Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-05-07
XXXIXth CONGRESS- First Session
WASHINGTON, May 5, 1866.
HOUSE

The House met for debate on the Presidents an
nual message. as II in committee OF the W hole.
Mr.. PHELPS addressed the House on the subject
OF reconSlruc N. supporting the position assumed
by the President.
Mr.. NIGER ,OLL was the next spt aker, his sab
Iect being also that Of reconstruction lie eXpr ss-
ei himself gratfed at finding the Democratic par
ty of the North advocating, with the degree Of
warmth and with the same lack Of honor, the prin-
cipes they had formerly advocated at the dictatiOn
OF their Southern rulers. The Northern Democrats
were as ready and willing as ever they were, sub
serve the purposesof the whipped defuqct Southern
chiyaTy. The patriotic people of the North had not
only the defeated rebels to fight and the Northern
friends and allies Of the rebels to fight, but they also
had the EXECUTIVE to Tight with all ITS powers and
patronage. The Southern aristOcracy and the Pres
| dent tO boot would, however, have 10 succumb to
the power of Northern patriotism, fighting the bat
Ties OF liberty and universal justice. false issue
had been presented to the people, and the President
hau done what he could to mislead the people. But
he (Mr. lngerSOlD would do all in his power TO un-
| mask the deception which the President of the int
ted Sta les would impose upon the people. He (Mr.
lngerSOlD took the ground that whether the rebel
States were or were not out OF the Union, every ct
zen within them became an alien enemy, was liable
to be treated by the Government in all respects as
foreigner, and remains alien enemy until relieved
| OF his disabilities by Congress. This position he
supported by citations from writers on international
law.
ne expressed his belief that there would have
been little difficulty in restoration if the President
OF the United States had cOnsclentiOusy discharged
his duty to the country, If he aad more judgment
and less ambition, more patriotism and less ego
tism. But the President had desire to ma e hIm-
self conspicuous, and consequently, blinded by am
oitlon he refused 70 do what It was hi, PLAIN duty
to dO-call special session of Congress at Once.-
Andrew johnson never had been with the Union
Republican people at heart, on the principles which
the war was fought Andrew Johnson had been
for maintaining the Union because he saw no chance
OF battling successfully against it, and because he
wanted To maintain slavery in the Union. Andrew
johnson was especially a Southern man with the
the southern psolIe. Andrew johnson had never
been recognized by the Southern leaders who in
auguratei rebellion as one OF their peers that
ne sacrificed nothing when he refused TO 60 with
them. lie had never been with them as one of the
spOkes Of the Southern political wheel. lie was to-
dqy hlled with the poison OF the malaria OF slavery
which he lmbibed in his infancy; and
in the repining years Of his life he ia k
ed loud of the backness of treason, when it was
his interest to do so when he could remain in tue
United States Senate, or have authority militia
ry Governor. But as soon as he was clothed with
the power of President, and looked to be ected il
e65 he whispered iu the ears OF the ebels that all
his talk about Furnishing traitors was mere CANNON,
intended for New England aud Illinois. The Pres
dent had pardoned his old friends and betrayed he
party which gave him name. He had given the lie.
expressed within the last four years. The time
would come when Andrew johnson would be so low
that none would be so poor as to do him reverence.
Mr.. lngeTsOll read from Savages Life of Johns n
some extracts from the Presidents speeches in tho
Senate in 1851, and demanded why it was that
traitors had not been tried and executed lie In-
Johnson would never have JEFF. DAVIS triel or
hat if Davis were tried and convicted, Andrew
johnson would pardon him. All that traitors had to
do now was TO scrape up money enough tO come 10
Wa hington anu apply for pardon. and they got it,
or If they did not present their applications person.
ally they could do so through the mail Iust a. WELL
A MEMBER-Or the female, tLaughterJ
Mr., lNGERSULL-I would adopt the suggestion
and add through tue females. [Ladghterl. ..ndreW
johnson would find that when he dared to set the
executive pOWor in opposition to rignt and eternal
principles, he would be but rush, and would be
OverbOrne by The sentiments OF the people. He
would find that child in the right was more pow
ertul than the President in the wrong. Andrew
johnson himself bad made treason OdOus by his
trcachery to the party which elected him. Ii An
drew johnson had not been a'tor to the Govern
ment and the Constitution OF the United States he
had been traitO to the party that elected him anu
TO the principles that he had proclaimed in 1851 and
that had found response In the hearts OF all lvya
men. Instead OF being the man entitled to the conf
dence, the gratitude and the love OF the loyal Amer
lean people, Andrew Johnson had only the love- con
hdence and support Of the late rebels in arms and
their sym oa thiZers Or ap00gists in the North The
Ameri an people had suffered. and were capable of
suffering, great deal; but it was too much for them
to be afflicted with rinderpest tricnina, cholera and
Andrew johnson all in one year. Andrew johnson
was c"nsummate demagOgue, one of the most un-
blushing demagOgues that existed in this country
Andrew johnson. in his speech to the soldiers and
sailors, told them all he had sacrificed for the
sacrlfced as much as the humble private who
fought in the ranks at Gettysburg. The humblest
p1Vhte IN Jne TANKS was enLteu 10 more credit and
honor Than Andrew johnson was. Had Andrew
Johnson ever been in battle2 Had he ever smelled
gtpnpowder-ever camped in the SHOWS Of wnter2-
He had suffered the position Of United States Sena
tor AMI that Of Military Governor Of Tennessee.
when he occupied the Executive Mansion in Nash
Vile. He wore Brigadier Generals straps on his
shoulders. and was feasted and toasted and had
tries posted ut his door, while he snoring quiet
] during the silent watches of the night. Andrew
johnson had suffered all this ! but did that entitle
him to so much consideration that he was to be al
lowed TO impose his infamous policy on the people,
even without protest on their part Could any
ferfdy to the principles to the Union party? That
suffering might be good for him, and he hoped he
would have plenty Of it, for he certainly had cause
enough. Andrew johnson. demagogue as he was,
had told the blacks that he was their Moses Instead
of being their Moses he had tried 10 be their Pha-
roam. He had been swallowed up, together with his
hosts Of admirers at the present hour 10 the great
sea Of destruction There not one Of the heroic
sAoe two hundred thousand who fought for the
country, that was not entitled 10 mere credit than
Andrew johnson, with his commission as Military
Governor in his pocket. The question seemed 10