Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-07-06
Letters from President Johnson. Secreta.
ries Seward and Welies. and General

nes seward and Welies. and General
At the Tammany Hall celebration in New
York, on the Fourth. the followi Letters were
read:
FROM THE PRESIDENT OF TIIF UNITED STATES
| EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON. ID. &
July :. ieo6.-Sr 1 thank you for the cor
dial inyiratlou OF the time honored Society OF
Tammany. 10 participate with them In the cel-
eoraton OF the approaching anniversary OF
our National Independence
| Tbe national tone and patriotic spirit OF the
invitation meet my hearty approval. They
are indications OF growing public sentiment
which, now that the bitterest strife of civil war
has ceased, requ uires a rene wal Of the pursuits
| OF peace. a return 10 the Con sutution Of our
fathers, rigid adherence to its principles. in
| creased reverence for its sacred obligations, a
restored, invigorated and permanent ITniou
and a fraternity OF feeling thst shall make us
as people, one and lndissoIuhle. There can
be, for the patriot. no higher duty, no nobler
| work, than the obliieration OF the passions and
| preJudices which, resulting fro N our late san
culinary conflict have retarded reconciliation
and prevented that complete restoration OF All
the States 10 their constitutional relations with
The Federal Government, which essential 10
the peace, unity, strength and prosperity of
the nation RegrettnG that my public duties
| Will not permit me 20 he present at your cell
ebrauon, am very respectfully, yours.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
PROM SECRETARY SEWARD
DEPARTMENT OF STATE. WAsHrNGToN
June 70, ls66.-Sir: 1 have had the honor =.
receive the invitation of the 1ammanv Society
| fol the celebration OF the approaching Fourth
OF July.
L am highly pleased with the form OF he IN.
vitauon. like the motto which Is placed az
| lis head. The Union must and shall be pre-
served like the vIgnette which illustrates
H. like the associated hues with which Il A.
colortd, nameiy-the red. whire and blue I
like the temple ofliberty. based upon the rock
Of the constitution, and protec'ed by the eagle
OF the American coAtInent. = Ike the Shlps
and railroads, indicative OF prosperity aud
progress: Ike the significant conjunction OF
oates lIC6 and le66-a period of ninety years.
Why, IN looking az these ngurSs, We almost
feel assured that our republic has a life of Al
least one century. Alas how many reru blics
have been shorter lived, l would have had
the flag OF the Union, which - on the right
present in azure field only the thirteen original
states; but i especially delight in the dag
which is on the left hand, and IN whose en-
larged field twenty three stars are blazing
which have come ont from the deep cerulean
within the past ninety years, while the ORR
ginal thirteen stars yet remain their ancient
piace, all their morning lustre undininished
have had some difference, IN my time with
the Iammany Society, but long ago forgot
them all, when L recalled the fact that the So.
ciety has never once failed TO observe and
honor the anniversary of national isdepend-
ence; al he further fact that during the re-
cent civil war he Tammany Society sent Its
sons 10 fight for he Unon, and with uns wery-
ing fidelity. heartily supported the Federal
Government in Its struggles with sadition In
view OF these facts, and of the noble principles
now ayowed, L hail the Tammany Society as
a true Union League.
1 rejoice with the society that the conflict of
arms has ceased, that the authority OF the Gov
crnment has been vindicated, and tnat the flag
of the Union nov floats triumphanrly over ey.
cry foot of national domain. ON the other hand
L mourn with the society that the perfect Union
given 10 us by cur patriotic foTefathers has not
yet been entirely restored: that eleven soyer-
eign States are denied representation i'm tie
Federal Congress, and are not Recognized as
Coordinate parts IN the national Leeislatura
How strange ali this We have killed djsunIcn
outright, and have killed African slavery with
II, and yetwe are not completely reunited
If L cid net feel assured that the American
people cannot suffer SO great and faUal a Solo
cism 10 continue, should say. as MANY others
DO. that we are al crisis. But 1 have uu-
bounded confidence in the wisdom and virtue
OF The American people. l. Is said IN excuse
of the denial OF representation that the States
ana their chosen representatives still continue
to be seditious and disloyal ask, as Tennes-
see disloyaI Is Arkansas seditious Are lie
Senators and Representatives Of those States
disloyal! desire. in this respect than ca cb of
the two Houses OF Congress viii apply the
constitutional test with all the improvements
of legislation upon il, and thus admit those
States and representatives, who are IoyaL and
reject only those against whom the crime of
dsloyaIty shall tie established
believe with the Tammany Society that the |
tnion was created 10 be perpetual: that the |
States are equal under the Constitution: that the
restoration of the Union by the recent war |
ought 70 be acknowledged and recognized hy
all tie departments of the Federal Govern
ment; that spirit OF magnanimty aud frafer-
nifty should prevail in all our councils and
that the South. having accepted the lessons of |
the war, and relinqulshed the heresies OF Sc
cession. should. Just so fast she comes in the
attitude Of loyal and qualified REPRESENTATIVES,
be admitted 70 her constitutional representa- |
tion.
want, henceforth and forever, no North.
no South, no East. no West, no divisions and |
no sections and no classes, but one united and |
harmonious people.
1t will be impossible for me to attend the
celebration personally. What / have written |
i trust will satisfy the Society that, in spirit
shall always be with them when they shall |
be engaged in renewing and fortifying the
national Union. l have the honor to be. sir.
your very obedient servant,
WM. II. SEWARD
FROM SECRETARY wELLEs
Gentlemen: 1 have received your invita-
ton, and should be happy 10 participate with
the Tammany Society, or Columbian Order
in celebrating the approaching anniversary of
our national independence, were / not pre-
vented by public duties.
To the honor OF your society, it has in all
times and under all circumstances in war and
in peace, been faithful 10 the Union OF the
States and the rights of the States. At no
period since its organization have its teachings
and services been more required than at the
present, when the victorious arms of the re-
pubhe, having suppressed the false theory
that the Union can be divided by secession or
the voluntary withdrawal OF y State from its
federal relations and obligations, We are COM
PEELED TO encounter the opposite extreme of 1
compulsory exclusion, by which the CENTRAL
lists deny 10 eleven States the representation in
Congress, which is guaranteed TO them by the |
Constitution This doctrine of compulsory
exclusion is scarcely less offensive than that Il
of voluntary secession. Zach is fatal TO the /
perpetuity of the Union. |
After a long and exhausting war, which mas
cost much blood ana treasure, the coun-
try needs repose, that industry, commerce,
and the arts of peace may revive. and friendly |
relations between .he States and people may |
be re-esiablished Friendly confidence among /
the people IL to be encouraged. and must SUI /
percede hatred and revenge. No portion Of |
the States or people can be deprived OF their /
Just rights without producing estraneement.
respond most sincerely to the correct and L
patriotic views expressed in your invitation, |
and regretting my inability to be present with /
you, respectfully submit the following senti- |
ment: .r
The onion of the States-OnIy 10 be main |
tanned by q faithful Observance of the riosfs of h
the States. Very respectfully, ~
80 r GIDEON WELLKs.