The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-09-08

measures which you have adopted for
the restoration of the Union, the Con-
vention saw only continuance of the
policy which for the same purpose was
inaugurated by your immediate prede-
cessor, in his reelection by the people
after that policy had been fully indicat-
ed, and had been made one of the issues
of the contest. Those of his political
friends who are now assailing you for
sternly pursuing it, forgctful or regard e
less of the opinions which their support
of his reelection necessarily involved,
being upon the same ticket with that
much lamented public servant whose
foul assassination touched the heart of
the civilized world.with grief and hor-
ror-you would have been false to obvi-
Gus duty if you had not endeavored to
carry out the same policy; and judg-
ing now by the opposite one which Con-
gress has pursued, its wisdom and pa
triotism are indicated by the fact that
that Congress has but continued brok-
en- Union by keeping ten of the States
in which at one time the insurrcction
existed, as far as they could accomplish
it, in the condition of subjugatcd prov
inces, denying the right to be represent
ed while subjecting their people to every
species of legislation, including that of
taxation. That such state of things is
ut war with the very genius of our
Government, inconsistent with every
idea of political freedom, and most per-
ilous to the peace and safety of the
country, no rejecting man can fail to
believe.
We hope, sir, that the proceedings Of
the Convention will cause you to adj
here, if possible, with even greater irm.
, ness to the course you are pursuing by
. =. satisfying you that the people are with
you, and that the wish which lies near
toration of our Union at the earliest mo-
ment be allowed, and the conviction that
that result can only be accomplished by
the measures which you are pursuing
And in the discharge of the dutie:
which these impose upon you, we, as
. did every member of the Convention
again for ourselves individually tenuel
> to you our profound respect and assur
ance of our cordial and sincere support
u With reunited Union, with no foo
but freemen's treading or perrsitted tt
l. tread on our soil, with a nations faitl
pledged forever to a strict observance o
u all its obligations, with kindness an,
y fraternal love everywhere prevailing
- the desolatiOnS of war will soon be re
: moved; its sacrifices of life, sad as they
have been, with Christian resignation
be referred to providcntial purpose, o
II fixing our beloved country on II firm
and cndurable basis, which will foreve
= place our liberty and happiness beyont
u the reach of human peril; then, too
II and forever will our Government chal
} lenge the admiration and receive tn,
: respect of the nations of the world, ant
{ we in no danger of any efforts to i'm
Z peach our honor.
u And permit me, sir, in conclusion, t.
'. add, that great rs your solicitude for thC
restoration of our domestic peace anC
y your labors to that end, you have also {
= watchful eye to the rights of the nation
l. and that any attempt by an assumed
I or actual foreign power to enforce an il
: legal blockade against the Government
= or citizens of the United States, to us,
. your own mild but expressive words
u twill be disregarded." In this deter
y mination l am sure you will receive thu
u unanimous approval of your fellow
: citizens.
II Now, sir, as the chairman of this com
10 mittee, and in behalf of the Convention
:, | have the honor to present you with al
u authentic copy of its proceedings.
> The allusion in the above address Il
= the determination of our Government
Il to disregard the attempt of an assumed
:, or actual foreign power to enforce Al
;, illegal blockade was greeted with louC
p and continuous cheering.
When Mr.. Reverdy johnson had con
4 cludcd, the President said:
r Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen. Of the Committee:
LANGUAGE is inadequate to expires
l. the emotions and feelings produced b,
i this occasion. Perhaps / could expires
# more by permitting silence to speak
d and you to infer what | might an,
IS ought to say. l confess that, notwith
= standing the experience l have had il
# public life, and the audiences / hav
d addressed, this occasion and this Assem-
q blage are well calculated to and do over
Il whelm me.
l. AS have said, have not languag
is to convey adequately my present fee
t ings and emotions. In listening to tn
j. address which your eloquent and dis
d tinguished chairman has just delivered
% the proceedings of the Convention, q
n they transpired, recurred to my mind
i Seemingly partook of the inspiratio
,r that prevailed in the Convention, whe
m | received Il dispatch, sent by two of il
ID distinguished members, conveying /
lr terms the scene which has just bee
rs described of South Carolina and Massa
s. chusetts, arm-in-arm, marching int
r, that vast assemblage, and thus givin
70 evidence that the two extremes ha
n. come together again, and that, for tn
III future, they were united, as they ha
m been in the past, for the preservatio
ye of the Union.
rs When the dispatch informed me tha
IL in that vast body of men, distinguishe