Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-02-28
SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT,
At the White House, on Thursday, Februa-
ary 22d, 1868.

A mass meeting in support of the Presl- !
dents policy, was held IN " ashlhStol' On
the 22d \ series of resolutions were pass /
ed. approving of the course Of the President
When the meeting closed, those present form
ed into procession and proceeded TO the kx-
ecutive Mansion, and, on presenting the res
olutions to the President. he spoke as fol-
lows:
FeUo,o Citizeas-for presume have the
right to address you as such to the COM
mittee who have conducted and organized
this meeting so far, | have to tender my sin
cere thanks for the compliment and appro-
baton they have manifested in their personal
address to myself and in the resolutions they
have adopted.
am free to say to you on this occasion
that it is extremely gratifying to know
that SO large portion of my fellow citizens
approve and endorse the policy that has been
adopted and is intended 70 be carried out
That policy has been one which was lnten-
ded to restore the glorious union Of the
States, and their original relations to the
Government of the United States
This seems to be day peculiarly appro-
pirate for such a manifestation; the day
that gave birth to him who founded this Gov
ernment; the Father of his Country; of him
who stood at the head of this Government.
Then, all these States entered this Union.
This day, say, is peculiarly appropriate to
endorse the restoration of these States, toun-
ded by the Father Of his Country, George
Washington-W ashington, whose name this
city bears is embalmed III the hearts OF all
| who love free g0vernment-Wa ashlngton,
who was first in peace, first in war, first IN
| the hearts of his countrymen-no people can
claim, no nation can appropriate him. His
reputation and life Is the common inheritance
OF all who love free government.
l, to-day, had the pleasure OF attending
| the National Washington Association, which
| is directing It's efforts to complete the mon
ument erected to his memory. | was glad
to meet them, and so far as | could, give
them my humble influence. The monu-
ment is Icing erected with 4 stone throw
| of the spot from where | address you. Let
it be completed. Let the pledges which all
! the State associations and corporations have
| placed in-thaU monument of their iaitl and
! love for this Union, be preserved. let 1t
be completed; and in this connection le; me
| refer 10 the motto upon stone. sent from
my own State God bless aState which has
struggled for the preservation OF the Union
III the field and in the councils OF the nation.
A motto IS Inscribed or that stone. stand
! by that sentiment aud she 5WIiilng to stand
| by il. 1t was the sentiment enunciated by
| the lululDTidl AIulCH JdGhSOu, L lie L cd
eral Union IL must be preserved
Mr.. johnson then referred briefly to the
conduct of General jacSson in 1888, de
nounced as traitors all who attempted to des
troy the country, and reiterated his deter
minatlon TO stand by the country and the
| Constitution. He thought, In CONSIDERING
| the question OF reconstruction. we should
not deal with all the people in a spirit of re
venge. The South had acknowledged its
allegiance to the Government, and he was
| ready to open the doors Of the Union, aud
restore them to their former relations. He
said there Is no one who has labored harder
than | have to have the principal conscious
and intelligent traitors brought to justice,
and to have the law vindicated While
conscious, intelligent traitors are to be pun
ished, should whole states and communities
be made to submit to and bear the penalty
of death? Let them become loyal and will
ing supporters and defenders OF our glori-
Gus stars and stripes, and the Constitution
Of our country Let their leaders, the con-
scious, intelligent traitors suffer the penal
ty Of the law. But for the great mass who
have been forced into this rebellion and mis-
led by their leaders, | say show them leni-
ency, kindness, trust and confidence. The
rebellion is put down by the strong arm of
TIE Government, but We are scarcely out Of
one rebellion before we are almost in the
midst of another. There is an attempt ID
concentrate the powers of the Government
| In the hands of a few, and thereby bring a
bout consideration, which is equally dan
gerous and Objectionable with separation.
Sometimes revolutions most disastrous to
the people are effected without shedding
| blo0d-thc substance of Government be
| taken away, leaving only the form and sha
dow. We find that, in fact, by an irrespon-
sible central directory, nearly all the powers
| of the Government are assumed, without
even consulting the Legislative or Execu-
| tive Departments Of the Government By
a resolution reported by a committee upon
| whom all the Legislative power Of the Gov
ernment has been conferred, that principle
in the constitution which authorizes and
| empowers each branch Of the legislative de-
partment to be judges of the election and
qualifications of It's own members, has been
virtually taken away from these departments
and conferred upona committee. who must
report before they can act under the Consti-
| tuition and allow members duly elected to
take their seats By this rule they assume
that there must be laws passed, and there
must be recognition in respect to States
in the Union, with all its practical relations
restored, before the respective Houses of
| Congress, under the Constitution, shall
Judge of the election and qualification of its
own members. You have been struggling
for four years to put down rebellion. You
denied in the beginning that any State had
the right to go out, and it has been decided
that no State has either the right or the
power to go out of the Union and when
we have settled that by the Executive and
military power of the Government, and by
the public Judgment you turn around and
assume that they are not and shall not come
in. | am free to say to You as your Eyecu-