Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-06-06
Extracts from the Speech of
Hon. Hugh M'Culloch, Secre-
tary of the Treasury, at the
late Serenade Of the Presi-
dent and Cabinet.

dent and Cabinet.
In the course of his remarks he said
4" took occasion last fall among my old
friends in Indiana to defnemy position, and
since that time / have seen no occasion to
change, much less to abandon it. / will say
therefore, as suppose mustsay something
on this occasion, that the general policy of
the President in reference to the Southern
States, and the people recently in arms
against the Federal Government has com
mended itself to my deliberate judgment, and
although it has been violently-in some in
stances vindictively-as assailed, / have an
abiding conviction that it will be approved
by the people when they shall be allowed to
pass judgement upon it at the ballot-box." F"
His policy is straightforward ineligible
and practical. If better policy can be
presented, one more in consonance with the
principles of the Government, better calcu-
lated to preserve the supremacy of Federal
authority, while it trenches not on the re-
| served and legitimate rights of the States
more just, more humane, better fitted to
bind the people of this great country in a
common brotherhood, at the same time that
it places just condemnation on treason and
vlndlcates the majesty of the law If such
a policy can be presented there is no man
In the United States who will more willingly
embrace 1T than Andrew johnson. Cheers
But until that better policy be presented, he
must be false to himself, false to his record,
and must, in fact, cease to be Andrew John
son, if he does not adhere to his policy, and
sink or swim with it CHEERS 1t is
pretty good evidence after all, gentlemen, of
his correctness of policy, that Congress, after
having been in session nearly six long weary
months, has been unable to present one
which they can agree upon as a substitute.
1t was once said, think, by John Randolph,
that ''Of all tinkers the Constitution tinkers
were the most to be deprecated.
If the old man could rise from his grave,
what would he say to the present Congress,
stitution tinker. CHEERS and laughter.
But they are not wise enough toamend that
grand old instrument, the work of our patriot
fathers Of the Republic, the glory of the
United States and the admiration of the
world
My fellow-citizens, there is but one propo-
sitiOn that has been presented which stands
even the ghost of chance of acceptance by
the people of the North, and that is the
proposition baSing representation on voters,
and whose fault is it that that is not part of
the Constitution to-day? Why was it not
submitted with the amendment aboliShing
slavery? Whose fault was that? Voices,
.'the Copperheads. Other voices, 'Thad.
Stevens
Mr.. McCulloch- it the fault of An
drew johnson? (ShOuts of ''the fault of
Congress-, 'Thad. Stevens" and counter
cheers for Mr.. Stevens If the course
which the President was pursuing was OBJ
noxious to the charges made against it in
the recess of Congress, how happened it that
there was no denunciation of it until the
meeting of Congress? How happened it
that these Jupiter Tonans of Congress were
as silent as though they had been dumb
Those men whose duty it was to stand on
the ramparts of the Constitution, and alarm
the people of approaching danger, why did
they not denounce that policy, and demand
of the President Convention of Congress?
No such demand was made; no such denun-
citation was then heard. We did hear
voice from Pennsylvania, believe, and per-
haps response from Massachusetts Laugh
teri but the people were silent, if not ap-
proving.
Fellow-citizens, did not intend speaking
so much | have only this to say: / have
desired and hoped for the continuance of
this great Union party, with which | have
ever been identified. But if its leaders can
present nothing better than the programme
of the committee, | am greatly apprehen-
sive that its days will be numbered"
We believe that Mr. McCulloch is sin
cerely desirous of acting up to his vocation,
and we trust the country will uphold him in
his just endeavors. His efforts are in the
right direction, and should be welcomed by
all. His process is a good one, and the only
one by which the nation can be redeemed
He has immense difficulties to contend with
both in financial and in a political way and
many powerful and selfish interests to over
come; but although his powers are more
limited than we think they should be, we
believe the country viii soon find a change
for the better through his disinterested in
strumentality. He is no mere politician and
we believe he is patriotically devoted to his
duties. He is the peoples Pilot at the fnan-
cnal helm, and should be supported and as
sisted.
His report at the opening of the present
Congress and his plan for the funding of
the National debt was a good one and should
have been endorsed by Congress as it is by
the people With the present limitations
imposed upon him by an unwise Congress, he
cannot for period of thirty years, compel
the National Banks to assume specie pay
ments 1t is certainly plain, then, what we
have individually to do. Let us stand by
him to man. This has been our sentiment
ever since we read his report as Secretary of
the United States Treasury and now, more
than ever, we feel like expressing it.