The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-24


Federal Constitution, the third section of the
proposed article being in these terms:-
"Seoion 3. Until the Fourth day of July, in the
year 1870, all persons VINO voluntarily adhered to the
late INSURE ciion, giving 1t and and comfort shall be
eTcuded from the ght to vote for representatives in
oonPTess and lor electors for President and Vice
President OF tho United ) ates"
II is urged by the advocates of this plan that
this third section is the vital one, without which
the others are OF no value. Its exclusive action
VIII, no doubt, commend 1t to the feelings of
many as wise and Just provision; but | am
unable so TO regard it, because ior four years,
II binds Congress 10 exclude from voting for
Representatives or Presidential Electors "all
persons who voluntarily adhered to the late IN
su1rection, giving II aid and comfort" No mat
ter what may be the condition of the country
nor what proofs OF present and future LOYALTY
may be given, an absolute Constitutional bar is
to be erected for four years against large class
of persons.
Change of circumstances and condition often
works rapid change in political sentiments, and
nowhere with more marked result than in the
South. 1t is belieN ed that elements of change
are now at work there, stimulating on one side
TO loyalty, aud, on the other tending TO con-
unued hostile feelings. In my Judgment every
proper mcltement to union should be fostered
and cherished, and for Congress to limit its own
power by Constitutional amendment for the
period OF iour years, might be deplorable in its
result
To those who differ accord the same honesty
and, perhaps, greater wisdom than can claim
for myself. AS the proposed plan now stands,
am unable to perceive tho necessity Justice or
wisdom OF the measure; but having no place
nor voice in the body before which the measure
is pending, disclaIm any purpose to interfere.
beyond the expression OF my own opinion,
Having thus declared my views, as they have
heretofore been declared to those who had the
Ilght 10 know them, on the material questions
that have lately arisen, or are now pending |
trust that your purpose on this occasion is
answered, and shall be glad if their expression
may have any beneficial influence on questions
the right disposition whereof is a matter of soli-
citude to every patriotic man, and is deeply
important to the peace and tranquility of the
country.
Recognizing the coordinate branches of Gov.
eminent, legislative, judicial, and executive,
ana entertaining for each the reel pect which is
due from every loyal citizen, they are entitled to
and shall receive, according to my beet iudg-
ment, the support which is required by that
Constitution which, after unexamped conflict
mas been upheld and sanctifed by Divine favor,
and through the sacrifice OF so much blood and
treasure.
The Secretary of the Treasury was next called
on, and said:-
SPEECH OF HON. HUGH M'CULLOCH.
Fellow-Citizens:-You are aware that am not
IN the habit OF making speeches, aud l take it
Tor granted, therefore, that in making this call
upon me you intended only to pay me passing
compliment and not to elicit from me any ex-
tended remarks. shall not disappoint you; l
shall not be so ungratelul for your kindness as
to 1nhict upon you speech. My position, gen.
tlemen, in reference to the issues which are now
engaging the public attention are not, appre-
bend, misunderstood by you.
took occasion lat fall among my old friends
IN Indiana to define my position, and since that
time have seen no occasion to change, much
less to abandon IL. | will say, therefore, as /
suppose must say something on this occasion,
that the general policy OF the President in re-
ference 10 the Southern States, and the people |
recently IL arms against the Federal Govern
ment, has commended itself to my deliberate
onh ola l. 49,
in some instances vindctvely y-assailed, | have
an abiding conviction that it will be approved
by the people when they shall be allowed to
pass Judgment upon 1t at the ballot-box.
This plan is fairly stated in the platform of |
the Club which many of you represent. | need
not say, therefore, IN regard to that platform |
any more than that subscribe to all its doc |
trines fully and without reserve. suppose,
gentlemen, that some or us expected that at the |
close of this great war, in which much bad |
blood had been excited. and much good blood |
had been shed, we should have blue skies and |
calm seas.
The President of the United States. gentle |
men, stands before the country in no doubtful |
attitude. His voice gave utterance to no un- |
certain language when it denounced treason. |
At the outbreak of the Rebellion, in the Senate |
of the United States, he showed no fatering |
bdelity, when, counting everything else as OF |
no value. as mere dust in the balance, in COM |
par1son WI b the Union and the Constitution, he |
went back 10 Tennessee to tight treason and |
secession in their strongholds, and peril his life
and the lives OF his family. His policy is |
ineligible, and practical.
II better policy can be presented, one more |
IN consonance with the principles of the Govern |
ment, better calculated to preserve the supre- |
macy OF the Federal authority, while it trenches
not OF the reserved and legitimate rights of the !
States-mOre Just, more humane, better fitted |
to bind the people of this great country in a |
common brotherhood, at the same time that it |
places Just condemnation on treason, and Yindi- |
Gates the majesty of the law, If such policy |
can be presented, there Is no man in the United |
who will more willingly embrace it than An |
drew johnson. (Cheers.) But until that better |
policy be presented, he must be false to himself
false to his record, and must in fact, cease to be
Andrew johnson, II he does not adhere to his |
policy, and sink or swim with it..
1t is pretty good evidence, after all, gentlemen,
OF his correctness of policy that Congress, after
haylng been IN session nearly SIX long weary |
months, has been unable to present one which |
they can agree upon as a substitute. Ii was |
once said think, by John Randolph, that 'of |
all tnkers the Constitution tinkeIs were the |
most TO be depI ecated.n |
If the OLD man could rise from his grave, what |
would he say to the present Congress, In which |
every third man, at least, Is Constitution |
tinkerE (Cheers and laughter.) But they are |
not wise enough to amend that grand old in |
strument, the work OF our patriot fathers ofthe |
republic, the glory of the United States and the |
admir- alton OF the world.
My iellow-citizens, there is but one PROPOSE |
tCn that has been presented which stands even ]
the ghost OF chance of acceptance by the peo- |
pie OF the North, and that is the proposition |
basing representation on voters; and whose |
fault is II that that is not part of the Consitu-
tion to-day? Why was it not submited With the |
amendment abolshing slavery? Whose fault |
was thht2 Voices, ''The Copperheads." Other |
voices, "Thad Stevens.n)
Mr.. McCulloch-Was 1t the fault of Andrew |
Johnson? (Shouts OF THE fault of Congress- |
"Thad. Stevens and counter cheers tor M