The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-05-25

its restoration. Cheers
The Secretary of the Navy was next
called upon. In acknowledgment of
the compliment, Mr. Welles said:
thank you for this compliment which
| suppose is to the administration and
its policy, which we and all approve.
Cheers You need not expect any
remarks from me, for | do not intend
to make any. You are, one and all for
the Union, l suppose, and for the es-
Enlistment of the rights of the States
Cheers These are my views. (Cheers)
SPEECH OF SECRETARY STANTON.
The Secretary Of War was next called
upon, the band playing Rally Round
the Flag" When Johnny Comes
Marching Home" and other airs.
Secretary Stanton said: Gentlemen,
on the afternoon of Thursday, the 18th
Of this month, ! received a note from
the Secretary of the National Union
johnson Club, telling me it was the de-
sign of the association to gerenade the
President and his Cabinet, and that l
would be called upon at my residence.
Immediately on receipt of this note a
reply was sent to the Secretary, eX-
pressing my thanks for the compliment
and declining the honor of the sere-
made A similar compliment by the
patriotic assembly of the soldiers and
sailors league had previously been de-
clined. Two reasons induced my &C
ton. The last time a public speech
was made from this spot in answer to
q seTenade, was the night of Friday,
the 18th day Of April, 1865. At that
moment when we were rejoicing at
the downfall of the rebellion,
one of its instruments was MUIR
dering Mr.. Lincoln. You will not
think it strange that a complimentary
occasion, fraught with such associa-
tons, should not be coveted Besides,
as the head of department, my public
duties have been simply executive. AT
ter four years of war, the authority OF
the Federal Government was estab
lished throughout the whole territory
of the United States at a sacrifice of
over 800 600 lives Of loyal soldiers, and
cost of more than $1,000, 100000
Nearly every household in eighteen
loyal States is mourning its loved ones.
A tax which may last for generations is
laid upon the food and raiment and the
necessaries of every family, and the
prices of that daily increased, 10000,
900 of the inhabitants OF the loyal States
feel, and will long continue to feel,
what it costs to uphold their govern
ment against rebellion. The office OF
President devolved upon Mr. Johnson
at the death Of Mr., Lincoln, on the 10Th
day of April, 1868 Thirteen days be-
fore that time, Richmond, the seat of
the rebel government, had been cap
tured, and six days later the rebel
Commander-in.C Chief, Robert E Lee,
was vanquished, and surrendered his
army as prisoners OF war to Gen. Grant
and forces under his command. BY
these rapidly succeeding events the
rebel government was OyerthTOWn and
the official authorities gave themselves
up rs prisoners of war. al he Presidents |
annual message to the present Congress
thus clearly states The condition OF
the country and the question there |
10y imposed upon him. feared the
state OF suffering from the effect ol n
civil war, aud the response 10 the |
General Government appeared TO
hrye exhausted itself until the United |
Stctos had received possession Of their |
forts and their armies were III OCcupa- |
ton of every State which had attempt |
ep to secede Whether the territory |
within the limits of these States should |
be held as conquered territory, under |
military authority, emenating from the |
President as head of the armies, was |
the final question that presented itself |
for discussion. The Secretary then |
quoted from the Presidents Message |
concerning the Te-openiDg of courts. |
postofiices and ports, aud continued |
BY some, it was thought just and expe~ |
dent that the right of suffrage in the |
rebel States should be secured in some |
form, to the cOlOred inhabitants of |
these States, either as a universal rule, !
or those disqualified by education, or |
by actual service as soldiers, who vol |
unteered their lives for their Govern
ment NV own mind inclined to this !
view by the after calm and full discus !
sion, and my judgment yielded to the !
adverse arguments resting upon the !
practical difficulties to be encountered !
in such measure, and that to pre-
scribe arule of suffrage was not within |
the legitimate scope ofhis power. The !
policy OF organization embodied in the |
proclamation to the people of North |
Carolina, aud the instructions to the |
Provisional Governor Of that Stvte, ex-
hibit the system and principles pre- |
scribed 10y the President for the substi- |
tuition of civil authority in place of uni |
versal military rule in insurrectiOnary |
States In this plan two things pre- |
scented in the proclamation and the |
Presidents instructions are worthy of |
speciaI notice. list, That the organiza-
ton power is absolutely restored To the |
peopie who are loyal to the United |
States, and no others. This Is in &C
cordance with the views often de. |
clared by Mr. johnson from the com
mencement of the rebellion and under |
the most impressive circumstances
Secondly-Choice of delegates was
not only limited to loyal people and no
other, but Constitutional guarantees
are required in respect to the emanUi-
patton of slaves. A sound reason for
such guarantees in respect to slavery in
the States by the President in his mes
sage, namely, necessity of evidence Of
sincerity in the future for the main
tenance of the Union. These views,
expressed by the President in his mes
sage. received and continue to receive
my cordial acguiescence and support
Who are loyal people is q question
that ought to be difficult of decision
In thus distinctly recognizing the con-
stitutional right of each house of Con-
gress to Judge Of the election returns,
and the qualification Of its own mem
bers, the President has conformed to
the plain letter of the Constitution, it
being the function of each house to
Judge Of the election returns and quail.
tications Of its own members; AID the
obligation is employed of taking testi-
mony, weighing evidence, and deciding
the question of membership. What
testimony has been taken, or what
evidence has been presented on the
question 10 either branch of Congress,
or what judgment is TO be given Is not
known by me, nor have the right Of
inquiring Besides, steps have been
taken by the Executive to restore the
constitutional relations of the States.
His annual message called the atten-
fipu pf Con uraee 70 tho varazuitv Of ]