Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-05-23
SECRETARY SEWARD ON NATIONAL
AENEHEEkE

NdLOHdi CbHuItlOu udS Undergone SOME nllLtAlSsI
changes since that time- We were then tho verge
of series Of elections throughout tho States. The
leaders who So pertinaceously claim to be Demo-
cratic. organized with their customary machinery
and ovations. They had wisely ceased to denounce
as failure the war for the Union which at last be
came glorious success. They thought TO undermine
the Obstructive party of the Union by affecting now
born aGmirai for its chief Andrew Johnson. They
seemed anxious to prove their devotion superior TO
ours by committing themselves to support him as o
candidate for the Presidency in 1865
They inscribed our administration mottoes ofrecon-
clatlon upon their newly wrought banners, and re-
organizing their struggling lines well rs they so
hastily could they yehemently charged onward for a
partisan, not patriotic victory What led the De
mocratic leaders to mako this change sri king.
| may call ii the marvellous phenomena which " g
just then exhibited in the Of the recent rebel
lion.
The whole disloyal community in that blighted
and desOlatcd region, accepting the conditions Of
partial amnesty, and the invitations to returning al
legiance which were proclaimed by the Administra-
ton all at onoe renOunced the principles. practices
and policy of secession and disuni0n, rendered us
covenant of loyalty and sealed with their oaths
and brought forward with alacrity the remains OF
their long cherished institution OF slavery, and
ehceruly threw it to be burned upon the Constitu
tional altar which they had so newly restored
these unexpected changes in the attitude Of poIitl-
cal adyersaries, once so obstinate naturally enough
excited suspicious, jealousies and apprehensions
among loyal and tried Union men. 1t was the old
case Of William of Orange, Who having in civil war
put down the tories afterwards found it necessary to
OF citizenship 1t is the case which has ever occur
red and which must fore0ormore occur at the end of
successful resistance to rebellion.
How could Democrats and rebels be converted to
the support OF q triumphant Union administration?
The work of reconc ton mas outran expectation.
Indeed. it has never had parallel in human affair
With internal connections and disturbances less
serious than those which sometimes attend popular
elections il a free country in q time of profound
peace the heretofore disloyal people of Virginia
Tennessee. North Carolina. South Carolina, Georgia,
Arkansas, Mississippi, louisiana Florida and Texas
SucCeSSvely, nay, almost simultaneously, assem-
bled and adopted new Constitutions in conformity
with the Constitution OF the United States.
They upturned the re- belli0n with all its far spreaf-
ing roots and a'ltS poisonous fruits and they ac-
cepted and ratified the then pending Congressional
amendment to the Constitution of toe United States
which abolishes slavery thcncetorth, forever. The
people of these States have at the time chosen
tor themselves by free and uncontrolled suffrage
Governors, Legislatures, judiciarics aad municipal
authorities. Between the Federal Government and
these restored and reorganlZcd State Governments
there exits now more complete and practical hlr-
mony than has ever before prevailed between the
Union and many of its members since it vas first
established Within this period the Executive De-
partnent OF the United States has assumed its func
ions among the people Of these former disloyal
States.
The State Department speaks for them, with their
free consent, to prncipalities and powers; tho
treasury collects tie national imports ard taxes
there: the War Department dstr buteS its forces
pedGnt to guarantee peace between the inveterate,
but fast expiring factions; the Navy OF the United
harboTs; the POstoco Circulaes through every vein
and artery there, the knowledge which is the revivi
flying blood of united republic The people of the
lately dloya States, desiring pass tho last stage
Of restoration speedily possible, have chosen
Senators to represent them III the Senate and MEM
bers 10 answer for them IN the House OF Representa-
tves, and those Representatives are daily waiting at
Throughout the loyal States industry is more Wig
Orous and effective than ever before. In the lately
disloya States capital and labor combining and
operating under tree contract system. which to them
altogether new are beginning with success to OBJ
iterate the traces of ruin and devastation.
The future of affairs which dlsturbs the public
mind is supposed divergence between the President
and the Representatives in Congress of the national
Union party, from which he and they have derived
their respective but coordinate powers | agree
that it is altogether easier and altogether de-
sirable, tbat the work of reconstruction SO happily
begun, and so successfully prosecuted heretofore
shall be continued and ended under the auspices of
the national Union party, aud of the President and
Congress as the representatives of that party.
I agree therefore, that it would be sad misfor-
tune If divergence between the President and Con-
gress should work decline and downfall of the Ma
tiona Union party. 1t is dear TO me- for am iden-
titled with its rapid rise its majestic and its
glorious work. Both the President and Congress
might well expect to be equally involved in the
calamity which should dismiss the Union party from
the National Councils, and with modification the
great responsibilities 10 which the party had in that
case proved itself unequal. assumed and discharged
by new, yet undeveloped political organization.
But President Congress. statesmen and parties are
of real account. in my estimation. when weighed
against the national life.
The national life lately hung on the issue of vic.
tory won in war IL nQM hangs on the issue of re-
Cancellation of peace. The nation must live forever
whether it receive the needed care in any emergency
at the hands of one President, Congress and party,
or at the hands of another.
| reasoned in this way about the triumpls of the
war ! reason in the same way now in regafd to re-
cancellation and peace. i expect that year hence
shall be found to be right now, as / now ad-
mtted to have been right one year. two years. three
years ago.
don't think however, that there is any necessity
6, hat,u
and the party of the Union admit that the jeal-
ousies and suspicious of the last summer were only
temporarily allayed-n0t eItlngCisned by the cleo
ti0ns of November.
They have been sedulously cherished and in
creased until they have revealed themselves in in
fammatory debates in the press and popular assem-
Congress has yet been unable either to accept
ject the councils of the President. A wide and en-
during separation cannot, however be made between
Congress and the President without having for its
serious difference upon some cardinal polit
At this point it will be well to settle for yourselves
what it is that desiring to effected by the
President and Congress. We all agree that we desire
and seek just what this nation needs the present
iuncture. We cCnDOt accept less than this, because
it would leave US still if not desolate at least dis
turbed and distracted country.
We cannot require more, because even if more
were desirable yet that more is dSbateabe, and must
be the study and the work, not of ourselves at this
particular period, but Of ourselves and our success
Sors hereafter. What then does the country actually
need? Most persons say reconstruction. I think it
needs such thing.
The country is reconstructed already. 1t was con-
structedi in 1TS7. As then constructed it Union
of thirteen States; since multiplied to thirty-siX
free equal separate. seIfactipg, and, in regard to
reconstruct that which has not been destroyed.
There has indeed been an attempt ut destruction,
but it has failed. The political system of 1857,
structed by our forefathers stands now firm, COM
pact, complete and perfect-jus it came from the
builders hands. 1t was constructed not for eighty
years only yet for period of civil war ony but
for all alternating conditions Of peace and war. and
Others say what the country needs is the restora-
zion of the anatomy of the nation, | think it
needs no such thng-wc have passed that point
The Southern States during four years deranged
aud disOrganized equally in their Constitutional
lations to the Union. They haye, however, since
that time reoTganZed their organic powers and func
tions-have been renewed and they have resumed
their Constitutional relation of allegiance to the
What then does the nation need? It needs just
what l have dwelt upon so much and SO earnestly
in these remarks. 1t needs rcconclliatiOn-and just
now needs nothing more. 1t needs moreover very
little of this. 1t needs reconciliation between the
Senators of the United States who are now acting,
and those Senators who being loyal and qualified for
mem bership of the Senate. had been already may
hereafter be elected by the people of the several
States which we're lately involved in the rebellion.
1t needs reconciliation of the same kind between
the members of the House Of Representatives who
now acting, and loyal members already elected By
the people in the same before mentioned States. 1t
need just this Congressional reconciliation and moth
ing more. OF course, recognize the fact, that the
separation which exists between the acting Senators
and acting Representatives. and those loyal Senators
and Representatives who are already or may here
after be elected in the Southern States Is understood
to indicate corresp ponding alienation between the
constituents of these parties respectively, but this
does not affect the views have taken of the case.
1t only shows that what is wanted is reconciliation
between the ahenated constituents as well as be-
tween separated representatives. Let the reconca-
ton be made first either in Congress any of the
constituencies, and it will follow in the other place
Immediately.
The country exhibits at this moment this extraor-
dinary and interesting phenomenon-a nation of
States not only kindred but allied, yet hostile to
each other For such a condition mutual reconcile
alton is the only practical remedy. We are pre-
pared now to ask what hinders the application of the
remedy in the Legislative Councils?
The Presidents position is absolutely taken, well
defined, and universally understood. 1t is this,
namely: That far and so fast as the unrepresented
States present themselves in loyal atti-
al they are entitled to representation in
Congress- equally with all other States, and just
well as if there had been rebellion. The Repre-
sentatives of the National Union party in Congress
do not agree with the President but | think they
differ only in regard to non-essentials.
DANAGE FOR DELAYED TRANsPoRTATIoN.-In the
United States Circuit Court at Indianapolis, on the
18th, an important suit was decided.
4. i S. Coffin, packers, sued the indianapolis and
Cincinnati Railroad for delay in the transportation
OF pork to New 4ork, by consequence of which they
were heavy losers The road set up in defence thai
the delay was occasioned by the Government taking
possession of the road for the Transportation of troops
A verdict was rendered by the jury in favor of the
plaintiffs which settles the responsibility of railroads
for dllatory transportation. The damages in th
case were small, but an important principle was in
Yolved. Eminent legal talent was employed on botE
Sides and it will be followed by similar suits fol
damages to large amounts