The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-05-16

From the St. Louis Republican, MAY 10.
The following is full report of Gen Blair's
speech at Macon City, on Monday last
Mr.. President and Fellow citizens:
teel confident that the importance of tho
ssues pending before the people of the coun-
try in the ensuing election will give me your
attention upon this occasion, in attempting,
as far as l am able, to throw some light pom
these very vital matters.
As has already been said by the president
of the meeting, the parties now existing in
our country are separated by clear and we'll
defined issues. Upon the cessation of the
war. Andrew johnson succeeded to the nresi-
dency and succeeded to the policy of his
predecessor, Abraham Lincoln. That policy
which he had laid down by his proolamasions,
by his official orders, and the messages to
congress, were precisely the same which An
draw johnson has preserved since he sue
ceeded him In the presidency. You will not
forget that early in this war the congress- of
the United States declared in the most EN-
pha,ic manner that this war was prosecuted.
not for the purpose of subjugsting the south.
ern states, but simply to vindicate the Union
and maintain it's integrity, and that 80 soon
as that should be accom- plIshed all the states
formerly comprising the Union shauld be re.
cieved back into the Union with all their
rights aud privileges unimpaired. This res
olution, the substance of which simply give
the language is much more eloquent than
l can hope TO impart, because it was the Ian
guags Of Crittsnden. of kentucky-this reso-
luton received the sanction of every member
of congress in both houses. 1t received the
votes of Mr.. Summer and Mr.. Stevens. But
my friends, the battle of Bull Run had Jus,
been decided against us, and these gentlemen
promises, pledges and propositions as to their
future course, because they said, that to re-
establish the Union required that every man
who was in favor of the msinsainance of oul
government should rally TO its support, and
that no man should be kept away by any
doubt as to what was to be the policy of the
party in power when the rebellion was once
put down-that the men should not be deter.
red from maintaining the Union by any ap-
prehension that conditions would be laid mp
on those states incom patible with the Union
itself
Therefore, suggest this as the motive, be-
cause they have since 30 widely departed
rom the pledge which they thus gave, for
his resolution received the unanimous assent
of both houses OF congress- Subsequently,
az our armies progressed In their yiotorious
career, and wnen we became possessed of the
states OF Louisi"n" "Io VI Arkansas, Presi-
dsnt Lincoln issued his proclamution to tho
nsopls, in which he said that II one tenth Of
the people of those states-one-tenth of the
- rnnulation of those states-would tai =
~ 9Th nf allegiance, they might elect their
'ne go and their members of congress and
80. thar reprssentation in congress and
c en. :. -orld use his entire power to Civ,
49,. shair places as states in the Union. ID
sns. this in his last message to congress
rgpess the Same doctrine in every mes
. ~ hs .var sent to congress-. Whenever q
s sszchsd mon this snIect-to ell oversuf !:
49, Tia .dyersariss of our governmen.
. LII. made this one uniform reply: lie