The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-06-06
Cabinet Speeches.

Club, attended by 4 concourse OF citizcns,
serenaded the President and mem bcrs oil
bis Cabinet, and vero responded to iu
speeches by Secretaries Stanton and
Mccullough, and P. NJ. General Denni.
son.
sTANToN's SPEECH.
Secretary Stanton said: Gentlemen,
on the afternoon Of Thursday, the 18th
Of this month, I received a note from the
Secretary of the National Union John
son 0lsh. telling cit Vas tho design Of
.boassociation TO sercnade the President
and his CRbinot, and that I would be
called upon at my residence. Immedi.
ately on receipt Of this note, a reply was
sent to the Secretary, expressing my
thanks for the compliment, and declining
tho honor Of the serenadc. A similur
compliment by tho patriotic association
Of the Soldiers and Sailors League had
previously been declined. Two reasons
induced my action: The last time o
public speech was made from this spot,
in answer to a scrcuudc, was the night Of
Friday, the 14th day Of April, 1865
At that moment, when We were rejoicing
ut the downfall Of the rebellion, one Of
its instruments was numbering Mr.. Lin.
coln. You will not think it strange that
complimentary occasion, fraught with
such associations, should not be coveted.
Besides, as tho head of q Department,
my public duties have been simply cx.
ccutiye. After four years Of war, the
authority Of the Federal Government
was established throughout tho whole
territory Of tho United States, at q sacri'
6cc Of over 300, 900 lives ofloyal soldiers,
and at cost Of more than three thous,
and millions Of dollars. Nearly every
household in eighteen. loyul States 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 millions
Of inhabitants Of the loyal States feel,
and will long continue to feel, what it
costs to uphold their government against
rebellion.
Tho office Of President devolvcd upon
Mr.. johnson at the death Of Mr.. Liu-
coin, on tho 18th day Of April. lSG5.-
Thirteen days before that tito, Rich
mond, the seat Of the rebel Government,
had been captured. and six days later
tho rohel commander in chief, Robert
i. leo, vunquishcd, surrendered his
army as prisoners Of war to Gen Grant
and the forces under his command. by
these rapidly succeeding events, tho ro'
bel Government was overthrow md the
official authorities gavc themselves up
as prisoners Of war. The Presidents
annual message to the present Congress
thus clearly states the condition Of the
country, and the question thereby i'm.
posed upon him. ri found the State
suffering from the effects Of a civil war.
In response to the General Government
the country appeared to have exhausted
itself. The United States had possession
of their forts, and their armies wcrc 10
occupation Of every State which had at
tempted to sccedc. Whether the terri
terry within tho limits Of these States
should bc held Us conquered territory,
under military authority cmnnutiog from
the President, rs tho head Of tho urmy,
was tho first question that presented it.
sclf 70. discussion"
The Secretary then quoted from the
Presidents message, concerning the 70.
opening of the courts, postofiiccs and
ports, and continued: BY somc, it was
thought just and ezpedicut that the
right Of suffrage in the rebel States
should be secured in some form to COL
ored Inhabitants Of these States, either
us q universal rule, or to those qualified
by education, or by actual service Us SOL
dicrs, who volunteered their lives for
their Government. My own mind in'
clined to this view. But after a calm
aud full discussion, my judgment yield
cd to adverse arguments, resting upon
tho practical difficulties to bo encounter.
cd 10 such o measure, and to tho Prcsi'
dent, conviction that to prescribe the
rule Of suffrage was not within the
Legitimate scope Of bis power. The plan
Of orgu nizu,iou embodied iu tho procla-
nation to the people of North Carolina,
aud the instructions to tho Provisional
Governor of that State, exhibit tho sys'
tenn and principles prescribed by the
Presiden. for tho substitution Of civil au.
thority 10 place Of universal military rulc
10 tn. insurrectionary States.
IN this plan, two things presented by
the proclamation and the Presidents in'
structions are worthy Of special notice.
First-That the organizing power is
specifically and absolutely restored to the
people who arc loyal to tho United States,
and to no others. This is in accordunc nce
with tho views often declared by Mr..
johnson from tho commencement Of the
rebellion and under tho most impressive
circumstances.
Second-The choice Of delegates was
not only limited to loyal people and no
others, but constitutional guarantees were
required in respect to emancipation from
slavery. A sound reason for such guar.
.n,.es in respect to slavery is stated by