The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-03-02

md i'll the councils of the nation. A
motto Is inscribed on that stone:
stand by that sentiment, and she is
willing to stand by IL. 1t was the
sentiment cnunciated by the immor.
lal aud real Jackson: "The Federal
Union--it must be preserved" Mr..
Johnson then referred briefly to the
conduct of General jackson in 1888
denounced as traitors those who at
tempted 10 destroy our country, and
reiterated his determination to stand
by the country and the Constitution
He thought in considering tic
question of reconstruction, we should
not deal with whole people in n
spirit Of revenge. The South had
acknowledged its allegiance to the
government. and he was ready to
open the doors OF the Union, and re
store them to their former relations
He said, there is no one who has la
bored harder than l have to have the
principal, conspicuous and intelligent
traitors brought to justice, to have
the law vindicated, and the great fact
viDdicated that treason is q crime. -
Yet, while conscious, intelligent trai.
tors are to he punished, should whole
States, communities and people he
made to submit to and bear the pen.
atty OF DEATH Let them become 10y.
al and willing supporters and deIcn.
ders of our glorious stripes and stars,
and the constitution of our country
Let the leaders, the conscious, intel
ligent traitors suffer the penalty oi
the law; but for the great mass who
have been forced into the rebellion
and misled by their leaders, | say
leniency, Kindness trust and conf.
dence. The rebellion is put down by
the strong arm of the government;
but We are scarcely out of one rebel
lion before We are almost in the midst
of another rebellion. There is an at.
tempt to concentrate the power of the
government in the hands of few,
and thereby bring about a consolida-
ton, which is equally dangerous and
Objectionable with separation. Some
times revolutions are most disastrous
to the peOple--are effected without
shedding blood. The substance ol
our government may be taken away,
leaving only the formidable shadow
We find that, in fact, by an irrespon.
sible central directory, nearly oil
powers of government are assumCt
without even consulting the Legisla
tive or Executive departments of th'
government 10y the resolution report
ed by Il committee upon whom nj
the legislative power OF the govern
mcut nas been conferred. ThatpIi
ciple IN the constitution which au
u .Gi9 "NfisihATd 7tppytttmchts 70 81
Judges OF the election and qualllica
tiOns of its own members, has been
virtually taken away from these dc
partmcnts and conferred upon com.
mittcc, who must .cport before they
can act under the constitution, and
allow members duly elected to take
their seats by this rule, they ns.
sumo that there must be laws passed
that there must be recognition IN
respect to q State in the Union, with
all its political relations restored, he.
lore the respective Houses OF Con
grcss, under the constitution, chnlI
Judge of the election and qualiiica,
tions of its own members.
You have been struggling for fou'
years to put down the rebellion -
You denied in the beginning that any
State had the right to 90 out Of Ill,
Union, and 1t has b"cn settled that {
State has neither the right nor th'
power to 90 out of the Cniun, ant
when you have settled that by til,
executive and military power Of the
Government, and by the public judg
ment, you turn around and assume
that they are out and shall not como
in. am free to say TO you, as yoni
Executive, that am not prepared tc
take any such position. | can not
turn around now and give Il direct
lie to all ! profess to have done tho
last five years. When these States
comply with the Constitution, whol
they yield obedience to the laws
L say extend TO them the righ'
hand OF fellowship and let peace
and Union he restored, l have
fought traitors and treason in tht
South; l opposed the DavIscs and the
Toombscs, the Slidclls, and lons
list of others, whose names ! neet
not repeat; and how when turI
around at the other end of the line
| find men, care not by what num'
you call them I A voicc--"Call then
traitors" who still stand opposed tC
the res,orftion of the Union of I'll,
States, and am free to say TO you
that am still for the restoration o
the Union am still in favor ol thii
great government Of ours going ol
and following out its destiny. \
yoicc-"Giye us the names. 4
gentlcm0n calls for their names wei
suppose ! would give them. [!
yoicc--"We know them" loo
lnpon them, ! repeat il, as Prcsidcl
or citizen, as much opposed 20 th
Fundamental principles OF this GOV
ernment and believe they aro now Il
boring as much to peryert or dostro
Them, as the men who fought agan'
us. I \ voice, "What are the names
/ say Thaddeus Stevens, Of Pennsy
vania tremendous applause, | 81
Chas. Sumner; [great applaH,c,J
say Wendall Phillips and Others
the same stripe, all amongst them. !,
tIIA voice - "Give it to Forncy.'