Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-05-30

lnC KGeSuOeOVS EOnBCys
Secretary Seward has visited Auburn to Gel
citrate his birthday, and before be left he made
johnson speech to the people. In this speech
he fully endorsed President Johnson denied
tina. the Southern States needed recons'ruction,
and Insisted that the only work before the ma
ton va. reconciliation. We presume the
speech surprises nc one who has given any at
tention to Mr.. Stewards course since the Chi
cage convention which nominated Mr.. Lincoln.
II has been apparent since then, that his defeat
in that convention a. a candidate for the presi-
dency entirely changed his political course. He
has since that moment been conservative,
affiliated with the most conservative wing of hi.
party given the X ldicals the be ne6t of his po-
ltical luminosity and made war upon them with
all his political cunning and it is therefore no
wonder that be is now standing .quarely on the
Johnson platform, and fg ting the Radical Re-
publican pUlicy as bitterly as, but more cum
ningIy than, Mr.. Johnson. While johnson
growls like tiger, aud shows his hate in unmis-
taxable manner, Seward Is as stealthy and gentle
as cat, ami makes no angry demonstrations,
but when he Is ready strikes his tacns into his
victim. His speech at Auburn was mild, and
devoted to a defense of every act Of the Presi
dent. He argued against the Civil Rights bill,
against the Freedmen S Bureau bill, against the
exclusion Of Southern members of Congress.
against the constitutional amendments proposed
by the reconstruction committee; yet he dep
reca,ed the dissolution of the Union party. We
cannot imagine what purpose the Union party,
demoraliz-d and recreant TO every principle of
freedom which, Mr.. Seward in bis better da,s
used to advocate, as be would have it, could
serve, what work il could do, that could not be
better served or better done BY the pro-savery.
Democratic party, unless it be TO keep MIR.
Seward in office, and give Thurlow Weed the
disposition OF the federal patronage in New
York.
Just after Mr.. Seward had made his speech
at Auburn. the ofhce-hoIders' Johnson Club of
Washington one evening seren4ded the Pres-
dent and C.binet in order to get an expression
OF opinion from the Cabinet on national topics.
The President, cGnsiderateiy for him, made only
the brefes, kind of remarks. Secretary Stanton
read declaration of principles, in which while
he generally agreed with the President, he was
careful! 10 say that he approved of the Freed
mems Bureau bill, and acq Iie.ced in the Civil
Rights bill Pustn aster General Deni.on agreed
with both the President and Congress, and ex-
pected TO see them yet coming into harmony
Secretary Welles was exceedingly lacono, but
supported the administration. Secretary NcCul
loch fiery and impetuous in his denun-
eiatirn of the Radicals as Johnson himself. Sec
rstsry Harlan wrote letter, in which be took
decided Republican ground, clearly dissenting
from the Johnsonites. Attorney General Speed
did not appear, aad it was understood, if be had,
the club would have got comfort from him
On the whole, the demonstration, together with
Sew 1rd's speech shows That the Cabinet, with
the exception of Harlan and Speed, substantially
agree with the President, as they understand
only ones who criticised with any force the &C.
ton of Congress. These official declarations
will, however. have no effect to shake the firm
ness Of the Radicals in Congress, or the people
at large, who still believe that the mos, sigan-
VIC which assaulted any government, is
not to be forgiven and forgotten more easil,
than the animosi'ies of political campaign
Seward can forgive the hosts of armed rebels at
the South, although ne cannot forgive the Rad
icaIs who defeated him at Chicago; bu. he will
hardly 6nd the nation ready to follow his teach
ings or his practice in these particulars.