Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-06-01
SPEECH M HON. z. NJ. sEANrON.
Delivered at Washington in response to q
sereDade.

Union johnson Club, telling me it was
the design of the association to serenade
the President and his Cabinet, and that
would be called upon at my residence.
Immediately on the receipt of this note, a
reply was sent to the Secretary, express
sing my thanks for the compliment, and
declining the honor of the serenade. A
similar compliment by the patriotic assO
citation Of the Soldiers and Sailors
League had previously been declined.
Two reasons induced my action. The
last time public speech was made from
this spot, Tia answer to 4 serenade, was the
night Of Friday the 18th day of April,
1865. Al the moment, when we were re-
ljOicing at the downfall of the rebellion,
one oflts instruments was numbering Mr..
Lincoln You will not think it strange
that a complimentary occasion, fraught
with such associations, should not be
| coveted. Besides, as the head of q De-
| partment, my public duties have been
| simply executive. After four years of
war, the authority of the Federal Gov
| ernment was established throughout the
whole territory of the United States, at a
1 sacrifice of over 300! 600 lives ofloyal sol
| diers, and at cost Of more than three
| thousand millions of dollars Nearly
every household In eighteen loyal States
| is mourning its loved ones a tax which
4 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
viii long continue to feel, what it costs to
| uphold their Government against rebel
| lion.
The Office Of the President devolved
upon Mr.. johnson at the death of Mr.
Lincoln, on the 18th day of April, 1865
| Thirteen days before that time, Rich
moud, the seat of the rebel Government
| had been captured, and six days later the
| rebel commander in chief, Robert E. Lee
vanquished, surrendered his army as
| prisoners of war to Gen. Grant and the
forces under his command BY these
rapidly succeeding events, the rebel Gov
4 ernment was OveTthrOWn and the official
| authorities gave themselves up as prison
| ers of war. The Presidents annual mes
/ sage to the present Congress thus clearly
states the condition of the country, and
the question thereby imposed upon him
| found the State suffering from the
effects of civil war. In response to the
| General Government the country ap-
peared to have exhausted itself The
United States had possession of their
/ forts, and their armies were in Occupa~
ton of every State which had attempted
to secede. Whether the territory within
the limits of these States should be held
as conquered territory, under military au-
thOrity emanating from the President, as
the head of the army, was the first ques-
ton that presented itself for discussion. -
The Secretary then quoted from the
Presidents message, concerning the REQ
pening of the courts, ,pOstOfces and ports,
aud continued BY some it was thought
just and expedient that the right of suff-
/ rage in the rebel States should be Sc
cured in some form to colOred inhabi-
tants of these States, either as univer-
sal rule, or to those qualified by educa-
ton, or by actual service as soldiers, who
volunteered their lives for their Govern
ment. My own mind inclined to this
view But, after a calm and full discus
sion, my judgment yielded to adverse ar
guments, resting upon the practical diff
cultIes to be encountered IN such a
measure, and to the Presidents cOnvic-
tiOn that to prescribe the rule Of suffrage
was not within the scope of his power.
/ The plan of organization embodied in the
proclamation to the people Of North Car
olina, aud the instructions to the ProVis-
iona! Governor of that State, exhibit the
system and principles prescribed by the
President for the substitution of civil au-
thority in places Of universal military
rule IN the insurrectlOnary States In
this plan, two things presented by the
proclamation and the Presidents instruc-
tions are worthy of special notice
FfrSt-That the organizing power is
specifically and absolutely restored to
the people who are loyal to the United
States, and to no others. This is In ac-
cOrdance with the views often declared
by Mr. johnson from the commencement
Of the rebellion and under the most i'm
pressive 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
antees in respect to slavery is stated by
| the President IN his message namely,
| the necessity of evidence of sincerity in
/ the future maintenance of the Union
/ These views, expressed by the President
! In his message, received and continue to
/ receive my cordial acquiesconce and sup
port. Who are the loyal people, Is a
question that ought not to be difficult of
| decision.
In thus distinctly recognizing the con-
stitutiOnal right Of each House of Con-
| gress to judge of the election, returns and
/ qualifications OF It's own members, the
/ President has conformed to the plain let
/ ter Of the Constitution. 1t being the
/ function of each house to judge of the
! election, returns aud qualifications Of its
/ own members, the obligation Is implied
/ Of taking testimony, weighing evidence,
/ and deciding the question of membership.
/ What testimony has been taken, or what
! evidence has been presented on the ques-
| ton to either branch Of Congress, or
what judgment is to be given, is not
/ known to me, nor have 1 the right of in
/ quiriRg Besides the steps taken by the
/ Executive to restore the constitutional
relations of States. his annual message
called the attention of Congress to the
| necessity Of insuring the security Of the
i Freedmen, reminding Congress that
while he had no doubt that the General
| Government could not extend the cleo
/ tive franchise, it was equally clear that
/ good faith requires security of the freed
/ men in their liberty and their property,
/ their right to labor and their right to
claim just return for their labor, and
observing further that the country is in
need of labor and that the freedmen are
In need of employment and protection.
In connection with this subject, the
I President further remarks Slavery
! was essentially monopoly of labor Free
! labor was the property of the capitalist.
White men were excluded from employ
ment, or had but the second best chance
Of finding it, and the foreign emigrant
turned away from the region where his
condition would be precarious.
These views of the President in rela-
ton to the freedmen received, and con-
tinue to receive, my hearty concurrence.
They have guided the action of the War
] Department, and are substantially advO-
Gated in its annual report.
A bill was passed by Congress regulat-
ing the Freedmen's Bureau, but the pro-