Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-05-31
IMPORTANT SPEECH BY SEC
RETARY STANTON.
He Stands by The Union Party,

ded by the National Union Club Of wash.
ington OF last Wednesday night. The
President, Mr.. F. W. Seward, the Secretary
of War, ofthe Treasury, Navy, Interior,
and Postmaster-G General. responded. Mr..
Speed, Attorney-qe nj declined.
Ofthese, the Washington Chronicle sums
up the result as follows: For the People
Messrs. Stanton, Harlan, Dennison and
Speed. For tho Prssident-Andrew John
son, Mr.. Seward, Mr.. McCulloch, and Mr..
Welles.
Below we print the important speech Of
Secretary Stanten, in full.
Gentleman, on the afternoon of Thursday,
the l7tb of this month, | received q note
from the Secretary Of the National Union
johnson Club, telling me it was the design
al The association to serenade the President
and bis Cabinet, and that | would be called
upon at my residence. Immediately on re.
csipt oil this note, a rerly vas sent to the
Secretary, expressing my thanks for the
compliment. and declining the honor Of the
serenade. A similar compliment by the
patriotic association CT the Soldiers and
Sailors League lad previously been dc.
clinel. Two reasons induced my action
The last time public speech was made from
this spet, in answer to q serenade,. was the
night of Frilay, the 18th day Of April, 1865.
AT that moment, when we were rejoicing at
the downfall of the rebellion, ons of its in
will net think it strange that a compliment
sry occosion, fraught with such associations,
should not be coveted. Besides. as the
head Of a Department., my public duties
have been simply executive. After four
years Of war, the authority Of tho Federal
Government was establi-he throughout the
whole territory Of the United States, at a
sacrifice Of over 300, 900 lives of loyal soldiers.
and at q cost of more than three thousand
millions Of dollars. Nearly every household
in eight en- loyal Safes is mourning its loved
ones. A tax which may last for generations
is laid upon the food and raiment and the
necessities of every family. and the price OF
these is daily increased. The twenty mil.
lions Of Inhabitants Of the loyal States feel,
and will long continue to feel, what it costs
to uphold their Government against retel-
lion.
Tho office Of the President dcvolved upon
Mr. johnson at the death ofMr. Lincoln. on
the 18th day of April 1865. Thirteen days be-
foro that time, Richmond the seat ofthe rebel
Government, had been captured, and six
days later the rebel commander in chief,
Robt. f Lee. ~vanqnished, surrendered his
army as prisoners of war to Gen. Grant and
the forces under his command. By these
rapidly succeeding events, the rebel Govern.
ment was ovcrthrown and the official an.
thorities gave themselves up as prisoners OF
war. The Presidents annual message to
the present Congress- thus clearly states the
condition of the country, and tho question
thereby imposed upon him. al found the
State suffering from the Eff CTS of civil war.
In response to tina General Government tie
country appeared TO have exhausted itself.
The United States had possession Of their
forts and their armies were in occupation of
every State which had attempted to secede.
Whether the territory within the limits OF
these States should he held as conquered
territory, under military authority omana.
ting from the President, as the head Of the
army. was the first question that presented
its.lff for discussion.
The s cretary then quoted from the Presi'
dents message, concerning tho reopening
Of the courts. postofices and ports, and con.
tinued. BY some, il was thought Just and
expcdient that the right of suffrage in the
rebel States should be secured ia some form
to colored inhabitants of these States. either
q y ui'Si thiC, VI " 4tIUbu uuhilutu w
education, or by actual service as soldiers,
who volunteered their lives for their Gov
ernment. My own mind inclined to this
view. But after q calm and full discussion,
my judgment yielded to adverse arguments,
resting upon the practical difficulties to be
encountered in such a measure, and TO the
President conviction that to prescribe the
rule Of suffrage was not within the legiti-
mate scope Of his power. The plan of or.
ganization embodied in the proclamation to
the people of North Carolina. and the in.
structions to the Provisional Governor of
that State, exhibit the system and principles
prescribed by tho President for the substi-
tuition ofcivil authority in place Of universal
military rule 10 the insurrectionary States.
In this plan, two things presented by the
PROCLAMATION and the Presidents instructions
are worthy Of special notice.
Frst-That the organizing power is speci
hcally and absolutely restored to the people
who are loyal to the United States, and to
no others. This is In accordance with the
views often declared by Mr.. johnson from
the commencement Of the rebellion and I'M
der tho most impressive circumstances.
Second-The choice of delegates was not
only limitad to loyal people and no others,
but constitutional guarantees were required
." ss'PSSN N''ehSipottou " oiuNOtys n
sound reason for such guarantees in respect
to slavery is stated by the President in his
message namely, the necessity Of evidence
of sincerity in the future maintenance Of
tho Union, These views, expressed by the
President in his message. received and con.
tinue to receive my cordial nc1uiescence and
support. Who are the loyal people, is n
question that ought not to be difficult of
decision.
In thus distinctly recognizing the consti-
t%utional right Of each House OF Congress to
Judge of the election, returns and auali6ca.
tons of Its owl members, the President has
conformed to the plain letter Of the Consti-
tuition. 1t being the function ofeach house
to judge Of the election, returns and quali6.
cations of its members, the obligation
is implied Of taking testimony, weighing
evidence. and deciding tho question Of
membership. What testimony has been
taken, or what evidence has been presented
OF the question to either branch of Congress,
or what Judgment is 10 be given, is not known
to me, nor have ] the right of inquiring. -
Besides the step. taken by the Executive to