Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-05-31
land peril his life and the lives of his family.

and peril his life and the lives of his family.
Cheers. @ss. -
practical If better policy can be presented, one
more in consonance with the principles OF the
Government better calculated to preserve the SUI
premacy of Federal authority, while it trenches
not on the reserved and legitimate rights OF the
States more just, more humane, better fitted to
bind the people of this great country in common
brotherhood, at the same time that it places just
condemnation on treason and vindicates the NAL
esty of the law-if such policy can be presented,
there is man in the United States who will more
Hearty cheers But until that better policy be
presented he must be false to himself false to his
record, and must, in fact, cease to be Andrew
johnson, ii he does not adhere to his policy, and
sink or swim with it. Cheers 1t is pretty good
evidence after all, gentlemen, of the correctness
of his policy, that Congress, after having been in
session nearly six long, weary months, has been
unable to present one which they can agree upon
as substitute. Cheers and laughter
Fellow-citiZens did not intend speaking SO
much. Voices" Go on."l have only this to
say have desired and hoped for the continu-
ance OF the great Union party, with which L have
been ever identified. Cheers. But if its lea
ders present nothing better than the pro-
gramme of the committee, am greatly apprehen-
sive that its days will be numbered. lCheers.
trust fellow-citiZens, that this will not be the
case that it will discard its hostility and its at
tempt to continue alienation between the two Sec
principles which look to harmony to restoration
and to peace If it should do this it will continue
to be the great and controlling party of the coun-
try and cover itself with impershable glory. If it
does not its days numbered, and the epltaph
that will be written on it will be, "It knew how
to prosecute the with vigor, but it lacked the
wisdom to avail itself of the benefits of victory.
lApplause, and three cheers for Secretary McCul-
loch.
SECRETARY sTANToN's SPEECH.
The Secretary of War was next called upon
the band playing Rally round the flag" ''When
Johnny comes marching home" and other airs
Secretary Stanton said:
Gentlemen The call of this evening relieves
Inc from any imputation of iptruding my opin-
ions upon you 1 shall therefore declare them
briefly and plainly ; and to the end that they may
be neither accidentally misunderstood, nor wiful-
~ misrepresented; what it is my purpose to say
this occasion has been written.
The office of President devolved upon Mr..
johnson at the death of Mr.. Lincoln on the 18th
day Of April, 1866. Thirteen days before that,
the seat OF the rebel Government,
had been captured. and six days later, Robert E.
General Grant and the forces under his command
The Presidents annual message to the present
Congress thus clearly states the condition of the
oountry, and the question thereby imposed upon
him.
No one better than Mr.. johnson understood the
solemn duty imposed upon the National Executive
to maintain the national authority, indicated at
SO great sacrifice, and the obligation not to suf
fer the just fruits of fierce struggle, and of so
many battles and victories to slip away or turn to
ashes.
The plan of organization embodied in the pro-
camation to the people of North Carolina, and
the instructions to the Provisional Governor of
that State, exhibit the system and principles pre-
scribed by the President fora the substitution of
civil authority in the place of universal military
rule in the insurrectionary States. In this plan
two things presented by the proclamation and the
Presidents instructions worthy of special no.
tice:
First. That the exercise of the organizing pow
is specifically and absolutely restricted to the
people "who are loyal to the United States, and
no others
Secondly. The choice of delegates was not only
limited to loyal people and no others, but consti
tutional guara tees were required in respect to the
of slaves and the reputation of the
rebel debt
These views, expressed by the President in his
received, and continue to receive, my
cordial acqulescence and support.
After full explanation of the steps taken by him
to restore the constitutional relations of the States
the President in his annual message, proceeds to
state, with equal distinctness, what remains to be
done, and to whom the authority and duty of do
ing it belongs, in the following words:
The amendment to the Constitution being adopted, it
would remain for the States whose powers have been
Of the National Legislature and thereby complete the
work Of restoration Here it is for you, feowczens of
e Senate and for you felowcitizens of the House of
Representatives, TO JUDGE each Of yourselves, of
he elections returns and qualifications of your
bers.'
Whoever doubts that the authority and duty of
Judging for itself the elections, returns and quail
fcations of its members belong to each house of
Congress- may have his doubt removed by the |
Federal Constitution, which declares in the fifth
section Of the first article that " each house shall
be the Judge of the elections returns and qualif-
cations of its own members" In thus distinctly |
the constitutional right of each house
of Congress to judge of the elections, returns and
has conformed to the plain letter of the Constitu
ion.
The views of the President in relation to the |
freedmen received, and continue to receive, my
hearty concurrence. They have guided the action
IF the War Department, and were substantially !
advocated in its annual report. In what believed
IN honest desire to conform to them, bill was
passed by Congress regulating the Freedmen's Bu-
eau but the provisions of the bill did not meet
he Presidents approval, because he believed the l.
powers conferred upon him and upon the agents
% be appointed by him to be unwise and uncon-
Another measure or series of measures of prime
now pending before Congress merits
brief remark, viz the plan of restoration or re-
as it is sometimes called To the
'lan reported by the joint committee I have not
'een able to give my assent. 1t contemplates an
to the Federal Constitution, the third
section Of the proposed article being in these
erlns a:
Sec. 5. Until the fourth day of July in the
'ear one MOusd'adeigM hundred and serenty all per-
ons who voluntarily adhered to the late insurrec-
ion, giving it aid and comfort, shall be excluded
rom the right to vote for representatives in Con-
,ress, and for electors for President and Vice
PRESIDENT OF the United States. So
AS the proposed plan now stands am unable
o perceive the necessity, justice Or wisdom of the
Measure !; but having no place nor voice in the