Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-03-07


south might be admitted to Congress, he |
never would consent to the admission of any |
man who had taken part in the Rebellion, |
and he never would vote for the repeal of the
test oath. He believed that the people of
the country demanded a change in the basis |
of representation, so as to keep the Rebel
States from coming back here with increas
ed representation, as they would do under |
the freedom of the blacks according to the
present basis. He believed that the best
and fairest basis of representation would be
voters and not population, although he
should probably vote for the proposition
now pending m the Senate which recognized
population as the basis. He did not believe
that Mr.. Summers proposition to declare
suffrage by an act of Congress was practlca-
BILE. Mr. Sherman said: L have. thus,
Mr.. President, endeavored to show that TO
this hour no act has been done by the Presi-
tent inconsistent with his obligation to the
great Union party that elected him. Diff
ferences have arisen, but they have arisen
upon new questions not within the contem-
plation of the Union party, or the Union
people when the President was nominated.
| have also shown that he has acted in pur-
suance of policy adopted by Mr.. Lincoln
and approved by the people, and that no
-event has yet transpired that will preclude
him from hearty cooperation with the
great mass of the Union party IN securing to
the country the objects for which we con-
Quoted successfully great war.
snow | am aware Of no calamity more dis
graceful than for US, by our divisions, to
surrender to men, who were enemies to
their country in time of war; any or all the
powers of this Government. He who con-
tributes in any way to this result deserves
the execrations of his countrymen. This
may be done by thrusting upon the Presl-
dent new issues, in which the well-known
principles of his life do not agree with the
Judgment of his political associates. 1t
may be done by inviting controversies OF
personal character. Ii may be done by the
President turning his back upon those who
trusted him with high powers, and thus
linking his name with one of the most dis
graceful in American history-that of John
Tyler. | feel an abiding confidence that
Andrew johnson will not, can not do this:
We know that the President can not, will
not, and never agreed to unite with us upon
the. issues of universal suffrage and dead
States. No such dogmas were conttempla-
ted when, for his heroic services in the
cause of the Union, we placed him side by
side with Mr.. Lincoln as our standard bear
er. Why dwell upon them? Why not
complete the work so gloriously begun by
our soldiers, by securing union and liberty to
all men without distinction of color, leaving
to the States as before, the question of
suffrage? The cause of God, the maledic-
tions of millions of our people, and the
tears and blood of made freemen will,
in my judgment, rest upon those who now,
for any cause, destroy the unity of the party
that has led us through the wilderness of
war to peace and repose. We must now
look to our public credit We have duties
to perform to the business interests Of the
country, in which we need the assistance of
the President. We have every motive for
harmony with him and with each other,
and for a generous, manly trust in his pa
triotism.
God knows that do not urge harmony
and consolidation from personal motives.
The people Of my native State have trusted
me with a position here extending four years
beyond the termination of the Presidential
office of the present incumbent. He can
grant me no favors. If believed for mo-
ment that he would seek an alliance with
those who, by either arms or counsel, or
even by apathy, were against this country
in the recent war, and would turn over to
them the high powers intrusted to him by
the Union party, then Sir, he is dishonest
and would receive no assistance from me.
But [ will not force him into this attitude.
LII he shall not prove false to the declara-
tions made by him in his Veto Message
that his strongest desire was to secure to
the freedmen the full enjoyment of their
freedom and property then | will not
quarrel with him as to the means used and
while, he tell us in this same Message, he
only asks for States to be represented which
are in an attitude of loyalty and harmony,
and in the persons of Representatives whose
loyalty cannot be questioned under any Con-
stitutional or legal test, surely we ought not
to separate from him until at least we pre-
scribe a test of their loyalty upon which we
are willing to stand We have not done it
yet. will not try him by new creeds-will
not denouce him for hasty words uttered in
repelling personal affronts see him yet,
surrounded by the Cabinet of Abraham
Lincoln, pursuing his policy. No word
from me shall drive him into political fellow
ship with those who, when he was one of
the moral heroes of the war; denounced
him, spat upon him, and despitefully used
him.
. The Circleville, Ohio Union says some
of the learned Democracy in that region en-
H., ~ N