The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-05


Andrew johnson declares that Louisiana IL as
thoroughly State as Pennsylvania Whence,
then, came his right TO interfere in the acts and
dongs OF this which he calls q sovereign State?
IL you and held meeting here in PhilRdel-
pnia, what would We think, as Philadelphians,
VI the President Of the United States should in
terfere from Washington with the peace and
tranquility OF this city ?
1t strikes me very forcibly that the aforesaid
Andrew johnson, the President OF the United
States, would have been very apt to discover
that we had such thing as municipal govern
ment; that the State government was able to
lake care OF itself; that Philadelphia has a
Mayor with whom he could not interfere.
daughter and applause.)
Within the boundaries of this sovereign State
this convention met, or attempted to meet. II
was a legitimate body, and there was no DO wer
In the land, from the President up Uaughter),
that had a right to interfere. IL was simply
body of citizens who had a perfect right to meet
and discuss their own grievances, and the trou.
bles OF their State, II the authorities of this
city or State imagined their action would hurt
| the public peace and welfare, then 1t was their
duty under the State laws to arrest them by
state officers.
Who gave Andrew Johnson the right to decide
the legality OF the illegallty of thus convention
Who gave him information in regard 70 It?
Where did he learn anything concerning IL BY
what authority or right did he interfere in its
doineb?
Where was the invasion, where was the
domestic violence where was the appeal from
the executive? Andrew johnson passed by the
Executive OF the State ignored Its Governor,
LleutenantGove1nor, and placed our magnid-
cent Sheridan under the command Of Rebel
General.
II he has the right and power to interfere in
the affairs OF State, to ignore and tre5pass on
the rights Of its lawfully constituted and elected
officers to interfere with the city municipal
authorities; II Andrew Johnson, the President,
can DO this, if The supporters of his policy and
his friends, the Rebels, can do this, Congress
has the same authority TO interfere for the pre-
servatlon OF the republic and the defense OF the
lives and liberties OF its own friends. Gap
pause)
Miss Dickinson then reviewed the question
and history OF secession, maintaining that those
who attempted to 90 out OF the Union should be
received back into it only on such terms as
those whose duty 1t Is to determine shall pro-
pose. She then discussed the question OF repre-
seniaton unGer the old apportionment, as CON-
pared with the effect OF the amer ndments to the
Constitution proposed by Congress, showing the
injustice OF the former system under the changed
condition OF affairs. Ali tnat is now required
of them is simply the justice of a white man in
| the North being equal to white man IN the
South, and no more.
All their papers, from the New York Herald
up or down, are coming over to these views.
| They all see that If the South continues 10 go
on III It's 1nCendlary course, they Will disgust
US as to provoke and orce us to adopt measures
| to axe care OF ourselves; they will cimpel us
TO put the ballot INTO the hands of the four mil
! lion Colored people of the South. (ApD ause.)
| II these people must be represented in Congress,
! let them be represented by those OF their own
| choice, and not by those whose FEELINGS and
| imagined interests prompt them 10 mlsrepre-
| sentauon. (Applause.)
The derdd, Netos, and other papers are urging
! the South to accept the terms that CONGRESS has
| proposed. They should not permit this oppor-
tunlty to clip from their grasp. 1t is the voice
OF the people that these terms shall be accepted.
The voice OF the people is the voice OF God, and
it cries aloud 10 all men ana women that justice,
liberty, and equality shall prevail throughout
the land. (Applause.)
What reason, then have we to wait? Shall
we wait 10 review the arguments OF the enemies
| OF our country? Those men do not argue-they
| do not reason-thev ighJ on bnuiy. win you
wait till the South yields to the force of events?
| WIN you wait until your prayers tor restoration
| and peace are answered? VIII you wait till
| peace settles down upon the South SNo! There
| is no reason to wat Now is the time for eXer-
| csing prompt and efficient action. The country
| Las been rescued from the hands of ITS desola-
| tors. The victory effected must be maintained.
An appeal had been made to arms. That ap-
| peal resulted III war, in de5olalon, in an i'm
| mense public debt in tears, and blood, and suf-
! iering, IN four hundred thousand graves!
| Beware how you leave the settlement OF this
| question in the nands OF those who wrought all
| this evil We have yet to fent the battles of
| lberty-ot independence-ot equality. After
these battles have been fought, then can we settle
down, and not till then.
VIII you leave the liberated slaves in the
hands OF their enemies, now tnat our triumph is
almost complete? A ship has neared the shore
after long voyage; the anxious voyagers be-
soon to reach the homes from which they were
| so long absent, and grasp the hands OF friend
| ship aud OF love; but a storm arises, and they
are suddenly driven lar back upon the ocean,
| OF bClplcssly wrecked upon the rocks. And
| shall II be 80 with us
| We have struggled with the seas. We have
| approached the desired haven. The shore is
Just in front. Behind us is treachery that opens
| its hungry jaws to devour us. Will you wait
until the storm arises tn 1t will render you poW-
erless Will Sou wait until the wheels of Gov
erl.ment are so clogged that they cannot move?
| 1t is not backward that the North must look,
| but forward. 1t is not to the past, but to the
future that America must look. The country
| was in less danger when the cannon rOared
| against her in the strife of battle than while
| politicians wrangle.
will you wait till Congress has done more
| Never was there Congress that did so much to
promote the best interests Of the country. They
! did all they could do for others, regardless of
| themselves. They were abused spit upon; they
| submitted to the hercest trials that tyranny
| could intlict. They were intimidated by every
means that could be imagined that were dis
| gusting and odious. Brlbes and threats were
alternately resorted to by the man at the White
| House. To all this have your Representatives
been subjected. But by the voice OF the people
| they have been upheld.
| Some of them, IL is granted, are feeble and
timid. But they only wait to hear from the
| people. They hear from over there a voice that
| cres out Don't interfere with the Constitution
| touch 1t lightly-have respect Tor our ances-
| tors who framed it," Let us ask the simple
question:-"D not the people of the present
time know better what the nation needs than
| did those OF a century agoW (Applause.) This
| argument about our ancestors would, ii carried
out, stop all impro7ement-all progress. You
respect the improvements IN manufactures, in
science, and thousae ed useful things; why not
| that then, which is OF far more Importance
than allS (Applause.)
There has been siven to us the cornerstone of
| Tp-Aau ann