The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1866-05-31
Speech of Secretary McCulioch.

Below we give the remarks or Seere-
tary McCULLocH, On the occasion OF
serenade by the National Union Club, at
Washington. Wednesday. 23rd inst
FELLOW CITIZENS: Nv position in re
ference To the issues which are now en-
gaging public attention IS not | appre-
hend. misunderstood by yoa. Cheers ]
l will say, therefore, as | suppose must
say something on this occasion, that the
general policy OF the President IN re
ference 10 the souther States and people
recently in arms against the eaerai
Government has commended ltselI 70 my
deliberate Judgment Cheers J ana
although it has been NloleRtly, ana IN
some instances. Yindictively assalieti,
have conviction that it will he APPROX
Ell By the people when they shall oe al
lowed to pass Judgment on ~ sup
pose, gentlemen, that none OF us expect
ed that at the close OF this great war- IN
which much bad blood had been excited,
and more good blood had been shed, we
should have bright skies and calm seas
We anticipated that at the close OF
this war great questions would come up
for settlement, the discussion OF which
would he likely to agitate this country,
70 shake 1t from center to circumference
but we know also that the people had
not been wanting in any previous emer-
gency. and we bad confidence that they
would be prepared to cope VIII, and
settle satisfactorily any questions that
might be presented. Applause
The faith is strong with US now. g
have faith in the people, and faith IN that
good Providence, which, having led the
Nation through the Red Sea of battle,
is not likely to desert 1t, now that the
dreadful passage has been accomplished
Andrew Johnson policy IS straight Tor
ward, Ineligible, and practicable, and
if a better policy can he presented, one
more in consonance with the principles
of the Government, and better calculated
to preserve the supremacy OF the tede-
raj authority, while it trenches not on
the reserved and legitimate rights of the
S ates, more just, humane, and better
fitted to bind the people OF this great
country in a common brotherhood, at
the same time it places Just condemna-
ton on treason. and vindicates the ma
jesty Of law, if such a policy can be
presented, there is no man in the United
States who will more willingly embrace
it than Andy Johnson. Hearty cheers.
Bat until that better policy be pre-
scented he must be false to himself, false
to his record, and must in fact, cease to
be Andrew Johnson, if he does not all
here to his policy, and sink or swim with
it. Cheers.
1T is pretty good evidence, after all,
gentlemen, of the correctness of his
policy, that Congress, after having been
in session nearly six long, weary months,
has been unable to present one which
they can agree upon, no substitute. -
Cheers and laughter.
1T was once said, | think by John
Randolph. that of all thinkers the Consti-
tuition thinkers We're the most to be DIES
pissed. Cheers If the old man could
rise from his grave, what would he say
of the present Congress, in which every
third man ut least is Constitution tinker?
TCheers and laughter.
But they are not wise enough to am
end that grand old instrument. the work
Of their fathers, of the founders of the
Republic, the glory Of the United States
and the admiration of the world -
TCheers.
My fellow citizens, there is but one
proposition that has been presented,
which stands even the ghost Of a chance
of acceptance by the people of the
North, and that is the proposition bias
ing representation on votes, and whose
fault is it that that is not q part of the
Constitution to- day:
Nv by was it not submitted with the
amendment abolishing slavery? Whose
fault was that? Was it the fault of An
drew johnson?
s.Fellow citizens, I have only this to
say l have desired and hoped for
of this great Union party
with which | have ever been identified;
but if its leaders can present nothing
better than the programme OF the com
mittee, | am greatly apprehensive that
i 5 DAYS will be numbered. l trust,
fellow citizens that this will not be the
case; that it will discard its hostility and
its attempt to continue alienation be
tween the two sections of country. and
that it will embrace those principles
which look to harmony and to the resto-
ration OF peace. If it should do this it
viii still continue to be the great and
party of the country, and
cover itself with imperishable glory If
it does not. its DAYS are numb ered, and
the epitaph that will be written will be:
1t knew how to prosecute the war with
vigor, but it lacked the wisdom to avail
itself of the benefits of victory -
Applause.
The serenading party next proceeded to the resi-
ience of Postmaster General Dennison who spoke as
follows:
FELLOW CITIZENS We have much reason to felici-
ourselves the general condition the country
III Of the perils hr ugh which we have recently
passed and II congratulate ourselves on the promis
ing future that awaits 1t IS true that the resta-
ton the Southern States all their constitutional
relations the general Government not vet accom-
plshed. 20 far a that duty, that consunruaiion
has devolved the executive branch of the Govern
nlent. Aas been freely performed. Applause
cannot recall failure in this regard With all
these things YOU familiar, and the country knows
" hat has been done and what Is doing.
Doubtless there provisions in the Constitutions
of OF the States, there the laws enact
ed OF their Legislator that are not in con-
with the views of the moral AID liberty loving
czers OF the nation but cannot reasonably doubt
that these will give place TO better provisions and bet
ter laws under the influence of the Federal Govern
meut and their own material necessity.
But one thing remains 10 complete the work Of re-
and to eothe the Southern States with all
these constitutional privileges, aud that their pre-
sentatioD in Congress. regret deeply regret that
there i difference between the President and cur
friends in Congress, but you will hare Observed that