The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1866-08-24


and that any attempt by an assumed
or actual foreign power to enforce an
illegal blockade against the Govern
ment or citizens of tho United States
to use your own mild and best express
sive words, evil be disregarded." I'm
this determination L am sure you will
receive the unanimous approval OF
your fellow-citizens.
Now, as the Chairman of this com
mittec, and in behalfof the Convention
l have the honor to present you with
an authenticated copy of its proceed
ings.
The allusion in the above address to
the determination of our Government
to disregard the attempt Of an assumed
or actual foreign power to enforce an
illegal blockade, caused loud and con
tinuod cheering.
When Mr.. Johson had concluded,
the President said.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen Of the
COMMITTEE:
Language is inadequate to express
the emotions and feelings produced by
this occasion. Perhrps I could express
more by permitting silence to speak,
and you to infcr what / ought to say.
/ confess that Notwithstanding tic cx-
perio9ce l have had in public life, the
words I have addressed to me on this
occasion and this asse"nh!agc ere well
calculated to, and do, ovcrwhclm mo
As ! have said, ] have not language
TO convey adequately my present feel
ings and emotions. In listening to
the address which your eloquent and
distinguished Chairman has Just dcliy-
cred, the proceedings oftho Convention,
as they transpired, REQUIRED to my
mind. Seemingly, l partook of the
inspiration that prevailed in the Con
vcntion. When / received u dispatch
by two of its distinguished members,
conveying in terms the scene which has
just been described, Of South Carolina
and Massachusetts,, arm in arm, march
ing into that vast assemblage, and thus
evidence that the extremes had
come together. and that for the future
they were united, as they had been in
the past, for the preservation of the
Union. When the dispatch informed
me that in that vast body Of mon, dis
for intellect and wisdom,
every eye was sutluscd with tears on
bcholding the scene, | could not finish
reading the dispatch to one associated
with me in the office, for my own foel-
overcamc me. 1Chccrs.
| think we may justly conclude we
arc moving under II proper inspiration,
and that We need not be mistaken, and
the finger of an overriding and
lnerring Providence is in this matter.
Loud chccrs.1
The nation is in peril. We have
ust passed through n mighty, n bloody,
momeutous ordeal. yet do not find
ourselves free from the difficulties and
hangers that at first surrounded us.
our brave mon have performed
heir duties, both officers and men,
turning to General Grant, who stood
At his right while they have won
aurcls Experimentation arc still
and moro important duties to
perform; aud while we have had their
cooperation in the field, we now need
heir suppoot in our, efforts to perpetu-
.te peace. Loud cheers.
So far as tho Executive Department
# the Government is concerned, the
has been made TO restore the
to heal the brccch, to pour oil
nto the wounds which were conse-
lucnt upon the struggle; and, to speak
n common phrase, to prepare, as the
earned and wise physician would, Il
healing in character and cock
with the wound. Loud cheers.
We thought, and yet think, that we
partially succeeded; but as the
work progressed, as reconciliation
.ccmed to be taking place and the
becoming united, we found Il
disturbing and marring element OPP
posed MS.
In lluding 10 that clement, / shall
90 no further than did your Conven-
ion and the distinguished gentleman
who has delivered TO me the report Of
If its proceedings. | shall make no
'eiercnco to It that l do not believe the
line and the occasion justify. Wohave
witnessed, in on department of tho
Government, every effort, rs it were,
% prevent the restoration Of peace and
harmony in the Union. We have seen
upon the verge Of the Gov
ornmcnt, as it were, "A body called, or
assumed to be, the Congress Of
the United States, and, in fact, n Con-
gross of only part Of the States. We
have seen this Congress assume and
pretend to be for the Union, when its
every step and act tended TO perpetual
disunion, and make a disruption of the
States inevitable, instead of promoting
reconciliation and harmony. Its legis-
lation has partaken Of the character Of
penalties, retaliation and revenge. This
has been the course and policy Of n
department Of our Government.
The humble individual who is now
addressing you stands the representa-
.- q IL. ..,.ta.l, - q IL. IT,