Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-05-31
RUTLAND HERALD.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1866.
. speech from Secretary Seward.

Hon, william IL, Seward Is on visit
N his home in Auburn, n. Y. He left
washington to obtain the quiet and rest
which he greatly needed but Gu arriv-
inc at his old home he could not easily
resist the temptation TO address his fell
low.townsmen. He therefore yielded TO
nolitc and pressing Invitations and
uCouing Hall the haudsomest and
largest audience room in the place-was
porr than crowded 10 hear him, on
Wednesday evening last.
Mr.. Seward spoke Of the condition of
nubllc affairs since last fall, when he adj
dressed them, and when as he reminded
them. both parties protested to sustain
and approve the Presidents policy
That policy he said had beena wonder
full success, and the southern states have
been reorganlZed and restored with fewer
internal connections than sometimes at
tend popular elections in foreign coun-
try. These states had ratified the
amendment to the constitution abolish
ing slavery, and there exists now be.
tween these state governments and the
general government a more complete and
practical harmony than has ever before
prevailed since the Union was estab-
lished. Reconstruction, Mr.. Seward in
sisted is fully accomplished, and all
that is now needed is reconciliation.
The chief obstacle to this is morbid
political zeal, which will not abandon
its old contests, although the occasion
for them has disappeared, and which
concerns itself too much for the perpet-
uatlon Of mere party power. On this
point Mr. Seward said
Il agree that it is altogether easier
and altogether more desirable, that the
work Of reconciliation, SO happily be-
gun, and so successfully prosecuted
heretofore, shall be continued and ended
under the auspices Of the national I'm
ion party, and of the President and Con-
gress as the representatives of that par
ty. / agree therefore that it would be
sad misfortune if divergence between
the President and Congress should work
decline and downfall of the national
Union party. 1t is dear to me. for | am
Identified with its rapid rise, its ma ies-
tic progress and its glorious work. Both
the President and Congress might well
expect to be equally involved in the ca
lamity which should dismiss the Union
party from the national councils and see
with modification the great response
bilities to which the party had in that
case proved itself unequal, assumed and
discharged by some new and yet unde-
yeloped political organization. But
President Congress, statesmen and par
ties are OF no real account in my esti-
nation, when weighed against the ma
tional life. The national life lately hung
on the issue Of victory in war, 1t now
hangs on the issue OF reconciliation in
peace. The nation must live 1t must
live forever, whether it receive the need
ed care in any emergency at the hands
Of one President Congress and party. or
at the hands of another.
THE PRESIDENTS POLICY.
"The country exhibits at this moment
this extraordinary and interesting phe-
nomenon: a nation Of states, not only
kindred but allied, yet hostile to each
other. For such condition, mutual re-
Cancellation is the only practical remedy.
We are prepared now to ask what hin
ders the application Of that remedy in
the legislative councils? The Presj-
dent : position is absolutely taken, well
defended, and universally understood: it
is tn :. viz: that 50 far and so fast as
Che uareprese 1ted states present them
sCc.vves in a loyal attitude, by representa-
tives unquestionably loyali they are en-
titled to representation In Con2I~SSS
equally with all other States. and lust
as well as If there had been no rebel
lion. The representatives. Of the nation
al Union party in Congress do not yet
agree with the President: but | think
they differ only in regard to mere non
essentials. Some are understood to in
sist that the people Of no state ought to
reserve the right of secession or disu-
Mon. The President says exactly the
same thing. A state that should claim
to reserve a right OF secession could not
be loyal. Others contend that after re-
belIIon, State ought not to be accepted
which insists upon or admits the valid
ity 0. the debts of the rebellion, The
President says exactly the same thing,
A State that should insist upon the va
lldlty Of such debts could not be loyal.
others argue that as a consequence Of
the abolition Of slavery, change OF the
oasis OF representation has become de-
slrable and necessary. This can be done
only by amending the constitution of
the United States. While Congress are
yet unable to agree among themselves
upon the form of such an amendment,
the President says let us amend the con-
Stltution so as to apportiOn representa-
ton according to suffrage. These seem
10 me to be the only essentials of recon
ciliation. Two Of them are already Sc
cured by the unrepresented states in
their constitutions. The third is but a
WORK Of time, requiring the action Of
three-fogrths Of the States by amend
ment Of the constitution. Why then
delay reconciliation by Congress when
they agree upon essentials
ERuf in ~rY,tb ~ Is mot q Question