Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-04-30
The Reaction Beginning -NOrthern Con-
servatism.

We cannot, perhaps, present our readers
with anything that would interest them more
than a sketch of the proceedings ofan immense
mass meeting of the citizens of Brooklyn, New
York, in favor Of the restoration poll
CIV of President JOHNSON, and Of the i'm
mediate admission of the Representatives
of all the States to the Congress Of the United
States, held on Wednesday last. The resolu-
tions adopted were adjusted to the two objects
referred tO-the support of the Presidents pol
icy Of restoration, and the admission Of the
Southern representatives elect to Congress-
One resolution declares retrospective of the
ss past, all men to be now loyal vino are IN
9. earnest in their efforts to bring the States to-
6, gether - and s'all men to he dslOyal who, IN
q der any prctext, stand in the way OF this the
q consummation of all our efforts and all our
sacrifices"
The two chief speakers on the occasion were
Major General ROUSSEAU and Hon. JoHN VAN
buren,. In order to give our readers some in
sight into the views and sentiments of that
class of men who sustain President JOHNSON
and oppose the Radicals We make a few brIei
extracts from the speeches of the two promi-
nent speakers. Said General ROUSSEAU:
81 never dreamed that when all the fighting was
done when peace was declared, when the enemies
of the country we've diSarmed and helpless, that
would be claimed that oil our Efforts were lost ana
that the rebels had, in fact accomplished the do-
lution Of this Union But, strange to say, men who
have declared most solemnly up 10 the surrender Ol
lee and johnson, that the Union could not be DIS
solved now tell us that the Union is in fact dis
= go
solved These men, who have got the natlon 20 eN-
mend its strength its half million OF lives, and Tour
thousand millions Of dollars, now tell rs that all
that expenditure for nothing, and that the I'm
ion is dissolved. lShame.l Strange doctrine, my
countrymen, for those who have all their lives con
tended for the very opposite doctrine. Because We
will not throw away the Constitution OF the United
states aud submit to the dctatiOn Of Thad. Stevens
Oisses) we denounced as traitors TO the country
You may well hiss, my friends, at that name.
wish had language 10 denOunce Il rs teel lAp-
plause A mlu, my cOuntrymen, who comes for
ward now, in this day-when We want but little
more ~ have the Union restored, and the COnstitu
ton Of the United states, and all our relations To
the general government as they were before the war
and places himself between that need Of his cOun-
try and its accomplishment; who declares that the
restoration shall not take place, because, if it does
the Republican party will go down, that man = a
fpiscreant that can't find words 20 express my de-
testatiOn for. (AppauSe.) For five years, fellow
citizens the theory Of the Republican party has been
the opposite Of what il row is. l have not been
Republican any more than have been Democrat.
/ vas Wing. | am Union man. Applause. +
But gave to that party a blind support IN the pros
oution Of the war. I asked no questions; believed
that we were compelled 10 put down the rebellion
in order to have the peace that we now enjoy.
But say now to these gentlemen,
Thaddeus Stevens and the rest who insist that this
Union il dissolved say 20 them what said TO the
rebels and what all loyal men said to the rebels,
that this Union can't be Dissolved that il must
in the language OF Jackson, il must be preserved
u hat il 1ilao1y val
could enter the head Of no man in this Union, eN-
cept the head Of that old MephistOphileS ThaddeuS
Stephens Iilissesl understand that he raised the
question in the Baltimore Convention, and that II
was promptly voted down. He wanted then per
haps from some feeling against Andrew Johnson, 10
have il resolved that Tennessee out OF the mon
aud therefore one Of her citizens could not De wee
President Of the United States.
well gentlemen, the loyal men down South are
not afraid Of the rebels think not We have a
perfect understanding with each other. And !, for
one, my cOuntrymen, can say to you OF those South
ern people tO'day-and you also know lt-they
mean what they say. When they meant 20 seeede,
they said il. And they held TO that cause so long
and so faithfully that all the there never was
regiment abandoned its cOlOrs and came into the
Federal army as deserters. That adhesion is an
earnest 10 you that they tell the truth when they
say tnat lhey submit. / do not believe one word OF
any great love they have for the North Ii is not
possible Inc bitterness is not yet passed away. But
must say TINS 70 you, and you will agree with NE,
that you nave state OF things unhOped for by the
most hoPeiul. lou have promising condition
now did not expect 70 see Tor ten wears after the
war was over Gentlemen, il il an 1n,,r.oa la,tol
condition of things. We have hal ~. 81 -,
,yhO brought all this trouble; thev bSvs -, i
their opposition to government ana never will Rut
they have done fighting. IL they submit To the lavs
of the land il is all We can ask. Mr.. Lincoln neysr
asked for anything else he told them to lay down
their arms and submit TO the laws Of the land Yon
cannot make people love each other. You eanno,
even make man love his wife OF his own accord
The following passage shows that Genera
ROUSSEAU not only eOmpFehendS, but is full
imbued with the spirit that inspires the Who'll
policy Of President JOHNSON and that lik
him he feels that his first duty is, not to party
but to country. 1t is cheering to hear a Re
publican thus express himself:
Before close, l say we are now, in my humbl
Judgment, in a more serious contest, If anythin
could be more serious than that Of armed rebellion
We are now eOntending with q set Of men who ar
not seeking to Overturn our government by arms
Soy they have not the courage to do that But il
fha name of the Union and the Constitution the,
will overturn both And the case Of the Southei
states to-day may be yours tomorrow. Beeaus
what NAV happen for one state with partl
In mower NAV Sc for other States when that part
loses power. What va want IS common rule 70
all. We do not want our rights TO depend upon thu
asceadency Of any party. You want rule beyond
which no party can 20 in invading your rights Blu
your Constitution Is in danger, and II the theories
and purposes Of this party are carried out, il /;
gone Mr.. Stevens aVowed in my presence IN Con
ress that there were but twenty.sx States in this
Union instead Of thirtyseyen, and he insisted that