Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-04-06
THE President SUSTAINED a
HONE
spaech Of Hon. EdEnund cooper ~ sheI
bVNfiles

speech Of Hon Edsnand Cooper Al sheI
byHiile.
We select the following important ex
tracts from a powerful speech delivere,
at Shelbyvills, Bedford county, on Tges
day. by the Hon. Edmund Cooper, Rep
resentsdve elect to the Federal Con
gress;
TIE GREAT QUESTION
since the termination Of the late war
a question has been raised Of most dan
ger0us character, and pregnant with mo-
menrous consequences to the future des-
tiny Of this Republic What is the con-
diton Of the states lately in rebellion
Are they dead, OF do they yet ivee j
living, what rights, privilege andimmu-
mites. have their citizens, under the Con-
stitution Of the United States2 IL dead,
what consequence flow from their being
in that condition
On the one side it Is argued that the
States the people Of which have been al
war with the authorities Of the Federal
Government, have irrevOcably severed
their constitutional connection with the
other states, and have fallen into the
conditional suhjugated provinces subject
20 the VIII and controlof the law-makinE
power Of the United States. On the other
side il Is argued. that the States of the
Union, are indesTuctible under the Con-
81 tuition, and cannot be affected by the
c0iduet Of their citizens, that a. a politi-
cal organization, they can commit no
crime; and that the people alone in their
individual capacity can be guilty OF
crimes. and for which they must or can
be either punished OF pardOned.
The propositions have excited and are
sril exciting widespread interest, and
threaten seriously if not 70 postpone in
definitely. the settlement Of our political
difficulties.
The one proposition Is the scheme Of
the majority in Congress.
The other Is the policTof the President.
The one is predieated on the idea that
bv the war and its consequences, al Of
the States declared in rebellion, together
with an Of their citizens andinhabitants,
became alien enemies-aud a. such, can
be treated according TO the whim, ca
urfce or wisdom OF the law making power
Of the United States-With0ut any regard
70 the constitutional relationship existing
between the parties before the war. And
that under and 10y virtse Of this event,
the I0vaI citizens 0f the States thus
treated. must share IN al the guilt Of the
disloval. That is 8 misfortune in the
lovsl 70 have thus been siguated-yet
beilirereut law, so enacts-and its nat,
ike the Laws Of the Medes and Persians,
Is supreme and Interchangeable.
The other Is founded on the higher and
loftier principles Of Justice and right. 1t
holds 40 one guilty except the offender.
It winnows the wheat from the chaL II
comments the faithful il protects the
T. A. . ID. =sHlr-
Whilst il punishes those who deserve
punishment, or parGons them-ir says 70
the true and loyal, "weu done good and
faithful servant"
Under its practical teachings q safe,
wise. aud speedy solution Of the difficulty
is provided-alike prudent snd efficient.
BY it. the political power Of the state
now the war Is ever, is left IN the hands
Of the loval citizens-thOse who have
been the consti tutionally loyal from the
beginning. and those who, Ia good faith,
have availed themselves Of the amnesty
and pardon of the President, and are
honestly endesv0ring 70 regulate their
condnct by the requirements Of the Con-
stitutfon and the laws Of the land.
Rapidly as If by the wand Of enehant-
menf. beautiful and stable editces Of pO-
Hticai government have been, under the
wise and practical operations OF this
inst uoIiev-tO which Andrew johnson ]
a PRESIDENT Of TIE United States has
exerted his great intellect and compre- (
hensive statesruansh1p-CTe and put I
into successful operation in al the states 1
50 recently in rebellion and insurree- /
tion-and into the hands of the COVER I
nors so chosen By their own people, ana I
the legislatures so elected, and the I
Judges, the control, management and eN-
ecution Of the laws Of each state, so far \
As they apply to their own domestic gov
e-nwents. have been by the Prdsideut 4
fully snd generously committed. No /
military governor now controls their
destiny. or exercises Unbridled authority
over them. They, the people, have the
power ali IN their own hands Win Jhein
and the officers Of their own choosing, ls
the administration OF all OF their nome
affairs, and for enc, thank Tod toaJ u
is 50. Peace and obedience 20 law per
vades the whole land Where, a brief
twelve months ago, the battle ragged and
war with all Of It's horrors and devas-
tation prevailed, quiet and good or
der reigns supreme. The temples OF
Justice are open the marts Of COM
ue-ea are thrOnged; the school houses
are BlIed by eager and earnest students
he temules Of tie living God are vocal
with praises to Him s. from whom al
blessings fow. " Surely, q policy that
has wrought such miracles in 8 IeW pflel
months, must be right, and should es2}-
mend Itself % az true patriots, and COM
fnand the vsrmest support OF al who
love their country above the mere hope
Of party triumph, OF Of personal gain.
Yet, strange as il may scems not with
standing these overwhelming evidences
Of the benedcent results II the policy
adopted by the President, there are those
who oppose it; a large, strong and pow
erfuI party, organized and aggressive, with
complete control Of the Congress Of the [
Tnited States. both Senate and House Of
with leaders Of aelnowl-
edged ability. and characterized With the
l,itferness of wrongs suffered and the vim
Of passions unappeased-
The contest is upon u. We cannot
avoid il If we would. We must take
.ides. We are obliged to identity our
selves with the one or the other. And me
uuestiop Is which viii We choose? Dn-
der which King Benzonian
Now. my feIow-citizeas, j have no
besitation in avowing my preference
No doubts harrass my mind. The pain
way for us 70 pursue is 90 me ~ pam
as a sunbeam, O2en, and clear ana
straight ] identity myself win t1e az
of Andrew Johnson- rec
Ognize, in his Craftsmanship, the sA.Na-
tion of our beloved land. Ifeel, and mus
feeling, cannot f0rbear expressing IT, that
under the Providence Of God he has been /
raised Up. as the true patriot, 20 lead lhis
people safely through the dangers thai 4
now surround Us.
Remember, my fellow-citizens, that ia
times gone by I differed widely with An
drew johnson in the great questions that
then divided the country. He wac a
Democrat. and ] was a Wing. But let
Ne ssv 10 YOU that these old party lines |
~ o6lfrerated. Out of the throes and
agonies Of this terrible and wicked rebel
ION new patty organizations NIB
ming unjust Originate-;snd mate
risls win blend and fuse into one harmo-
nious whole, by which and through which
HE administration OF Andrew johnson
viii be preserved and maintained, and
he great political principles ana truths
eqolved and avoweG by lilnl VII o. per- !
Detuated and maintained, 50 long a. t4is /
T,overrnaent remains anq endure de-
,aonstrafing the caPability Of Ran for
w NV friends. and am proud 70
have him euch-althOugh We dIiler So
widely in our views az Is the proper POI
|ev to he pursued, ina t8e resIU-sti'll oi
ihe etates-Gos. .3-oWnl0W takes issls,
,Vitb the President, and Identities him
self with the self-EfYled Union party ia
Congress. and in a speech lately deiiY-
cred al knoxville, the language Of which,
and the tone Of which / cannot COM
mend. and from the sentiment OF which
Z utterly disseut-has taken ground with
Stevens and sumneT-aHd opposes the 1
President-and the chief ground Of his
aoposition Is, as declared in bis letter TO
gadae Kelley, that she gives Andrew
IOhds0n up 10 the Democrats ana tbe
-" without showing any reason I
Iepels +hst the President does
~ 1900, are with Judge Kelley az o't.a
sians of his vlsWs, in regard y -
5,ofhod that zbould Be aaeptea lo- .'''
-esfofation of the States. ri.
Nov-. Al propose to show by an array q
that shall be overWhellalDg
l5ef the differences Of opinion between
- presideut and Stevens and sumner
- ,,of caused by any violation Of iaith !
=, tf.e nart Of Andrew johnson, % tne
principles Of the Union party,
~ ~ a com plete abandonment o. tnetn (
-, - 1srt Of bis opponents, ana tnat Re
stsads to-dsy on TIE great Cardinal PF'n-