Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-02-23
Special Dispatches.
RECEIVED UP TO 5 O'CLOCK, AN.

Especial Dispatches to Western Associated Press.l
COOPER INSTITUTE MEETING-sPEECH OF Mr..
SEWARD.
NEW YORK, February 22.-Cooper Insti-
tute is thronged tonight by the people of
New York, and all the streets in the imme-
diate neighborhood are filled with thou
sands of supporters of the President. Hon.
Francis B. Cutting presides, assisted by a
large number of the most prominent citi
zens as Vice Presidents. The meeting is
very enthusiastic. David Dudley Field
presented an address to the people of New
York and a series of resolutions. The ad-
dress is to the effect that first question before
the people is the great one of pacifeation.
What the country needs is repose. The
conflict of arms has ceased the conflict of
passions which led to arms should cease
also Our heroic soldiers cherish no enmi-
ties towards those they have overcome.
The only element of disturbance is the po-
litical condition of the freedmen. There is
no substantial disagreement among men
respecting their civil rights. We all agree
they must haye the civil rights of any other
class of citizens-the rights of person and
property, TO sue and TO testify-in short,
equality before the law.
But whether they shall also have the suf-
frage, is the dividing question. There can,
however, be no question whatever, that un-
der the constitution the power of determin-
ing who shall OF shall not enjoy the elective
franchise belongs exclusively to the re-
spective States. New York has no more
right to say who shall or shall not vote in
Virginia than Virginia has to say who shall
or shall not vote in New York. The cleo
tive franchise is not natural right, but
political trust. If it is true that every per-
son who is subject to laws is entitled to a
part in making them, then every sojourner
amongst us, and every foreigner is entitled
to vote Because the blacks have fought
for the country, that does not necessarily
give them the right to govern it, or partici
pate in its government. If 1t were other
wise, every brave boy from 16 to 2l who
fought in the Union ranks should have a
vote without waiting four years to partici-
pate in the government to which he is sub
iected. The blacks fought for country,
and they have it, they fought for freedom,
and they have it. We should welcome our
emanciDated brothers TO the rights of man
hood but when we are asked to give all men
of that race at the moment of their eman-
cipation the right to participate in the gov
ernment. we must answer in the words of
one Of their number, more intelligent than
MANY others, white or black: "The able
bodied only bear arms, the able minded only
should vote"
The address commends the Presidents
veto; expresses the conviction that the ex
clusion, as representatives from eleven
States now incorporated in Congress ofloyal
men who were fairly elected and can take
the oath, is manifest usurpation and con-
cludes by expressing confidence in the idel-
ity to the principles, in reference to which
he was elected, of Andrew Johnson; hearty
eommendation of the general doctrines of
his two messages and readiness to sup
port him in all constitutional measures for
the public welfare.
The resolutions are to the same effect and
in addition approve the action of Senator
Morgan and Representatives Raymond and
Darling in sustaining the Presidents veto.
Mr. Seward said, after few words Of in
PRODUCTION: What shall / speak of or about
The call of your meeting specifies the sub
iect. But first, let me say am not here as
an alarmist. l am not here to say that the
nation is in peril or danger: in peril if you
adopt the opinions of tho President in
peril if you reject them; in peril if you
adopt the views of the apparent or real
| majority Of Congress, or if you reject them
| 1t is not in peril any way nor do l think
the cause of liberty or human freedom, the
| cause of progress, melioration, or cIviliZa-
ton; the cause of national agrandizement,
present or future national or moral ad-
| vancement, is in danger OF being long ar
rested, whether you adopt one set Of political
opinions or another.
The Union-that is to say the natiOn--has
been rescued from all its perils. The noble
ship has passed from tempests and billows
into the verge of a safe harbor, and is now
securely riding into her ancient mooring:
without broken spar or a leak, starboard
| or larboard, fore or aft. There are some
small reefs yet 10 pass as she approaches
those moorings. One pilot says that she
may safely enter directly through them
theother says that she must back, and low
ering sail, take time to go around them
That is ell the difference. 1t is merely the
difference of opinion between the pilots.