The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1866-08-23


the important consideration Of re
construction, | did not deem ties
sential for me OF proper for mem
bers of Congress to use any disrc
spectful language towards tho oc
cupant of that honorable position
until he had done something in hi
official capacity which would war
rant them in so doing.
In speech which made on tn,
oath day of March, | enlarged up
on these matters: That the Who'll,
power of determining these qres
tiois belonged wholly aud solely t,
the Congress ofthe United State
the Legislative power of tn,
Government. | denied that tn,
President had anything more to d,
with it than the right to advise
which the Constitution gives him
and the alternative Of disapprovin!
such measurs as did not meet Lii
ideas Of right, leaving the ques
ton, finally, for the action of Con
gress by a two thirds majority
There are certain things, my fel
low citizens, which hold this Gov
ernment was bound to do and per
form in this emergency.
do not care so much about thu
punishment to be meted out-th,
infliction Of extreme penalties up
on conquered rebels, as | do of fix
ing the foundations of our Gov
ernment upon a substantial basis
for tho future, so as to prevent The
remotest possibility of a recurrenc,
of another such civil war. was
therefore, in favor of insisting up
on such amendments to the Con
stitution as would place the Gov
ernment upon TIE strong and sounC
Republican principles, recognizing
the rights Of all men, everywhere
without distinction of color or o
race and the protection of every
citizen in the Union, wherever ht
may be located, in his own jus
and national rights. CAplause.]
And, TO this end, | insisted thai
Congress ought to proceed without
delay, to do these things without
regard to the ideas or opinions oI
the President, adversely thereto
and to complete the work calmly,
firmly and independently. Zap
plause.
| recognized, fellow citizens, a:
did every other member, the re.
sponsibility of tho Government fol
the accomplishment OF this end.
recognized, as did all of my cotem,
poraries, the great obligations ot
the Government to protect all it'
citizens, and especially to protect
all, and every one of the loyal cit
izens located in the rebelliou'
States, without distinction of color
whoever had stood by the Gov
ernment during its terrible hour;
of peril, no matter what the sacri.
flee may be-no matter how much
it may cost. | took the position
that the government was bound tc
do this, and if the power did MOI
already exist in tho Constitution
that the Constitution should be 81
amended while we had the powcl
and right to dictate terms, as t,
secure that obligation forever here
after. [Cheers.
denied the right of those S,
lately in open rebellion, to di.tat
terms to and make demands of tn
Government. | took the position
further, that theyshad no rights
[applause] that by unwarrante'
rebellion against the government
aud the taking up of arms to de
stroy it, these people had absolute
ly forfeited all of their rights OF life
liberty and property, [applause,
and that the only question for III
to consider, was the question o
OF policy for the government, anC
for the body OF loyal people in de
mining what should now be tn
conditions to be imposed upon tn
rebellious States. They have n,
rights /; they have nothing to say
except to appeal to the governmen
and to the loyal people Of the coun
try, in behalf Of humanity ant
mercy, for that pardon " hich mag
nanimity accords to the errinl
members OF the human family.
But they, on the other hand
commenced dnlanding their right
demanding things as their right
which did not belong to them, AM
| am sorry to say that | think the,
were induced to do this by tn
course which the President took
as against the measures proposes
by Congress. They were encour
aged to do it. There was a tim
when, with the consent of the Pres
ident, they would have accopte'
any conditions which would hav
permitted them to live without an
other rights. But that time wa
frittered away by the course whic
the President thought proper
take. l1W e ~
OBJECT OF REBELLION.
This war was commenced fc
the purpose Of ext nding the inst
tuition Of slavery; for the purpos
Of increasing the power in til
Government and after they faile
! to do that-to establish an inde
pendent government, the corne
stone of which should be slavery
they involved themselves in th
position Of a people who had fol
teited all their rights under th