Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-06-08
SPEECH CT PgSTMASTER-GEHERAL BEHNlS0N At
THE LATE SEREHADE.

FELLOW CITIZENS: am not the less
grateful to you for this call because of its
being made on me in my official capacity
and as a member of the Cabinet. And
yet am admonished By this fact, as well
as the Iateness of the hour, not to discuss
many topics of public interest," on which,
under other circumstances, l might be
glad to express my views l may say,
however, that we have much reason to
felicitate ourselves on the general condi-
ton Of the country, in view of the perils
through which we have sorecently passed,
and to congratulate ourselves on the
promising future that awaits US. 1t Is
true that the restoration OF the Southern
States to all their constitutional relations
to the General Government is not yet ac-
complished. So far as that duty or that
consummatiOn has devolved on the Ex-
ecutive branch of the Government, it has
been fully performed. [Applause. l
cannot now recall any failure In this re-
gard. With all these things you are IA
miliar, and the country knows what has
4 been done aud what is doing The close
4 of the war brought with it the necessity
/ of re-establishinR the Federal authority
4 in the insurgent States as rapidly as pos
sible, and connected with IL the duty of
4 encouraging the REORGANIZATION of local
/ governments in each of these States To
/ this subject, my fellow citizens, the at
/ tention of the President and the Cabinet
was early directed, with what success I
need not point O4t to you. think l ven
ture not too far in saying that history fur
nishes no parallel to such success. The
Federal authority has been established,
recognized, and Obeyed IN every State
| south of the Mason aud DixORs line
! Applause The local governments in
| those States have been reformed substan-
TALLY to meet their changed condition re-
! sulting from the abolition of slavery, and
are now being peaceably administered
Doubtless there are provisions in the
Constitution of some Of these States, as
there are In the laws enacted by some of
| their Legislatures, that are not in cOnsO-
nance with the views of the moral and
liberty loving citizens of the nation but
we cannot reasonably doubt that these
will give place to better provisions and
better laws under the influence of the
Federal Government and their own ma
terial necessities. But one thing remains
my fellow citizens, to complete the work
of restoration and to clothe the Southern
States with all their constitutional priv.
ileges, and that is their representation il
| Congress. Applause.l Upon this, witt
the loyal millions of the country, regret
deeply regret, that there is any differenc,
between the President and our friends il
that this difference is not as TO Whethe,
the Southern States shall be represented
Their loyalty Is to be tested by the taking
of the oath prescribed by the COnstitu
/. tion and the laws, required alike by tht
Il President and Congress, for every Senator
and Representative from every State
N North and South. The difference, then
/ Is not as to by who but as to when thes
States shall be represented. The Who'll
1 II - he H~aNrv 1vrna IA
| the restoration of the Southern State
looks TO the early admission of lOya
. Senators aud Representatives from thes
: States, { CApplapae,] while the congress
] ional programme, as far As it has been de
9 veloped, looks to delay, conditioned Ol
g the adoption Of certain amendments t
3 the Constitution. Now, my friends, "
] must not overlook the fact that if TIN
. difference be not adjusted it may lead, i
! all probability, to unfortunate results, no
= only to the Southern States, but to all th
= country: and, may not add, to the UniOl
y party in whose interests l learn your a.
! Rociation has been organized. need nc
tell you, or those who intimately kno'
@ me, that it is in the continued Rscendeu
- cy of the Union party that l rely for th
e peace and prosperity of the country
= | Applausel need not tell you that
i was that party that IN the field and at th
.
a saults of armed rebellion. LApplause
q will only add that il is 10 that part
t founded on the principles of the Bait
o more Platform that I look TO establis
t iudestructibly on the basis of justice an
n constitutional equality the rights Of a
q the States Of our common country. al
d plause
!. Let me refer one moment 80 the difFe
3 ence between the President and Congress
I. [ want to deal frankly with you when
j saw / do not believe that these differences
n are irreooncilable. / do not believe the
is any cause of separation between Il
Il President and the majority in Congress
q EApplaussl Nay, if / am not greatly
q fault, time and discussion are brlngiE
81 the President and Congress rapidly q
n gether on the basis of a common platfor
q Of action. Applause. Certain it
3, they are not SO wide apart as AZ Il
J. that opening of Congress. Prominel
J. Senators and Representative argue