Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-03-08
Thursday, March 8, 1866.
Mr.. Seward in New York.

A great meeting was held at the Cooper In
stitute in the city of New York, on the 22d
February; at which appeared many of the most
prominent men of all parties. The veto Of the
President of the United States was enthusiastic
cally sustained.
Secretary SEWARD made great speech, lin
every sense of the term,) in support of the
Presidents views. 1t was logical, calm and
convincing. Referring to the action of the
Southern States as having done every thing re-
quired of them, and having elected their repre-
seutatives, he said;
"The President is in harmony with all the
States that were in rebellion. Every executive
department and judicial department are in op-
Grafton, or are rapidly resuming the exercise OF
their functions. Loyal representatives, more
or less from those States, men whose loyalty
may be tried by any constitutional or leglsa-
tive test, are now standing at the doors OF Con-
gress, and have been standing there for three
months past, asking to be admitted to seats
which disloyal representatives, in violence OF
the rights and duties of the States as well as OF
the sovereignty Of the Union, had reckleSSy
abandoned.
"These representatives, after lapseof three
months, yet remain waiting outside the cham
Der, while Congress passes law after law, i'm
posing burden after burden, and duty after
duty upon the States which thus, against their
earnestly expressed desires, are left without
representation. So far as | can Judge OF hu-
man probabilities, / feel sure that loyal men
from the now loyal States will sooner or later
at this session, or at some other, by this Con-
gress, or some other, be received Into the legis-
lature of the nation. When this shall have
been done, the process of restoration will be
completed, for that is all that now remains to
be done.
"The President thinks that the transition
stage has nearly passed, and the original pro-
vision for the ireadmen's bureau is all that Is
necessary to secure the end in view while'the
bill submitted by Congress seems to him to give
it indefinite extension in time of peace and res
toration. He vetoed it for that reason. DE
declines to accept, as unnecessary and uncalled
for, the thousand or ten thousand agents, the
increased powers and the. augmented treasure
which Congress insists OH placing in his hands.
Congress. on the other hand, thinks that the
freedmen's bureau is not adequate, and that
more patronage, noe money and more power
should, like Thompson's door-plate, purchased
at auction by Mrs, ToOdles, be good thing to
have in house.
Il agree with the president in the hope that
the extraordinary provision which the bill
makes will not be necessary, but that the WHO
question may be simphfed by simple reference
to the existing law"
Mr.. Sewaad concluded as follows:
at will be sad hour for the republic when
the refusal Of unnecessary powers, treasure and
patronage by the President shall be held to be
a crime. When it shall be so considered, the
time will have arrived for setting up at the
White House an impartial throne, and sur
rounding the Executive with imperial legions.