Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1866-02-10

had entered upon certain policy 10 rels-
ton 10 the admission of some of these
States; the question was sgitated before
us, ] believe, during the whole period Of
the last Congress- but, Dotwil hstanding
my anxiety to fud some WY by which
these States could be admitted into The
Union BgaiD, all the arguments that were
made for that purpose during that whole
Congress entirely failed 10 convince me
that The time had arrived when it was safe
10 admit any OF them; and therefore, for
one, contended against il, and with a
good deal OF zeal; aud for that l, with
some others here. was accused of being o
little factious, aud sometimes il was said
We 6lbusse.ed against the will Of the ma.
jority TO keep the States out. .-rg .l 1aIa
Now. sir. wish 10 say that 10 my judg
ment President johnson hes made q ~ eat
Improvement upon the state OF things
that existed during the last Congress, al
though, as yet, be has net reached the
polnt where / think the difficulty begins.
Mr., Lincoln advised Us 10 admit Louisiana
into the Union at - time when, probably
more than one half of her territory was
P'C0 OVuCulu bu0 uOyttld It6L VI tuc
ensmy. Our flag did not cover her territory
and perhaps not hall her population, When
he thought it would be safe to permit her
TO come back into the councils OF the ua.
ton and participate with US Union men in
the great work of legislation. had not
seen anything 10 the proceedings of the
people that warranted me iu saying that
would be safe. aud therefore | thought it.
best to make wha, stand could against the
measure. You will recollect, sir, that Mr. =.
Lincoln did not then require, if recollect
Alright. 10 order for admission, any thing
more than that one tenth part of the
population Of Louisiana should take q
certain oath, and that not very difficult
one, aud when they LGd done thut the
State would be in coudiIon to he ad
mittcd. Mr.. johnson. repeat, has made
improvement, ard q great Improvement,
upon all this, for he does require, if uu
derstaDd MIN. that they. by their fuuda
mental law, shall abolish slavery; lie re
quires at their hands that they shall re-
pudiate ihe rebel debt; he requires that
they shall reuounce the right OF secession |;
he requires that they shall agree to The
onslnu,iouul amehGmeDut abolishing sla
very forever These, in my Judgment,
are great improvements upon The system
adopted by Mr. Lincoln. Had Lincoln
himself, ut tbut period. required these
things, and had The States as.euied TO
them. believe should then have yielded
TO his wishes aid given my support TO the
measure '.n. sg G.
But, Mr.. President. in the coun>els that
l have given aud the measures that have
advocated iu the Senate, l have ever had
one polar star 10 guide my action. and 10
that adhere whether am in the mHjoriI y
or The minority, aud l never intend ~ be
tempted from it Que single inch. l fix my
eye upon the great principle Of eternal
justice, and il has horne me lriumpbantl,
through all d faculties in my Legislative
career since l have hid seat here.
say ,riumphantly. for, sir have stood up
Oh this floor, when had rot 'eu men Il
support me against The whole Senate. AM
WHEN the principles that | advocated wer,
Infinitely more u0popular: here than thost
that announce to day. How were tbt
whole Senate startled at the idea OF Uui
versal emancipation ffteen years ago. ter
years ago. yes. sir, FIVE Yeas ago! Talk
not to me about unpopular doctrines, and
eudeavor not TO intimida:e me by the in
timation that shall be found in d minority
among the people! know them better.
ibmk / know that tread in the great
path Of rtciilude aud right. and l care not
who opposes me God Almighty is my
guide; He 20 ug before 10 strengthen my
hand, has never failed me yet, aud do rot
think he will fail me Cu this occasion.
Dir. P,esidet, will not boast, but ],
with many Others upon this aoor. eau look
hack 10 our precedent course upon thi,
sutjpc', think. with great satisfaction. =
mink we may say, with ST. Psnl. eve
have fought The good fight" We ar,
not eu'irely through it. as he was. w,
may have lillle further TO 20 in the sam,
direction, but our path is much easier shaI
it was then.
Mr.. CLARK. We keep the faith. -
Mr. Wade. Ies. sir. l keep the faith
AMI have 20 doubt of iual triumph. -
l ut yer feared il. never had the leas
doubt how this whole question would be
settled. 1t will come right If We are true
| To our CONVICTIONS. ...... ..H.r ...
Mr.. Wilson We will be. l.r.
Mr.. Wade. have no doubt it. d.
fear my associates on this great question
i wish, il, and l wish uo'hing more
hrartily, that l could agree sxacily will
the Presidents view Of The suhjec', aud gc
alorg with him 10 the smooth road to q
6pal adjus' ment o! this whole qn,stior
but there are things in tue pain Shicl
prevent my seeing the way clearly.
give The President iull credit for oil lba
be has done. aud l honor him for ib'
perlnacious manuer ia which be has in
sisted on The great guarantees to which
have already alluded. He has commenced
as it were. TO build this great arch OF fr CO
dom Alright; he has laid the foundation
deep upon The rock of justice and truth b
has demanded tha. slavery be abolished, =
/ agree with him in this, aud holor hin
because he has stood firmly by this demand
aud he stands by it now. All these u
quisitions that he has demanded of th
South are right, but be has failed TO put th
keystone on The arch that be has built, al
if you leave il as il is it will 60 to ruin.
When this great question is settled.
want it to be- finally aud entirely dispose
Of. / do not wish TO be lighting eternul'
ahont yery aud distinction of rights IN