New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-23
A REVIEW OF THE POLITICAL SITUATION.
The Duration Of Parties of no Account Com
pared with the National Life.
Reconciliation more than reconstruction, The Great
Need Of The Country,
Arprav. n Y. I,ues1ay, May ~, 1863.


The meeting organized BY the appointment OF Mayor
Fowler as President. with So Vice Presidents.
committee of three was appointed to wait upon Mr.
Seward and conluct him to the Hall
Mr. Seward was received with enthusiastic applause,
and proceeded to address the audience as follows;
MR. sEwAaDs REMARKS.
MY GOOD FRIEyDs-Your kind importantly viii not
avail me excuse for speaking If ought to Keep
silence Perhaps however the solicude which peryades
the country may justify US all IN conversng upoh
political questions IN candid ana la'nono
spirit. We were together here IN October last
The national condition has undergone some material change
that time. We were then on the verge OF series Of
tuaeousy claim to be Democratic organized with their Gus
tcmary machinery and ovaiions They had wisely eeased 70
dencunoe failure the Tor TIE Union which had a. last
become glorious success They thought 70 undermine the
distinctive party o. the union by affecting new bora adms,
lion for It's caef Andrew Johnson Tav s@-s Ho1lous 20
prove devotion superior TO ours by committing them
Toy nscrbei our Admnistrstion notices of recon.
citation upon their nswywrough banners and reorgan'
is.ug their Struggling lines well as they so y couu
tby vebeneoty Charged onward for partisan not patriotic
victory What lad the Dema0Ts:.s ss4srs to make this
charge was the striking L may call Il, the marvellous
phenomenon which was just then exhibited on the
community tina, bghted end desc lated region accepting
the conditions OF partial amnesty and the invitations 10 re-
turning allegiance which proclaimed b the Admnstra
ton al at renowned the principles practices and policy
OF Secession and DsuniOn tondEed Us now covenant OF
LOYALTY sealed with their oaths and brought forward
aacr,y the OF their long cherished institution OF Sa
very and cheerfuy threw them 70 be burned upon the Con
tuona which they had newly restored These uuex
pected changes he attitude of political adyersares once so
obstinate naturally enough excited suspicious lonsles anu
apprebensions loyal and tried Union men II was TIE
old Of William OF Orange who having IN owl war pat
down the Tories atterward found necessary to cede to re-
pentDg Jacobics and Papis the right Of citizenship IL
the case which has ever occurred ana "Ach mus
occur as the end OF successful resistance 70 repeion
How could Democrats and Rebels DO converted 70
the support OF a triumphant Union Administration
This was not tue question eyerywhee PM Dy tLe 1eSus
leaders Of the Union party was at that nom mt that an
wered that question by asking others VIZ How could Dem
ocras and Rebels avoid beng converted Is MOI men con-
version that couended for and that you nov desire
expressed the opinion that the condition OF peace with s new
responsibilities must henceforth DO IN good faith accepted
advised prompt and complete reconciliation with the resiora
ton at OF the constitutional symmetry OFT Union re
ecng ungenerOus suspicion that the Rebels and their
Democratic abettors only changing their political sat
eyoy cift,sos' and brethren urged that tsis wond
ba safely done II only the tried iiends Of
the Administration. remaining united and harmonious and
retaining their justly acquired prestige houd themselves
promptly and secure TO the nation the enjoy meat
Of ardenty desired peace and ndpensaby required prosperity
the friends OF the Union acted upon that policy
The elections eyerywhere resulted the defeat and overthrow
Of the Democratic Organization and placed the administration
Of Andrew johnson beyond the reach OF danger home or
abroad The work Of reconciliation las expectation
Indeed has had parallel in human Affairs With IN
connections and disturbances less serious than ose
which sometimes attend popular elections In free country in
time Of profound peace the heretofore asoy people o.
gnis. Tennessee North Carolina south Carolina Georgia
Arkansas Mississippi Louisiana Florida and Texas sue
cessivey, nay almost simultaneously. assembled aud /
adopted new constitutions IN conformity win the Soes
tuition Of the United States. They uptlrned rebellion
with all It's farspreadng roots and eli its poisonous fruits and
they accepted aud atned the hen penasg
the Constitution OF the United States hich abO
have at the same time chosen io themselves p ee ana un
controlled suffrage Governors Legislatures Judieiaes and
municipal authorities Between tie Federal Government and
these restored and reorgenzed State Governments there
exists complete and practical harmony than has
msmbers since established Within the time the
Executive Department Of the nteG states hss assumed It's
The Department speaks for them with their Tree consent
10 urincipates and powers The Treasury collects the
anorts and there the War Department
tributes forces and wherever seems ncces-
sy ssu Int s eIpror factions The navy Of the United
States rides freely all their reOpened ports and herDos the
the knowledge which is revivying blood Of united Re
public The Interior Department pays pensions, protects
nistration The Attorney General prosecues traitors and
other dsurbers ofhe peace there before Courts Al
this has of the people
OF those States absolutely free from military control while e
Army Of United States instead Of being increased sss
reduced from 500 900 Of men TO some 6oeO OF eg
Tie expenses Of the Federal Government have been reduced
from million end han per ga! 70 sum iess .nSn ,1s .S
receipts Of the Treasury and the great be N every sense
sacred debt Union is already perceptby diminished
Foreign nations desed from Intervention and assumed
lately dsoya States desiring TO pass the last stage oil reSor
them in Inc Senate aud Members 10 answer Tor them M the
House Representatives,. Those representatives ore IN dsy
is more vigorous and effective than ever before In tie
lately disloyal States capital and labor combining and
them ia altogether are beginning with success 10
oberae the tracks Of RUN s1o ss 70 10y
pleasing picture. Irregularities defrm every human Sek
and The telescope reveals dark pots even on the surface
of the glowing In view Of the rapid progress OF peace and
reconciliation might well expect 70 hnd The country inot
Anehty God such indeed conceive to be the real state Of
the public mind. MANY citizens are unpePared 70 accept ne
imnroyed situation Of affairs Political zeal gives ny felue
nny ts contests the dead past and stretches HORRIBLY
forward catch the Omens OF an sncean future Ih haDI
OF apprehension 10 natural enough anu nas avs
uses other hand conscience reason and judgment
are the only practical gudss % uSane and to believe that
tine country North aud South. East and west IN par
& nv and fearful revolution think that oil these fears
are born in misapprehension and uninenona
The feature Of the affairs which distufb the puDc iAu
nnposed divergence between the President and the Repre-
Sentstyes in Congress Of the National Union party ION
power agree il Is altogether easier and altogether
more desirable that the work Of reconciliation so happily be
ned and ended under auspices of the National Union
party and Of the President ana Congress as the re
Il t"'S would be a sad misfortune If divergence be.
decline and downfall Of the National Union party dear
10 me for identified with its rapid rise It's majestic
ress well expect be equally involved in the calamity
which should dismiss the Union party ron the national con
els and see with modification the great responsibilities TO
which the party had that proved itself unequs as
sumed and discharged by some new and yet undeveoped pc
cal organization Bat President Congress statesmen ana
parte arc Of no account estimation when weighed
against the national life the national e lately hung on the
issue of reconciliation in peace The nation must live
n must forever whether receive the neeaed care 40 any
emergency the hands Of one President Congress sho party
or AZ The bands OF another reasoned IN s way ABOUT inc
triumph the war reason IN the same way aDT
reconciliation and peace lexpeet that s lee t.a
be found b. right as am now admitted 70 nave peen
right year two years three YEAR ss. hetwcs ,h
Pysdent the Congress- and tue patty Of the mon aunt
mai the ealosies and suspicious Of the last were
onIy temporarily aayed not e1ngushed by the Leeoa' OF
Soyauher They been sodulousy CHERISHED ana IN
creased until they have revealed themselves ID NHa
debates in the press snd popular assembn 1unis
that the National Union party In Congress mas
a. vet been unable either 20 accept OF REJECT 'ue
euynis ~ ,ba Presiden wide and enduring separation
coHpot however be made between Congress and the rre
dent without having for It's ground serious 1iHe''' P"
some cardinal political question
AT this Point il will be well 10 settle io yourselves "het is
that we are desiring effected by The President ara Con
grss We ali agree that desire aud seek ls "ha the pa
r'o' w llnuOi accent leEE