The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-05-31
RALEIGH, N. c., THURSDAY,


o avoid michief by premature discus
ion of matters entrusted to the legls-
tive branch of the government and
,nder its consideration. But the call
f this evening relieves me from any
mputation of intruding my opinions
upon you. 1 shall therefore declare
Them briefly and plainly; and to the
end that they may be neither acciden-
sally misunderstood, nor wilfully mis-
represented, what it is my purpose to
say on this occasion has been written.
After four years of war the authority
of the Federal Government was estab-
lished throughout the whole territory
of the United States, at sacrifice of
over three hundred thousand lives of
loyal soldiers and cost of more than
three thousand million of dollars Near
ly 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 million inhabitants Of the loyal
States feel, and will long continue to
feel, what it cost 20 uphold their Gov
crnment against rebellion.
upon Mr.. johnson at the death of Mr..
Lincoln, on the 18th day of April, 1865.
Thirteen days before that time, Rich
mond, the seat of the rebel Govern
ment, had been captured, and six days
later the rebel commander-in-chief.
Robert-E Lee, routed and vanquished,
surrendered his army as prisoners of
war to General Grant and the forces
under his command. By these rapidly
succeeding events the rebel Govern
ment was overthrown, its strength and
hope exhausted, and in every State its
armed forces and official authorities
gave themselves up as prisoners of war.
The Presidents annual message to the
present Congress thus clearly states
the condition of the country, and the
question thereby imposed upon him:
''I found the States suffering from
tht effects Of civil war. Resistance
to the General Government appeared
to have exhausted itself. The United
States had recovered possession of their
forts and arsnels, and their armies were
in the occupation of every State which
had attempted to secede. Whether the
territory within the limits of those
States should be held as conquered
territory, under military authority
emanating from the President as the
head ofthe army, 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 ap-
Il,
led, governors elected, legislatures as
sembled, and representatives chosen
to the Congress of the United States.
United States, as far as could be done,
have reopened, so that the laws of the
United States may be enforced through
their agency. The blockade has been
removed AMI the custom-houses re-esta-
bliShed i'll ports of entry, so that the
revenue of the United States may be
collected. The Office Department rcnews
its caseless activity, and the General
Government is therebA enabled to COM
municate promptly with its officers and
agents. The courts bring security to
persons and property; the opening of
the ports invite the restoration Of in
dustrv and commerce; the post Office
and of ofbusincsS.''
No one better thaA Mr.. johnson un-
derstood the solemn duty imposed upon
the National Executive to maintain the
national authority, vindicated at so
great Il sacrifice, and the obligation not
to suffer the just fruits of so fierce a
struggle, and of so many battles and
victories, to slip away or turn to ashes.
In many speeches to delegations from
loyal States, in dispatches to provision
al governors acting under his authority
and in declarations made to the public
for their information, there was no dis
guise Of his purpose to secure the peace
and tranquility of the country on just
and sure foundations.
These measures received the cordial
support cf every member ofthe Cabinet
and were approved by the sentiments
declared by conventions in nearly all
of the States. One point of difference
presented itself, namely: the basis of
representation. By some it was thought
just and expedient that the right Of
suffrage in the rebel States should be
secured in some form to the colored in
habitants of those States, either as a
universal rule or to those qualified by
education or by actual service as soldiers
who ventured life for their Government.
My own mind inclined to this view, but
after calm and full discussion my Judge
ment yielded TO the adverse arguments
resting upon the practical difficulties to
be encountered in such measure, and
to the Presidents conviction that to
prescribe rule of suffrage was not will
in the legitimate SEQ pc Of his power.
in the proclamation to the people OF
North Carolina, and the instructions to
the Provisional Governor of that State,
exhibit the system and principles pre-
scribed by the President for the substi-
tuition of civil authority i'll the place of
universal military rule in the insurrec-
tionary States. In this plan two things
presented by the proclamation and the
Presidents instructions are worthy OF
special notice:
First. That the exercise of the organ