The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-25
..,a,, ,ho wort NJ our patriot fAthers. O,


the world. tChccrs.l
Nv fellow citizens, there Is but one pro-
position that has been presented that stands
even the ghost of chance of acceptance
by the people of the north; and that Is
the proposition basing representation on
voters. And whose FAULT is it that that is
not a part of the Constitution to-day ?
Why was il not submitted with the amend
mcnt abolishing slavery? Whose fault
was that
VoiccS,-Thc Coppcrhcads.
Other voiccs.-Thad. Stcvens's.
Mr.. McCulloch.--W il the fault OF
Andrew Johnson Shouts of The fault
of Congress" Thad. Stevens" and couh-
ter cheers for Mr.. Stcvcns.l Ii the course
which the President was pursuing was oo-
noXiouS 10 the charges made against IL on
the recess of Congress, how happeh'a II
that there was no dcnunciation OF II nh'li
the meeting of Congress- How happened
il that these IupitcrS IonanS OF Congress
wrr, aS silent a~ though they had been
dumh' Those men whose duty II was L"
stand on the rampartS Of the Constitution
and alarm the people 81 approaching dan
Ger, why did they not dcn"uncc that policy
and demand OF the President of the United
States a convention of Congress No such
demand was made. NoSuch dcnunciaton
was then heard. We did hear voice
from Pennsylvania, | believe, and perhaps
Il response from Massachusetts,. Laugh
teri But the people were silent. The
press was silent, if not approving.
Fellow Citizens, did not intend speak
ing So much. Voices, go on.'I have
only this to say: have desired and hoped
for the continuation OF the great Union
party with which have ever been idcnti-
fed. lChccr>.l But il its leaders can
present nothing better than the programme
Of the committee, am greatly apprchcn-
>ivc that lis day, will be numbered.
iChccr>.
trust, fcll"w-citizcnS, that this will not
be the case. that il will discard its hostility
aud It's attempt to continue alienation be-
tween the two sections Of the country, and
7 that il will embrace those principles which
look L. harmony, 10 restoration, and 10
peace. II it should do this, il will continue
10 hc the great and controlling party OF the
country, and cover itself with impcriShablc
glory. II il does not, It's days are mum
bcrcd, and the cptaph that will be written
on il will be, /" II knew how to prosecute
the war with vigor, but it lacked the wis
dom to avail itself Of the benefits OF vic
tory" Applause, and three cheers for
Secretary McCulloch.l
/ The Secretary Of War was next called
upon--thc band playing " Rally Round the
Flag" "Whcn Johnny Comes Marching
Home" and other airs.
MIR. STATIONS SPEECH.
\ more lame and impotent speech than
Mr.. Stamon'S, which he declared he had
written down, We nave rarely read. Con
traStcd with the out>pollcu manner OF Sc
crctary McCullcch'>, it is contemplate.
Mr.. Stanton, after a long preface, said the
Presidents earliest reconstruction mca-
>urcS received the sanction Of every mcm-
Der OF the Cabinet. At first, Stanton
/ thought Congress ought to regulate suffrage
for the States, but he doesn't think 50 now.
I He is for restricting the organizing power,
however, to people "who are loyal, and
none uthrrS"-whatcvc that means. He
holds that Congress must decide irr itself
a to members who Shall he admitted. He
had not troubled himself about it, and
knew nothing about it, because il was none
al his business. He favored the Freed
mems Bureau bill. He didn't say whether
hr was in favor Of the Civil Rights act or
not. but said that as it was a law of the
land it was not now subject Of debate.
I lie said the same about the Bureau bill,
but added his endorsements On the sub
irct Of the Reconstruction Committee )
plan, Mr.. Stanton managed to make himself
understood, and we quote his remarks in
full:
TO the plan reported 10y the Joint Com
mttcc have not been able IL give nay
assent. II comtrmplatcs an amendment 10
the Federal Constitution, the third section
Of the proposed article being in these
terms: SFC. 3. Until the 4th day OF July,
in the year one tt"$0'd eight h"'L'"d
oym >rr,"'H all persons who voluntarily
adhered 10 the late instruction, giving II
aid and comfort, >haH b. crc'"ici from the
right 10 vote for representatives III Con
grrS<, and for electors for President and
Vice President OF the United States" II
is urged hy the advocates Of this plan that
this third section is the vital one, without
which the others are of no value. Its cX-
elusive action will no doubt commend ii 10
the feelings Of many as a wise and Just
provision. But | am unable 80 10 regard
il. because for four years il binds Congress
to exclude from voting for representatives
for Presidential electors all persons who
voluntarily adhered 10 the late inSuwec-
ton. giving ii aid and comfort" No mat
ter what may he the condition of the coun-
try. nor what proofs of present and future
LOYALTY may he given, al absolute conSti-
tutional bar is to he erected for four years
against a large class ot persons. Change
OF circumstances and condition often work
rapid changes in party or political Sentl-
mcnt, and nowhere with more marked re-
suits than in the south. 1t is believed that
elements of change are now at work there,
stimulating on one side to loyalty, aud on the
other tending To continued hostile feelings.
In my Judgment, every proper lncltcment
IL union should he fuStcrcd and cherished,
and for Congress to limit its own power
hv constitutional amendment, for the pc
riod OF four Years, might be dcplorahlc III
It's result. To those who differ, | accord
the same honesty, and perhaps greater
wisdom than can claim for myself. As
he proposed plan now stands, | am unable
To perceive the necessity, justice, or WIS
dom of the measure; but having no place
nor voice in the body before which the
measure is pending, | disclaim any purpose
to interfere beyond the expression OF my
own opinion.
p,.,ru .S,rlp rts<rR,, urXNISoE'S SPEECH