomplimentod
this way. In acknowledgement Of II he came out In
front Of the Executive Mansion and standing on the
coping Of the balustrade. he made q very brief
speech. His Appearance was the signal for enthu-
siastic greetings. His words were a. follows:
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
FELLow-oIriIESs; On appearing before you this
evening II Is simply for the purpose Of rendering TO
you my thanks, my sincere thanks for this demon
stration and for the appreciation which you have
manifested on this occasion, and on many occasions
before. Such appreciation Is peculiarly gratifying
and encouraging 70 me under existing oiroum-
stances All that will DO necessary IL to persist in
the support and maintenance Of correct principles
and the day 10 not distant whom the American PEG
pie will satisfy you that the good work you have
commenced Is right A. II will so prove 10 the end.
tCheers.l repeat my thanks for Jour appreciation
Of my conduct a. public man and a public ser.
want.
The President thsn retired amid hearty applause.
The party NEXT proceeded 10 the residence Of the
Secretary Of State In the absence Of Mr. SEWARD,
the compliment was acknowledged by Mr.. FRED.
SEWARD, who said:
REMARKS OF Mr.. FREDERICK SEWARD.
FELLow-CIrIzESs On behalf Of the Secretary Of
State, thank you sincerely for this manifestation
OF your kindness. regret that he 10 not here to-
night for am sure that II would give him pleasure
to witness and share in your demonstration Of
patriotic feeling Of fidelity To the Union, and Of
appreciation Of the wise and earnest efforts Of the
President for Its restoration. tchssrp.
The Secretary Of the Navy was next called upon.
In acknowledgment fthe compliment, Mr.. wELLEs
said:
SPEECH OF SECRETARY wELLEs.
I thank you, gentlemen, DOR this compliment,
which suppose Is TO the Administration end It's
policy, which we one and all approve. [Cheers.
You need not expect any remarks from me- for 1
do not intend 70 make any. You are, one and all,
suppose, for the Union, and for the establish ment
Of the rights Of the States [Cheers.l These are
my views. (Cheers
SECRETARY M'cULLocH's SPEECH.
The Secretary Of the Treasury was next called
on Mr. MoCuLLocH said:
fELLow-CIrizBSs: You are aware that I am not
In the habit OF making speeches, and take It for
granted, therefore, that In making this call upon
me you intended only TO pay me q passing compli-
mont and not to elicit from me any extended re-
marks. Ishall not disappont you. ! shall not
be ungrateful for your Kindness as to inict upon
you . speech. Ny position, gentlemen, in refer
ence to the issues which are now engaging the pub
lie attention arc not, apprehend, misunder.
stood BY you. lCheers I took occasion, last
fall among my old friends in Indiana, to define MY
position, and since that time have seen no occa-
sion to change much less to abandon It. Applause
1 will say, Therefore, as suppose must say some
thing on this occasion, that the general policy of
the President In reference to the Southern States
and tho people recently In arms against the Federal
Government, has commended itself to my deliberate
Judgment. tCheen. And although Il has been
violently and, In some instances, yndictiveIy as
sailed, have an abiding conviction that II will be
approved By the people when they shall be allowed
loud cheers This plan Is fairly stated in the
platform Of the Club which many Of you represent
need not say, therefore, In regard to that plat.
FORM any more than thatI subscribe to all Its doc
trines, fully and without reserve. tCheersl
suppose, gentlemen, that none Of US expected
that at the close Of this great war In which much
bad blood had been exerted, and more good blood
had been shed. We should have bright skies and
calm seas. take II for granted that most Of us
expested that ut the close Of the war there would
be passion and pique, and perhaps violence, which
II would take time to bring into proper subjuga.
ton. But, although We anticipated this we knew
that the people Of the United States would be pre
pared for whatever might come up. We anticipated
At the close Of the war great questions would cbme
up for settlement, the discussion Of which would be
likely to agitate this country-to shake 1t, per.
haps, from centre to circumference. But we knew
also that the people had not been wanting In any
previous emergency, and We had confidence that |
they would be prepared to cope with and settle sat
isfactorily any questions that might be presented
In the future. tApplsuse.l That faith Is with us
now. u Is strong with US tonight. We have faith
In the people, and we have faith in that good
Providenee which, having led this nation through
the red sea Of battle Is not likely to desert 1t now
that the dreadful passage has been accom- lished.
The President Of the United States, gentlemen,
stands before the country in no doubtful attitude
HIS voice gave utterance to no uncertain Language
when II denounced treason at the outbreak Of the
rebellion In the Senate Of the United States.
tCheers He showed no faltering fidelity when,
counting everything as Of no value, as mere dust in
the balance In comparison with the Union and the
Constitution, he went back TO Tennessee to fight
treason and secession 10 their strongholds and peril
hi, life aad the lives Of his family. Cheers.
His policy Is straightforward Ineligible, practi-
cal II 4 better policy can be presented one more
In consonanee with the principles Of the Govern
mont better calculated to preserve the supremacy
OF Federal authority, while II trenches not on the
reserved and legitimate rights Of the States more
Just, more humane, better fitted TO bind the people
Of this great country In . common brotherhood, at
the same time that 1t places just condemnation on
treason and yindioatss the majesty Of the law-if
such policy can DO presented, there IL no man in
the United States who will more willingly embrace
It than Andrew johnson. Hearty cheers But
until that better policy be presented he must be
false 10 himself false TO his record, and must In
fact cease to be Andrew johnson, II he docs not
adhere to his policy and sink swim with 1t.
Cheers 1t Is pretty good evidence after ALL gen.
temen, Of the correctness Of his policy that Con-
gress, after having been in session nearly six long
weary months. has been unable to present. one
which they can agree upon rs substitute. [Cheers
and lAughter.l II was once said. think by John
Randolph, that Of all thinkers the Constitution tink-
er were the most to DO deprecated. fCheers I 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 a consultation tinker2 lCheers
and lAughter.l But they are not wise enough to
amend that grand old instrument, the work Of our
patriot fathers Of the founders Of the republic the
ylory Of the United States and the admiration Of
The world. Cheers Ny fellow citizens, there Is
but one proposition that has been presented which
Itands evan the ghost Of ohance-oi acceptance by
he people, Of the North, End that Is the proposition
DAsing representation on voters. And whose fault
Il that that Is not part Of the Constitution to.
lay' Why was It not submitted with the amend
mont Abolishing slavery? Whose fault was that?
A voice. The COpperheAds
Other voices. Thad Stevens.
Mr.. McCulloch. Was II the fault Of Andrew
Johnson Shouts Of The fault Of Cobgress''-1
'ThAd, stevens'-And counter cheers for Mr..
lteysns.l II the course which the President was
'ursuing was obnoxious to the charges made against
In the recess Of Congress, how happened II that
here was no denunciation OF Il until the meeting
n COngroBB2 How hAppanOd IL that thAse JupiterN