Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-05-31

$t rt. Ez5s Affairs.
AUBURN, May 22.--Secretaryy Seward delivered
a lengthy speech on national affairs at Corning
Hall this evening, before crowded audience
Mr. Seward referring to his October visit to Au-
burn, said that then we were on the verge OF O
series of elections throughout the States The
leaders who SO pertinaclousiy claim to be demo
cratic organized with their customary machinery
and ovations They had wisely ceased to denounce
as failure the war for the Union which at last
became glorious success. They Thought TO I'M
dermine the distinctive party of the Union by al
fecting newborn admiration for its CHIEF, An
drew johnson. They seemed anxious to prove
their devotion superior to ours by committing
themselves to support him candidate for the
Presidency in 1868. They inscribed our admins
tration notices of reconstruction upon their new
ly-wrought banners, and recognizing their strag-
Cling lines as well as they could, hastily they
vehemently charged onward for partisan, not a
patriotic, victory.
What led the democratic leaders to make this
change was the striking, may call the marvellous,
phenomenon which was just then exhibited IN the
scene of the recent rebellion. The whole dlslOyal
community in that blighted and desolated region,
accepting the conditions of partial amnesty and
the invitations to returning allegiance which were
proclaimed by the administration, all at once re-
nounced the principles practices and policy Of Sc
cession and dsuniOn, rendered us new covenant
of loyalty, and sealed it with their oaths, and
brought forward with alacrity the remains of their
long-cht rished institution of slavery and cheer
fully threw it to be burned upon the constitution
al altar which they had SO newt restored.
These unexpected changes in the attitude OF
political adversaries, and so obstinate, naturally
enough excited suspicious jealousies and appre-
tensions among loyal and tried Union men. 1t
was the old case of William of Orange, who hav-
ing in civil war put down the tories, afterwards
found it necessary to cede to repenting Jacobites
and Papists the rights of citizenship 1t is the
case which has ever occurred and which must for
evermore occur at the end of a successful resist
ance to rebellion.
How could democrats and rebels be converted
to the support of a triumphant Union admins
tration ? The work of reconciliation has outran
expectation. Indeed it has never had a parallel
in human affairs With internal connections and
disturbances less serious than those which some
times attend popular elections in a free country in
a time of profound peace, the heretofore dlsloyal
people of Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Florida and Texas, successfully, nay,
almost simultaneously, assembled and adopted
constitutions in conformity with the Constitution
of the United States.
They upturned the rebellion with all its far
spreading roots, and all its poisonous fruits, and
they accepted and ratified the then pending Con-
eressiOnal amendment to the Constitution of the
United States which abolishes slavery thenceforth,
forever. The people of these States, have at the
same time chosen for Themselves by free and I'M
suffrage, Governors, Legislatures, Ju
1iciares and municipal authorities.
stored and re-organized State governments there
exists now a more complete and practical harmo
ny than was ever before presented between the
Union and many of its members since it was
first established. Within this period the Execu-
tive department OF the United s ates has assumed
It's functions among the people of these former
1isloyal States. The State department speaks for
hem, with their free consent to principalities and
powers. The Treasury collected the national i'm
posts and taxes there, the War Department dis
ih11&o VIII xUhn
necessary and expedient to guarantee peace be-
;ween the inveterate but fast expiring factions
The navy of the United States rides freely in all
heir captured ports and harbors The postoffice
,rculates through every vein and artery there the
which is the revivifying blood of uni
ed Republic.
The people of the lately disloyal States desiring
20 pass the last stage of restoration speedily as
possible have chosen Senators to represent them
n the Senate, and members to answer for them
n the House of Representatives and those Rep
are daily meeting at the capitol.
Throughout the loyal States industry is more |
7igorous and effective than ever before. In the |
ately disloyal States capital and labor combining
md cooperating under free-contract system, |
which, to them, is altogether new are beginning
With access to obterate the traces of ruin and de-
-astation.
The feature of affairs which disturbs the public |
mind is supposed divergence between the Pre- |
ident and the Representatives in Congress of
he National Union party, from which he and
hey have derived their respective but coordinate
covers
agree that it is altogether easier and altogeth-
r more desirable that the work of reconstruction |
o happily begun, and successfully prosecuted |
shall be continued and ended under |
he auspices of the National Union party, and of |
he President and Congress, as the Representa-
ives of that party.
I agree, therefore, that it would be sad mis- |
ortune If divergence between the President and |
Jon greSS should work a decline and downfall of |
he national Union party. It is dear to me- for
am identified with its rapid rise, its majestic
rogress and its glorious work.
Both the President and Congress might we'll ex-
,ect to be equally involved in the calamity which
hould dismiss the Union party from the national
ouncils, and see with modification the great re-
possibilities to which the party had, in that case |
'roved itself unequal, assumed and discharged by |
ONE new yet undeveloped political organization. |
But President, Congress, statesmen and parties
re of no real account, in my estimation, when
7eighed against the national life. The national
fe lately hung on the issue of victory in war.
now hangs the issue of reconciliation in
eace.
The nation must live forever, whether it receive
be needed care in any emergency at the hand of /
ne President, Congress Or party, or at the hands +
another.
reasoned in this way about the triumph of the
ar reason in the same way now in regard to
econciliation and peace I expect that in year
ence l shall be found to be right now, as [ am
ow admitted to have been right one year, two
ears, three years ago. l don't think, however
nat there is any necessity for separation between
ne President, the Congress, and the party of the
Jnion.
[ admit that the jealousies and suspicious of the
Ist summer were only temporarily allayed-not |
the elections of November
hey have been sedulously cherished and increased |
ntil they have revealed themselves in inhamma