Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-04-26

between Tennessee and the rest of the Union.
with one exception, and that was the relation OF
representation. L came to Washington, and un-
der extraordinary circumstances succeeded to the
Presidential chair. [ then proceeded, as 7 had
done in my own State, under the direction of the
Government, to restore the other States and how
did we begin - : !"
We find that the people had no courts. and VIC
said to the Judges, the District Attorneys and
Marshals, ''go down and hold Your courts The
people need the tribunals of justice to be opened "
Was there anything wrong in that The courts
were opened What else ? We looked ont and
saw that the people down there had no mails
They had been interrupted and cut off by the OPP
eratlons of the rebellion. We said to the Post
master General, et the people have facilities for
mail communication, and let them begin again to
understand what we all feel and think that we
are one people
He looked out again and saw that there was Il
DlOckade-that the custom houses were all closed.
We said: open the doors of the custom house
and remove the blockade. Let trade commence
and the pursuit of peace be restored, and it was
done. We thus travelled on step by step, opening
up custom HOUSES appointing collectors, establish
ing mail facilities and restoring all the relations
that had been interrupted by the rebellion. Has
there been anything undertaken to be done here
that was not authorized by the Constitution? That
was not justified by the great necessities of the
case that has not been clearly cOnsonant with
Of our Government Cheers.
What remained to be done? One other thing
remained to demonstrate to the civilized and pa
gan world that had passed successfully through
| The third ordeal of national existence and
proved that government was perpetual \
great principle was to be restored which was cs-
tablisEed in our revolution when fathers were
Icontendln8 against the power of Great Britain
What of the principal causes of their COM
plant? 1t that they denied representa-
ton. They complained of taxation without rep
rescntatiOn. Cheers. One of the great princi-
pies laid down by our fathers and which fired their
| hat CHI l, toS1t
out representation.
How then does the matter stand Who has
been usurping power? Who has been defeating
the operation OF the constitution, and what now
remains to be done to complete the restoration of
these States TO all their former relations under the
federal government, and to finish the great ordeal
through which we have been passing 1t is to
admit representation Cheers. And when
~ay admit Representations what do mean We
mean representation III the constitutional and law
abiding sense, was intended at tho beginning Of
the government.
And where does that power lie ? The Constitu-
ton declares, express terms, that each House,
the Senate and House of Representatives, each
acting for ITSELF shall be the Judge Of the returns
of election and qualifications of its own members.
It is for each House to settle that question under
the Constitution, and under the solemn sanction
of an oath, and can we believe that either House
would admit any member into its body, to partici-
pate i'll the legislation Of the country who not
qualified and tit to sit Ill that body and participate
III us proceedings IntAV nave the pOWCr-nOC
the two HOuses-but each House for itself.
While have been cOutending against traitors,
treason, and secession, and the dissolution of the
Union, have been contending at the same time
against the consolidation of power here. Cries
Of 9 good. | think the consolidation of power
here equally dangerous with the separation of the
States. Cheer. The one would weaken and
might run into anarchy, while the other would
concentrate and run into monarchy, ICheers and
CT es of cant do it, Oh, but there is an idea
abroad that one man can be despOt-that one
man can be a usurper-but that hundred or two
men cannot. Mr.. Jefferson the apostle of liberty,
tells us-sO does common sense-that tyranny and
deSpotism can be exercised by many moro vigOr
OusIy and more tyranically than by one. What
power has your President to be Il tyrant? What
can he do?
am with you, citizens, soldiers and sailors. !
Who has sacrificed or periled more than the hum
bic individual who addresses you? Has not my
all been put upon tiny life, my property? Eve
rything sacred and dear to man have been stal1ed
upon it, and could now be suspected Of faltering
at the close OF this third ordeal of the nation?
Who is he, in public or private life, who has
sacrificed more, OF who has devoted more of his
time and energies to the accomplishment of the
great end, than I And I have done it from the
promptings of my own heart and conscience. I
believe [ was right, and with your help and your
countenance and your encouragement, [ shall go
through on that line Cheers and laughter. And
when I came to talk about sailors and soldiers, !
about this to be done and that to be done, all /
want is for you to wait and see, far as the flu
ture is concerned. Wait and see il do not stand
by you, although every other may falter and fail
Cheers / want to measures OF policy brought |
forward that will advance the interests of the peO
ple-of that portion of the people who have con- |
stituted the gallant and brave who, in both |
branches of the service, have upheld the National
flag andsustanedthe country in therecentstrugg
[ thank you, gentlemen, for the encouragement
l thank you for your continuance on this occa- |
sion. 1t cheers and gives me strength to
perform the work before me. If we are true to |
oursclvcS-if are true to the COnstitutiOn-the
daY is not far distant when the Government will
be restored. Let Us enlarge the area OF our COM
mcrcc and trade Let not only inspire conf |
dCncC at home but respect abroad, by letting the
nation resume its career of prosperity and great
ness J know that some will find fault with me |
and say [ am too lenient, too kind and all that
If We were all to be put to death punished, OF
thrown away for offence OF for the second of
fence and were to be lost and excluded from So |
ciety and communion with our fellow men, how |
many of us would be left
s;,c.c: ct the Presidcnt-Tc Negro Celebrate of
EIIna nc patton in Warrington.
On Wednesday morning the negroes in Wash |
il acton. to the number Of about fifteen hundred |
formed Il procession at Franklin Square, and |
marched in order to tho Executive Mansion, where
they were addressed by the President, who gave
them some sensible advice this occasion OF their
celebration of freedom.
Long before noon an immense crowd was as
h., ,1,ll n, no in