The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1866-09-12
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH AT NJ
AGARA.

The following is the concluding portion
of the Presidents speech, made at Niagara
Falls on Saturday. in reply to MIR. Porter's
address of welcome. as reported. in the
New York World:
Mr. Johnson. Is there an individual
here, or q member Of Congress, that can
place bis finger upon the slightest deyia.
iion on my part, OF the part Of the distin
euisbed individuals that have been asso.
eiated with me in the Cabinet5 |" No
no."1 We have not departed from the
platform laid down in Baltimore upon
which we were elected-not hairs
breadth. ["All right."1 But because We
refused TO follow them in departing from
that platform by the Introduction of new
questions and doctrines detrimental to the
interests Of the mass of the people.
Mr.. Seward. Al the moment.
Mr.. Johnson. Al the momeut we are de-
nounced as traitors. They are the traitors.
Why have we been traitors! Because
when the rebellion collapsed we inaugural
ed scheme by which the States could be
restored; the States went on and complied
with all that the Government asked eve.
~ single requirement, every suggestion
made, they went on and conIurmeh 10 them.
First. il was required that they should re-
sign all pretence TO secession next, 10 re-
pudiate the debt that had been contracted
10 carry on the rebellion and third and
lastly, by their own act and cheerlully, in
their own State constitutions, 10 abolish
slavery. and after abolishing il in their
State constitutions. they were called upon
70 ratify the amendment to the Constitu.
tion Of the United States, By which slavery
was abolished throughout the United States
and the Territories within its jurisdiction.
They did it; they complied with these
terms; they abolished slavery, and il was
publicly proclaimed by The Secretary Ol
State that il had been done; md because
that publication was made. complaint was
made there was NJ right 70 publish through
lhe State aud Executive Department Of the
Government that they hat restored peace
aud reconciliation, and. therefore, they
were opposed 10 IL. They said Congress,
might and ough, 10 doiit. Let me ask this
intelligent audience here to-day il given
thing was done placing IL u9on the must
plausible grounds that IL could be placed.
believing that the Union Was restored. that
people were reconeIlsd ssain, who. as pa.
irint that loved his country. would object
ioit because il was not dune just exactly
in the way that he wanted; But the az
gument is now thst Congress had right e
dit; therefore. if anybody else does II !.
wrong, aud We are against il, and ae viii
throw every impedimrnt in its way that i,
possible 10 prevent the restoration of the
Union and the reconciliation pf the people
Congress has the right. and, therefore. the,
will exercise IL; Congress has the right 4
do great many things, but Il has done !
great many things that IL had no right to do
IApplause.t Yes, they have a right. and
q - about as philosophic, abnut as reason
able as that of the madman who claimrt
The right TO shear wolves. Laughter
lie would shear wolf because lie had .
righ, to shear wolf. soCongress has III,
right TO restore the Cniun ol the States
and. therefore. they will restore them, an,
II anybody else assumes this duty they vii
dissolve the Union because they had thi
t'ght to restore the Union. Applause.
But another departure from the party ha
been this: g" You are against the Freedmen
Barvau bill" Yes. vetoed il. ZAP
plause. ,etued IL twice, aud II IL ha,
come to me, should have vetoed il fort,
times. [Applause. Hence the charge Is
You are a traitof." How many pcopl
lore to-day, within the sound Of my voice
thought the veto Of the Freedmcn's Burea
bill departure from the resolutions Of th
Baltimere platform. upon which Mr.. Lin
oln and myself were nominateds ! Did yo
hear Of III No. Does that constitute par
u the platformf No, notwithstanding
there has been so much said about emanci
patton and slavery, there are a set Of gen
'lemen, u they may be called gentlemen