Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-03-02

/ foolish one. 1t is a fact we'll understood
| that President Lincoln consistently and
pertinaciOusly adhered to this plan fol
/ the reorganization of civil governments
/ in the rebel States until the day of his
death. In subsequent messages to Con-
gress, IN official prOclamations, in private
conversations. and by public address, he
reiterated aud reafirmed his adherence
to this plan. In his last public address,
on the evening of the 1Ith of April, he
used the following language
I'm my annual message of December,
1868, and accompanying proclamation,
presented plan Of reconstruction, as the
phrase goes, which I promised, if adopted
by any State, would be acceptable and
sustained by the Executive Government of
the nation 1 distinctly stated that it was
q plan which might possibly be acceptable,
and also distinctly protested that the
Executive claimed no right to say
when or whether members should be ad-
mItted to seats in Congress from such
Sta ties.
''The plan was in advance, submitted to
the Cabinet, and approved by every mem
Der Of it. One of them suggested that
should then apply the emancipation proc
lamatiOn thereto, except in parts of Vir-
ginla and Louisiana, and that I should
drop the suggestion about apprenticeship
for freed people, and that I should omit
the protest against my own power in re-
gard to admission Of members of Congress;
but even he approved every part and par
eel OF the plan which has since been em-
plOyed or touched by the action of Louis
lana"
1t was in this speech he gave in his
quaint and happy style his solution of the
question as to the political status of the
rebel States, "that they were not in their
proper relation to the General Govern
ment." 1t is fact well understood, that
10 measure of Mr.. Lincoln's administra-
ton except the emancipation prOclama-
ton, was more thoroughly discussed and
better understood by the people than this
At the time it was proposed, political
parties were directing their attention 10
the approaching presidential election, and
Mr.. Lincoln was d candidate for re-elec-
ton. This measure became the subject,
among both political friends and foes, of
discussion and criticism, in oral cOutro-
versy, aud by the press The feeble op-
position to Mr.. Lincoln among his polit-
ical friends was hushcd into silence by
the unmistakable public voice deman-
ding his denomination and reelection.
The national Union convention on the 7th
of June following, by a unanimous vote
placed Mr.. Lincoln before the public for
reelection. Subsequent to his nomlna-
ton Congress passed a bill which was
sent to the President for his approval,
Of civil governments IN the rebel States,
essentially different 10 IFS provisions from
the plan proposed by the President. Eli
ther for want of time, or disapproval of its
provisions, or both, the President omitted
co return the bill with his approval. On
the 9TH of August Immediately following,
two distinguished gentlemen occupying
high official positions one a member of
the Senate aud the other of the House of
Representatives in the Thirty Eighth
Congress, arraigned the President in
paper published in the New York Tri-
bune called the Protest with bitter
ness that attracted the attention of the
whole country. l have no disposition
TO reflect upon the honor or patriotism of
the living or the memory Of the dead,
but feel authorized by the facts in say
ing, in vindicatiou OF the truth Of history,
that upon the issue raised by those gen
tlemeR with President Lincoln the loyal
Union men of the country almost unani-
mOusly sustained the Executive. Upon
this and other issues Mr.. Lincoln was re-
elected President by an overwhelming and
unprecedented majority; and there was
no time during his Administration when
the American people had more confidence
in the wisdom and patriotism of his Ad-
ministratiOn than they had on the day he
was stricken down by the assassin. [ may
have occasion, if my brief hour permits,
again to allude to this congressional plan.
fl were called upon, Mr.. Chairman, to
explain the key to Abraham Lincoln's
wonderful popularity, and his hold upon
the hearts of his countrymeu, my answer
would be, He possessed a soul free from
all narrow -mindedness and prejudice"
In him what a striking exemplifcatiOn Of
the lesson inculcated by the renowned
philosopher OF poetry:
''The quality of merry is not strained;"
1T is twice blessed;
It blesseth him that gives and him that
takes"
In his second inaugural address, from
the fullness of a magnauimous soul, Abra-
ham Lincoln gave utterauce to a sentI-
ment that will place his name In the list
of the very few whose memory will never
die
"VYith malice toward none. with charity
for all with firmness in the right as God
gives as to see the right, let US strive on TO
finish the work we are in; to bind up the
nations wounds, to care for him who shall
have borne the battle, for his widow and
his orphan to do all which may achieve
and cherish a just and lasting peace among
ourselves and with alInatioHs."
Upon the accession of Andrew John
son to the Presidency the path of duty
was plain. 4 wise and harmonious Cabi-
net enjoying the confidence of their coun-
trymen, BY the blessings Of divine Provi-
dence, survived the assassination of Presi-
dent Lincoln. He had been the success
full candidate for the second office on the
same ticket, supported by the same party,
and was supposed to entertain the same
sentiments and views. : On entering upon
the discharge of the responsible duties of
Chief Magistrate of the nation, Mr.. j ohm
son found a policy inaugurated by his IL
IustriOus predecessor that had received
the sanction of the American people in
the most authoritative manner. Any de-
parture on his part from that policy, in
the absence of newly developed lights,
would have been a betrayal of public CON
fidence, and subjected him justly TO the
charge of perfdy to his party and the couu-
try. On entering upon the discharge of his
duties Mr. Johnson found the rebellion
substantially suppressed. The amnesty
proclamation issued by President Lin
coin on the Sth of December, 1868, was
still IN force, but it was thought by some
pardon and amnesty could ouly be obtain
ed under that proclamation for oftenses
committed prior to that date and that a
new amnesty proclamation might be re-
quirsed for those whose offeuses wereof 8
subequent date. On the 29th day Of May,
1860, President johnson issued his proc
lamation Of amnesty. The oath pre-
scribed by Mr.. johnson [ will now, by
! ~ ! L Al.