Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-05-24
Serenade to the President and Cabinet.

| Inc GTesluent was Lne nrSt 10 DC eOmpImenteu IN
this way. In acknowledgement of it, he came out in
front of the Executive Mansion. and standing the
coping of the baustrade. hemadea briefspeech.
His appearance was the signal for enthusiastic greet
1 ings. His words were as follows:
| Speech of the President.
| Fc!So'o CtiEens;-Jn appearing before you this
evening it is simply for the purpose Of tondering to
you my thanks. my sincere thanks, for this demon
| stratlon and for the appreciation which you have
| manifested on this occasion, and on many occasions
| before. Such appreciation is peculiarly gratifying
and encouraging 10 under existing circumstances.
All that will be necessary is to persist in the support
is not distant when the American people will satisfy
| yon that the good work you have commenced ID
right, as it will so prove in the end. [CheeTs.l re-
| peat nv thanks for your appreciation Of my conduct
as public man and public servant
| Ths President then retired amid hearty applause
| THE SECRETARY OF STATE sERENADED.
The party next proceeded to the residence of tho
Secretary of State In the absence of Mr. Seward the
| compliment wa, acknowledged by Mr.. Frederick
Ctizens-1n behalfofthe Secretary of State
thank You sincerely for this manifestation of your
kindness. regret that he is not here to night, for
am sure that it would give him pleasure 10 witness
and share il your demonstration of patriotic feeling
of iiety to the Union and of appreciation Of the
wise and earnest efforts of the President for its Testo-
ration lCheers.
SPEECH OF SECRETARY wELLEs.
The Secretary of the Navy was next called upon.
said:
suppose is to the Administration and its policy
which we one and all approve. CCheers:l Yor need
not expect any remarks from me, for do not rtend
to make any. You are, and all, [ suppose for
the Union aud for the establishment of the rights of
the States ICheers These are my views. ICheers.
band playing Rally Round the Flag When
Johnny Comes Marching Home" and other airs,
SPEECH OF SECRETARY STANTON.
Gentlemep:-On the afternoon of Thursday Inc
18th of this month. received note from the Sec
| retary of the National Union johnson Club. telling
made the President and BIS cabnet and that would
be called upon at my residence. Immediately the
receipt of this note renly sent to the Secretary
expressing my thanks for the compliment and de-
Ginning The honor of the serenade, as similar
gment by the patriotic association Of Soldiers and
Sailors League had previously been declined. Two
reasons induced my action. The last time public
speech was made from this spot in answer to
made the night of Friday. the 18th day of April
1865. At that moment when we were rejoicing over
the downfall of the rebellion of tho instruments
was murdsering Dc Mr.: lincon! You viii not ,hink it
such associations should not be coveted. Besides az
the head of o department. my public duties have
been simply executive. and it has always been my
aim to avoid trenchjng upon duties devoIved upon
Others and to avoid mischief by premature discus
en of matters entrusted TO the legislative branch of
the Government. and under its consideration.
But the call this evening relieves me from any i'm
putaton Of intrudng my opinions upon you. shall
the end that they may he neither accidentally under
stood wfully misreprescnted; what it is my pur-
pose to say on this occasion has been written.
After of war the authority of the Federal
Government has established throughout the whole
territory of the United States at sacrifice of over
three hundred thousand lives ofloyal soldiers and
cost of than three thousand millions Of dollars
Nearly every household in eighteen loyal States is
mourning ITS loved ones slain by rebels
A tax which may last for generations is laid upon
the food and raiment and necessities of every family
and in the price of their daily bread the twenty mil
lion inhabitants of the loyal States feel, and will
long continue to feel, what it cost to uphold their
Government against rebellion.
The office of President devOved upon Mr.. John
son at the death of NJ Lincoln on the 18th of pr
1865. Thirteen days before that time Richmond the
sest of the rebel government had been captured and
six days later, the rebel commanderin- chief Robert
E. Lee, routed ard vaDqu shed, surrendered his
army prisoners of war to General Grant and the
forces under his command. By these rapidly sue
ceeding events, the rebel government was over
thrown-its strength and hope exhausted. and in
every State its armed forces and official authority
gave themselves up prisoners of war. The Pres-
dents annual message to the present Congress thus
clearly states the condition of the country, and the
question thereby imposed upon him.
81 find the States suffering from the effects of a
civil war. Resistance to the general government ap
had recovered possession of their forts and arsenel
and their armies in the occupation of every
State which had attempted to secede. Whether the
territory within the limits of these States should be
held conquered territory under military authority
emanating from the President. was the first question
that presented itself for decision"
After stating the objections to the continuance of
merely military rule the alternative course chosen
by him and supported by his Cabinet, is thus clearly
set forth
provisional Governors have been appointed for
the States, conventions called Governors elected,
TO the Congress of the United States. At the same
time the courts Of the United States far as could
be done have been reopened, that the laws of the
Urited States may be enforced through their agency
The blockade has been removed and the Custom
Houses reesablished in the ports of entry so that
the of the United States may be collected.
The Postofce Department renews its ceaselesS ac-
tvity, and the General Government is thereby en-
abled to communicate promptly with its officers and
agents. The courts give security to persons and
property The opening Of the ports invites the to-
ration of industry and commerce. The Postofice
Of Oy,d Ofh
ness"
No one better than Mr.. johnson understood the
solemn duty imposed upon the National Executive
to maint tain the national authority indicated at so
great sacrifice; and the obligation suffer the
just fruits of fierce struggle and Of many bat
ties and victories to slip turn to ashes. In
many speeches to delegations from loyal States; in
dispatches to PROVISIONAL Governors, acting under
his authority and in declarations made to the public
for their information, there was no disguise of his
purpose to secure the peace and tranquility of the
country on Just and sure foundations: These
ures received the cordial support of every member
of the Cabinet, and were approved by the senti-
ments declared by Conventions IN nearly ali of the
States.
One point of difference presented itself. namely
The basis of Representation. Bysome it thought
just and expedent that the right of suffrage in the
rebel States should be secured form to the
colored inhabitants of those States either as uni
versa rule, or to those qualified by education, only
actual service soldiers who veutured their lives
for their Government Myown mind inclined to this
view, but after calm and full discussion, my judg-
ment yielded to the adverse arguments resting upou
the fractional difficulties to be encountered in sucE
measure: and to the Presidents conditions. that to
prescribe the rule of suffrage was not within the scope
| Of his power.
The plan of organization embodied in the procla-
! nation to the people of North Carolina, and the
instructions to the Provisional Governor of that
State. exhibit the system and principles prescribed
by the the substitution of civil authority
in the place Of universal military rule in the nsur
rectonary States. In this plan two things were pre-
sented by the proclamation, and the Presidents in
| structions worthy of special notice:
FirstThGt the exercise of the organizing po,yer is
specifically and absolutely restricted 10 the people uho
in accordance with the views often declared by Mr.
! johnson from the commencement of the rebellion,
| and under the most impressive circumstances.
Seeond-That the choice of delegates was not only
limited to Onl toVntDeople, and Others but con-
sttutiona guarantees were required in respect to the
rebel debt A sound reason for such guarantees in
respect to slavery stated by the President in his
message, namely the necessity of the evidence of
sincerity in the future maintenance of the Union"
These views, expressed by the President in his
sage received. and continue TO receive my cordial
question that ought to be difficult of decision
After full explanation OF the s'eps tax by him to
restore the Constitutional relations of the States the
President in his annual message proceeds to state
with equal dstinctness what remains to be done and
to whom the authority and duty of doing it belongs
L in the following words The amendment to the
Constitution being adopted. it would remain for the
States whose powers have been long in obeyance
National Legislature and thereby complete the work
of Restoration. Here fsJor yOu, feoG ciizens of the
SenGte and for you jeiio,c citizens Of the House Of
Representatives. to Judge, sach Of gou for pourselUes
Of the election returns and qualifications ofyoT Opn
| members"
| Whoever doubts that the authority and duty of
Judging for itself of the election returns and quaif
cations of its members belongs each House of Con-
l gress may have his doubts removed by the Federal
COnStitution, which declares in the fifth section of
the first Article, that each House shall be the judge
of the election Teturn9 md qualifications of its
| members. In thus distinctly recognizing the Con-
stutional right of each House Of Gongrass to ,udge
of the election returns and qualifications of its
! members. the President has conformed to the plain
| letter of the Constitution.
Ii being the function of each House to judge of the
election returns and qualifications of its mem
bers the obligation is implied of taking testimony,
1 weighing evidence, apC deciding the question OF
| membership. What testimo0y has been taken, OF
what evidence has been presented in the question to
either branch of Congress- what judgment will be
\ given, is not known to me, have the right OF
l inquirine.
store the constitutional reiaOns and rights of the
l States, his annual message called the attention o.
Congress to the necessity of insuring that security o.
\ the freedmen, reminding Congress that while he had
no doubt that the Gslsral Government could not
tend the elective franchise It is equally clear thai
good faith requires the security Of the freedmen
in their liberty and their property, their right tc
labor and their right to claim the Just return Of the
labor and. observing further that the country is II
need of labor, and that the freedmen are in need
employment, culture and protection. In connection
\ Uith this subject the President further remarks
, | Slavery Ees essentially monopoly labor, and q
. | incoming of free industry. WEa-a labor was thu
| property of the capitalists, the white maH was 81
| cluded from employment. or had but the second bes
chance of finding it. and the foreign emigran turned