The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-05-26

The Secretary of War was next called upon,
the band playing Orally Round the Flag
.When Johnny Comes Marching Home"
and other airs. Secretary Stanton said:
GENTLEMEN: On the afternoon of Thurs
day, the 18th of this month, received a note
from the Secretary of the National Union
johnson Club, telling me it was the design of
| the Association to serenade the President and
his Cabinet, and that | woIld be called upon
at my residence. Immediately on receipt of
this note, reply was sent to the Secretary
expressing my thanks for the compliment and
/ declining the serenade. A similar compli-
ment by the patriotic Association of the Sol
diers' and Sailors League had previously
ton. The last time a public speech was
made from this spot in answer to serenade,
was the night of Friday, the 14lh day of April,
| 1865. AT that moment, when we were re-
joicing over the downfall of the rebellion,
| one OF its instruments was numbering Mr..
| Lincoln. You will not think it strange that
compliment fraught with such associations
| should not be coveted. Besides, as the head
of department my public duties have been
simply executive. After four years Of war,
| the authority of the Federal Government was
established throughout the whole territory of
the United States, at a sacrifice of over 300,-
wv ilNcs VI ioyai SOIulerSs anu u Cost Oh more
than $4,000 900. Every household in
eighteen loyal States is mourning its loved
ones slain by rebels. A tax which may last
for generations is laid upon the food, and raj
ment, and necessities of every family, and in
| the price Of that daily bread the 10000, 900
inhabitants of the loyal states feel, and will
| continue to feel, what it cost to uphold their
Government against rebellion.
The office of President devolved on Mr..
johnson at the death of Mr.. Lincoln, on the
18th day of April, 1865. Thirteen days be-
fore that time, Richmond, the seat of the
rebel Government, had been captured. and,
six days later, the rebel Commander-in Chief,
Robert L. Lee, routed and vanqulshed, sur
rendered his army as prisoners OF war to
General Grant and the forces under his com
mand. By these rapidly succeeding events,
the rebel Government was oyerthrown. and
the official authorities gave themselves up as
prisoners of war.
The Presidents annual message to the
present Congress thus clearly states the condi-
ton of the country and the questions thereby
imposed on him:
Il found the State suffering from the effects
of civil war. Resistance to the General
Government appeared TO have exhausted
itself; the United States,,had recovered posses
sion of their forts and arsenals and their ar
iiiits were III occupation Oh every state which
had attempted to secede. Whether the terri
tory within the limits of those States should
be held as conquered territory, under military
authority emanatng from the President, as
the head OF the army, was the first question
that presented itself for discussion Mr.
Stanton quoted at length some of the Presi-
dent messages concerning the reopening of
courts, Post Offices and ports, and continued.
BY some 1t was thought just and expedient
that the right OF suffrage IN the rebel States
should be secured in some form to the colored
inhabitants of those States, either as uni
versal rule or to those qualified by education
or by actual service as soldiers, who ventured
life for their Government. Ny own mind in
discussion my judgment yielded to adverse
arguments, resting upon the practical difficult
ties to be encountered in such measure, and
to the President conviction that to prescribe
a rule OF suffrage was not within the limited
scope of his power.
The plan of organization embodied in the
proclamation to the people of North Carroll
ma, and the instructions to the Provisional
Governor of that State, exhibit the system
and principles prescribed by the President
for the substitution of civil authority in the
place of universal military rule in nsurrec-
tlonary States In this plan two things were
represented in the proclamation, and the
Presidents Instructions are worthy of no
tice:
First, That the organizing power is specifi-
cally and absolutely restricted 10 the people.
who are loyal to the United States. and no
others This is in accordance with the views
often declared by Mr.. Johnson, from the
commencement OF the rebellion. and under
most impressive circumstances.
Second, The choice of delegates was not
only limited TO loyal people and no others,
but constitutional guarantees were required in
respect TO the emancipation of slaves and
repudiation of debt. A second reason for
such guarantees i'll respect to slavery is stated
by the President in his message, namely
The necessity of evidence of sincerity in the
future maintenance of the Union.
These views, expressed by the Presiden, in
his message, received, and continue to re-
celve, my candid acquiescenee and support
Who are loyal people IS question that ought
not TO be difficult Of decision In thus dis
tlnctly recognizing the constitutional rights of
each house of Congress to judge Of the cleo
ton returns and qualifications of its own
members, the President has conformed 10 the
plain letter of the Constitution, it being the
function of each house to judge of the cleo
ton returns and qualifications of its own
members.
The obligation is implied of taking testi
mony, weighing evidence, and deciding the
question of membership. What testimony
has been taken, or what evidence presented
on the question to either branch of Congress,
or what judgment is to be given, is not known
to me, nor have | the right to inquire Be-
sides, the steps taken by the Executive to
restore the constitutional relations of States,
his annual message called the attention of
Congress to the necessity of incurripg the Sc
curity of the freedmen, reminding Congress
that while he had no doubt that the general
Government could not extend the elective
franchise. it was equally clear that good faith
requires the security of the freedmen in their
liberty and their property, their right to labor
and the right to claim the just return of their
labor, and observing further that the country
is in need of labor, and the freedmen in need
of employment, culture and protection.
In connection with this subject the Presi- /
dent further remarks: - Slavery was essen
tally a monopoly of labor, and as such, locked
the States where it prevailed against the in
coming of free industry. Where labor was
the property of-the capitalist, the white man
was excluded from employment, or had but
the second best chance of finding it, and the |
foreign emigrant is turned away from the re-
gion where his condition would be SO preca I
rious,' DC. These views of the President
in relation to freedmen received and continue
to receive my hearty concurrence. They have
guided the action of the War Department,
and were substantially advocated in its annual
report.
In what believe an honest desire to con.
form to them, bill was passed bv Congress
regulating the Freedmen's Bureau, but the