The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-03-18

They, at least, would stand. He well
knew, indeed, that desperate efforts had
the hostile factions Of the Republican par
ty, and that even now politicians and Office
holders were cherishing the deluding hope
that the breach could yet be healed. But
circumstances were more powerful than
men. Tbs differences were radical and ir-
ferent notions Of politics aud government,
and totally different purposes as to policy.
There is, indeed, said Mr.. ", one basis Of
| adjustment. Ii the Republican leaders
and party will consent to abandon all their
plans Of consolidat tion and Capitalization,
and Of reducing the South to the condition
| Of Hungary, Poland, Ireland, and in good
| faith unite with the President and the De-
mocratic party in the immediate restora-
tion Of the Southern States to the Union,
tion Of the whole country, there ytll be no
''splt In the party" for we shall have but
one party then; and then well know that
the Interpreters of prophecy are right, and
that the millennium is surely to dawn in
| 1866; DR.. Cummings postponement to the
contrary Notwithstanding. daughter
But do not believe that the President
| will yield or falter for moment, and If he
| will only re-organize his Cabinet, as he un-
doubtedly will very soon, then feel sure
| OF it. 1 have reasonable faith in Andrew
Johnson, and had from the first day that
he became President, believing that he
| would, in the end, do and say precisely
| what he did and said the other day. So I
declared on the 5th Of May last; for I had
! known him for years. But have power
| full faith in Providence-in circumstances,
| If you choose to so call it; and I feel sure
| that he cannot but 60 on as he has begun.
This has been my chief reliance from the
| first. No man is fit to be statesman who
does not reckon largely in his calculations
| as to the future upon the inexorable 'logic
| of events
Mr.: V. then referred to the magnitude
| and hazard Of the conflict in which the
PRESIDENT was engaged. He was glad to
! observe that Andrew Johnson did not him
sell seem to underestimate it. Every
Legislature Of every Northern and Western
State, Missouri included, was against him:
| 80 was almost every Governor oscil-
| iating in doubt--and so, certainly, a part
| OF his Cabinet. So were probably two
thirds of the House, and almost two-thirds
OF the Senate; The great mass of the Re
same way. The President had only the
people to rely upon, and their true voice
now could be heard only through public
| meeting and the Democratic and nom
radical press. All must now speak out
fearful one. If ever there was a time when
patriots everywhere should support the
government" it was now. ALI men ought
| to be tloyal in this crisis. In Republi-
can phrase, q little while ago, the Presi-
dent was the s'Government," and entitled
| thirty-tive or thirty-six States made up the
Government" ali Of them, and as the Co.
Vernment, must be sustained. He believed
the President was an earnest and was i'm
| movable, neither to be seduced nor to bo
| terrified In the end he would triumph.
| He had the whole South with him; the
whole Democratic party, already nearly
majority in the North and West, and would
have hundreds of thousands of the Repub-
| hcan masses; and all these together made
up thirds OF the people of the whole
country. He declared ambition to be The
restorer Of the Union, was the highest,
and might well satisfy the most aspiring;
| only let 1t be done in that mercy which Is
twice blessed; so that ours shall be the
| proud boast, emblaZoned for ages to come
upon the pages of our history, and belong
ing to us alone, Of all nations, from the
| beginning of time, that we ended the most
| gigantic, most costly, most bloody, most
devastating and destructive of civil wars,
| with liberty, reunion, peace and fraternal
| affection made secure, without the she'd
| blood upon the scaffold. [Great applause
| II the President, who had himself suffered
| so much at the hands of those called
I, ''rebels," could now take them into fellow
| ship upon the sole condition Of future al
| legiance to the Constitution and obedience
like charity should be extended to them by
those who, suffering nothing, had gained
honors and Offices and wealth at home,
| during the last five years-meny of them
| protesting Christians, who themselves ex-
| pected forgiveness, only through the abun-
dant mercies Of a God, than whom they
impiously aspired to be more omniscient,
wiser and more just. [Cheers.]
One thing further, he would say. The
example OF the President in refusing the
enormous patronage and really despotic
power over the South, offered to him as a
brlbe, in the Freedmen's Bureau bill, was
worthy OF all praise. Under that bill and
its kindred measures and policy, now before
Congress-, he might easily, through his
| black Janizaries, have made himselfNfor
| time at least-King, Monarch, Emperor of
America. Few such examples Of virtuous
and patriotic self-denial had occurred in
history: Caesar, in hypocrisy, thrice did
put aside the profered crown; yet at last
usurped absolute power in Rome. John
son. in sincerity and good faith, as be-
before him, yet, in fact, Intended only for
| his successor. Honor, therefore, when and
! to whom honor is due.
In conclusion, Mr.. V. again expressed his
| regret that none, or scarce any, Of those
who voted for Andrew Johnson, and who
| professed still to be his friends, had come
forward now, in the beginning Of his great
struggle with fanaticisn and permanent
dlsunlon, to sustain and hold up his hands
IN the only way practicable. Multitudes
OF them, honest men, not mere partizans,
very soon by the force Of circumstances.
The choice could not long be postponed.
! :. Under which king, Bezonian speak or
| die" would be the startling question now