Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-08-28
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.

am much obliged to you and to the COM
mittee that accompany You for this visit
and for thus offering me an opportunity of
making your acquaintance. | feel gratifed
that you thought proper to pay your respects
and show that much Difference. In reply to
the various propositions you have stated /
shall attempt no set speech, but in way Of
conversation permit me to say that in regard
to the subjects upon which you have touched,
l might simply refer you to my past acts,
which, on such subjects, must make answer
sufficient for me- | need make no declara-
tions now, for instance, regarding convict
labor-that is a subject | am tolerably IA
miliar with in our State-and years ago in
Congress, in '43 or AZ, you will find that
introduced a bill on the subject and en-
deavored to show not only its action upon
the labor market, but also that by its associa-
ton it had an evil tendency. That is an old
thing to me; / might claim priority in these
views over even some of yourselves. APP
pause and laughter Experience has only
confirmed me in the views regarding labor
then had. Upon the labor everything else
depends; that it ought to be respected, and
that the laborer ought to participate in and
contract the affairs Of the Government, for,
in fact, upon them all rests.
In reference to the homestead policy, ]
imagine that you all know that / was long
laborer in that field. As far back as '43 or
IA introduced the first bill in the House
Of Representatives; you all know succeed
ed in having it passed in the House. Il
went to the Senate and was there lost Later
was transferred to the Senate, and took the
bill up again, and finally it was passed, but
il was vetoed by Mr.. BUCHANAN. l need
simply to refer you TO my past acts in the
matter, and thus assured you need no further
reply. Ny whole history will show you
that my course has been always against this
policy Of monopolizing all the public land
for the benefit Of spectators 10 be sold by
them at high prices. In many Of my old
speeches On this matter You will see various
estimates which made to prove that the
cessation Of this monopoly would result in
increasing the revenue Of the country and
in lettering the condition Of the people,
rendering them more independent and just
in that conviction. 1t is now a very impor-
tani time Tor the people, the laboring peO-
pie, TO see to their independence, for we have
almost reached a time when the people re-
quire a second emancipation.
There are some wearing bonds and
shackles that require 10 be thrown aside.
warmly sympathize with you in your move
ment. and have given recent evidence Of
it, There IS nothing could say that would
give additional evidence of the fact. am
in favor, and have always been, Of that sys-
TEN which had the most tendency TO elevate
the working people Of the nation, and am
clad 10 see the labor Of the country taking
hold Of and looking to its own right. /
have ever been a strong Democrat, but there
always was one aristocraey that favored
the aristocracy sf labor. In the laboring
men, industrious and intelligent is the real
aris;ocracy Of the country, for upon them
all she rest depend. As to the hours Of Ia
Dor per day, il i simply > matter Of expe-
diency, think but am certainly IN favor
Of the shortest number possible that will
allow Of the discharge Of duty and the re-
quirements Of the country. / think, there
lore, having said semething on all lthe pro-