The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1866-03-24
secretary Stewards Speech.

NEW YORK, February 29d.-The Cooper Insti-
tute was crowded tonight u endorse the Pre>i-
dent. Hon. T. b. Cutting occupied the chair.
Hon. David Dudley Field offered a written ad-
dress and resolution. that the first question
before the people \ the pacitcatIon Of the cOun-
Try. The conflict of passion should cease all
agree that the freedmen must be given all the
evil rights enjoyed by other citizens. viz
Equality before the law. Whether they shall
have suffrage Is a dividing question, and this be-
longs exclusively 10 the States.
The address commends the Presidents veto.
and expresses the belief that the exclusion of
eleven States from Congress Is a manifest usurp-
alton.
Secretary Seward said q" am not here as an
alarmist | am not here 10 say the nation i in
peril: or that it would be in peril if You adopt
or REJECT the views Of the majority in Congress.
The country l. not in peril any way nor do |
think the progress of the ameIioration Of the
condition Of the negro or civilization Is in peril.
whether you adopt one set Of political opinions
or another. The only difference Is. one pilot
says We may steer directly through the difficult
ties OF reconstruction without delaying the pro-
greSs OF the old ship Of state, and another saws
We must take the soundings, and proceed eau
tIously, and 20 around these difficulties. He
should not practice usual charity if he did not
think them both honest.
" Congress agoniZes over the question of re-
constructions, not because the war has not come
out right. but because they have not individually
had a hand in bringing it 10 u happy termina-
ton. | hoped there would be no serious diff
Guilty from the conviction that there never was.
nor never can be. any successful process for re-
storing the Union IN harmony among the States,
except the one with which the President has
announced himself satisfied. The President is in
harmony with all the States that We're in rebel
lion, and the executive and judicial departments
are r~esuming their functions. LOYAL Represen-
tativeS, more or less from these States. are row
standing at the doors OF Congress. and have been
standing for three months, asking 70 be admitted.
Representatives from States which were disloval
had previously left. Meanwhile Congress paSSe
law after Law, imposes burden after burden, and
duty after duty upon States which. against their
earnest desire, are left unrepresented. Say what
You will, the States are already in harmony with
an amended Constitution, and are in earnest co.
with the Federal Government. 1t Is
impossible TO reduce the Southern States TO a
territorial condition.. Congress has had a Re-
construction Committed of fifteen members who .
have stopped the wheels of legislation three
months To enable them TO submit a plan diff
terent from that which is now on the eve
of a happy contamination, and what have they
given Us "a proposed amendment u the Consti-
tuition to compel the excluded States to equalize
suffrage on penalty of abridgment of representa-
ton. This was no plan of representation. This
no plan of reconstruction but of obstruction. +
Z" The conflict in opinion between the Presi-
dent and Congress, in reference 10 the E~reedmen's
Bureau, Is. IN It's consequences. comparatively
1t would excite little interest if it
stood alone. Both agree this Bureau was crea-
for a transition period, between war and
peace, and should cease at the end Of that pc
riod. The President thinks that period nearly
passed, and that the original provision is, sufli-
Client while Congress thinks the original pro-
vision needs enlarging. | agree with the Presi-
dent in the hope that this extraordinary proyis-
ion is not necessary. Ought the President to be
in the house of his enemies. much
more ought he to be denounced in the house of
bis friends for refusing TO observe any necessity
to occupy, retain or exercise powers greater than
those which are exercised by any imperial magis-
trate in the world? Judge ye.
- trust this fault Of declining imperial pow
srs too hastily rendered by a too c%onfiding Con
Zre,S, may be forgiven by Il generous people. II
be Il sad hour for the Republic, when the
'eiusal of unnecessary powers and patronage by
he President shall be esteemed Il crime when 1t
shall - be considered. the time will have arrived
or setting up at the White House an imperial
hrone and surrounding the. Executive with i'm
ocrial legions."
The meeting was also addressed by Postmaster
General Dennison. Henry j. Raymond. Francis
3. Cutting, Daniel :. Dickinson and George
and dispersed at a late hour.