The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-06-06

his record, and must, IN Iact, CEASE "
the Andrew Johnston, ifhe does not adj
here to his policy ,and sink or swim with
it. [Cheers. 1t is pretty good evidence,
after all, gentlemen, of the correctness
of his policy, that Congress, after hav-
ing been in session nearly SIX long,
weary months, has been unable to pre-
sent one which they can agree upon as
a substitute. Cheers and laughter.
1t was once said, l think by John
Randolph, that of all thinkers the Con-
stitutlon thinkers were the most to be
deprecated. Cheers. Ifthe old man
could rise from the grave, what would
he say to the present Congress, in which
every third man, at least, is Constltu-
ton tinker? CHEERS and Laughter.
But they are not wise enough to amend
that grand old instrument, the work OF
our patriot fathers, of the founders Of
the United States, and the admiration
of the world. (Cheers.)
My fellow citizens, there is but one
proposition that has been presented that
stands even the ghost of a chance of ac-
ceptance by the people Of the North !;
and that is the proposition basing rep
presentation on voters. And whose
fault is it that it is not part Of the Con-
stitution to- day? Why was it not
submitted with. the amendment abolish
ing slavery? Whose fault was that :?
VOICES. the Copperheads.
OTHER VoIcEs-Thad Stevens.
Me. McCULLocH. WASH it the fault
ofAndrew Johnston !? Shouts of"The
fault of Congress-" "Thad. Stevens"
and counter cheers for Mr.. Stevens. If
the course which the President was pur-
suing was obnoxious to the charges
made against it on the recess Of Con-
gress, how happened it that there was
no denunciation of it until the meeting
of Congress How happened it that
thes Jupiters Tonans of Congress were
as silent as though they had been dumb ?
Those men, whose duty it was to stand
on the ramparts of the Constitution,
and warn the people Of approaching
danger-why did they not denounce
that policy and demand of the Presi-
dent of the United States a convention
of Congress ? No such demand was
made. No such denunciation was then
heard. We did hear voice from Penn
sylvania, I believe, and perhaps re-
spouse from Massachusetts,. laugh
ter.) But the people were silent. The
press was silent if not approving.
Fellow-citizens, 1 did not intend
speaking so much. Voices Go on."]
l have only this to say have desired
and hoped for the continuation of the
great Union party, with which have
been ever identified. [Cheers.] But
if it's leaders can present nothing better
than the programme of the committee,
I am greatly apprehensive that its days
will be numbered. CHEERS.
/ trust, fellow-citizens, that this will
not be the case; that it will discard its
hostility and its attempt to continue
alienation between the two sections of
the country, and that it will embrace
those principles which look to harmony,
to restoration and to peace. If it should
do this, it will continue to be the great
and controlling party Of the country,
and cover itself with imperishable glo-
ry. If it does not its days are number
ed, and the epitaph that will be written
on it will be, cit knew how to prose
cute the war with vigor, but it lacked
the wisdom to avail itself of the benefits
of victory" Applause, and three
cheers for Secretary McCulloch.
The Secretary of War was next call
ed upon-the band playing "Rally
round the flag" "When Johnny comes
marching home," and other airs. Sec.
rotary Stanton said:
! Secretary StantOn's Speech.
! GENTLEMEN On the afternoon Of
Thursday, the 18th of this month, I re.
ceived 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 Cabi
net, and that | would be called upon at
my residence. Immediately on the re-
ceipt Of this note a reply was sent tc
the Secretary, expressing my thanks fol
the compliment, and declining the hon
OF of the serenade; a similar compli
ment by the patriotic association of the
Soldiers and Sailors League had pre-
viously been declined.
Two reasons induced my action. The
last time apublic speech was made from
this spot in answer to a serenade was
the night of Friday, the 14th day O.
April, 1865. At that moment, wher
we were rejoicing over the downfall o
the rebellion, one of its instruments wa.
numbering Mr.. Lincoln. You will mo-
think it strange that a complimentary
occasion fraught with such association
should not be coveted. Besides, as thu
head of Department, my public dutie
have been simply executive; and it ha
always been my aim to avoid trenchins
upon duties devolved upon others, ant
to avoid michief by premature discus
sion of matters entrusted to the legis
lative branch of the government ant
under its consideration. But the cal
of this evening relieves me from any
imputation of intruding my opinion
upon you. I shall therefore declar
them briefly and plainly; and to tn
end that they may be neither acciden
tally misunderstood, nor wilfully mis-
represented, what it is my purpose t,
say on this occasion has been written
After four years of war the authorit,
of the Federal Government was estaE
lished throughout the whole territor,
of the United States, at a sacrifice o
over three hundred thousand lives o
loyal soldiers and cost of more thai