Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-05-24
VOL. XX--NO. l21.

ed is right, as it will prove in the end
LCheers.l repeat my thanks for your ap
probation of my conduct as a public mar
and public servant.
The President then retired amidst hearty
applause.
The party then proceeded to the residence
OF the Secretary Of State. In the absence ol
Mr. Seward, the compliment was acknowl-
edged by Mr.. Fred. Seward, who said
Fello,c-eitizeRs: In behalf Of the Secre
tary Of State, thank you sincerely for this
manifestation Of your kindness. regret
that he is not here tonight that he might
share in your demonstrations of patriotic
feeling and idelItyssto the Union and the
earnest efforts Of the President for lis res
toration. [Cheers.l
The Secretary OF the Navy was next call
ed upon. In acknowledgements of the COM
pliment Mr.. Welles said
l thank you, gentlemen, for this compIf-
ment which / suppose is 10 the administra-
tion and its policy, which we all approve.
| [Cheers.] You need not expect any re-
marks from me for / do not intend TO make
any. You are one and all for the Union,
/ suppose, and for the establishment of the
rights of the States [Cheers.] These are
my views. Cheers.l
The Secretary of War was next called
upon, the band playing =" Rally Round the
| Flag" When Johnny Comes Marching
Home and other airs. Secretary Stanton
said:
Gentlemen: On the afternoon of Thurs
day the 18th of this month, l received
note from the Secretary of the National
Union johnson Club telling me it was the
design of the association to serenade tho
President and his Cabinet, and that would
be called upon at my residence. Immedi-
ately on receipt Of this note reply was
sent to the Secretary expressing my thanks
for the compliment and declining the honor
of the serenade. A similar compliment BY
the patriotic association of the Soldiers and
Sailors League had previously been declin-
ed. Two reasons induced my action. The
last time public speech was made from
this spot in answer to a serenade, was on |
the night of Friday the l4th day of April, !
1865. At that moment when we were re- |
joieing over the downfall of the rebellion, |
one of Its instruments was engaged /
in numbering President Lincoln. You /
will not think it strange that a compliment
tary occasion frsught with such associa-
tiOns should not be coveted; besides, as
the head Of the department, my public
duties have been simply executive. After
four years of war the authority of the Fed
eral Government was established through
out the whole territory of the United States
at sacrifice of owe. three hundred thous-
and lives Of loyal soldiers, and cost Of
more than $4,000, ,OO0, 900 Nearly every
household in eighteen loyal States is mourn
ing its loved ones slain by the rebels. The
twenty millions of inhabitants of the loyal
States feel, and will long continue TO feel
what it costs to uphold this government
against rebellion.
The office of President devoIved upon
Mr.. johnson at the death of President Lin
coin, on the ] 9TH day of April, 1865. Thir-
teen days before that time, Richmond, the
seat of the rebel government, had been
captured, and six days later the rebel Cons
Chief, Robert Z. Lee, was routed
and vanquished, surrendered his army as
prisoners of war, to General Grant and the
forces under his command. BY the rapidly
events the rebel government
was overthrown and the official authorities
gave themselves up as prisoners of war.
The Presidents annual message to the
present Congress thus clearly states the
of the country and the question
thereby imposed upon him: " l found the
States suffering from the effects of civil
war. The resistance to the General Gov
eminent appeared TO have exhausted itself
The United States had recovered possession
of their forts and arsenals. and their ar
mics were in occupation of every State
Il
er the territory within the limits of those
States should be held as conquered territory
under military power, the authority eman-
ating from the PRESIDENT as the head of the
army, was the first question that presented
itself for discussion.
Mr. Stanton quosed at length from the
Presidents messages concerning the re-
opening Of courts, p)stofices and ports, and
continued:
By some it was thought - 4pd expedi-
snt that the right Of suffra - rebel States
should be secured in some f5tm to the col
pred inhabitants of those States either as a
rule, or TO those qualified by sdu-
cation, or by actual service as soldiers who
yentured their life for their Government.
Ny own mind inclined to this view, but
after a calm and full discussion my judg-
nent yielded to adverse arguments resting
upon the practical difficulties to be en-
in such a measure, and to the
Presidents conviction that TO prescribe
rules of suffrage was not within the legiti-
mate scope Of his power. The plan of or
sanizatlon embodied in the proclamation to
lhe people of North Carolina, and the in
structions TO the Provisional Governor of
hat State, exhibit the system and princi-
pies prescribed by the President for the
Of civil authority in the place
# universal military rule in the insurrec-
iouary States. In this plan two things pre-
Iented by the proclamation and the Presi-
lent's instructions are worthy of special
notice:
First, That the organizing power Is speei-
ically and absolutely rested with the peO-
pie who arc loyal to the United States and
10 others. This is in accordance with
views often declared by Mr.. Johnson from
he commencement of the rebellion and
lnder the most impressive circumstances.
Secondly, The choice of delegates was
not only TO the loyal people and no others,
put constitutional guarantees were required
IN respect to slavery and the reputation of
he rebel debt. A sound reason for such
guarantees in respect to slavery, is stated
Dy the President in his message, namely,
he necessity of evidence Of sincerity in the
iuture. These views, expressed by the
President in his message, received and
continue to receive my cordial acquiesence
and support. Who are loyal people is a
question that ought not TO be diff
cult of decision. In this he dis
.iuctly recognized the constitution
al right Of each House of ofCongress, to judge of
he election returns and the qualifications
If its own members. The President has !
,onformed to the plain letter Of the Consti-
.ution. The obligation IS sn olied of taking
weighing evidences, and declar-
ng the question of membership. What
has been taken CT What evidence
las been presented on the IestiC1 to either |
branch Of Congress, or what judgment is to
be given is not known 10 me, nor hsVeI
he right of inquiring.
Besides the steps taken by the Executive
% restore the constitutional relations Of the I
States, his annual message called the at
ention of Congress 10 the necessity Of in
uring the security of the Freedmen. Re
nlnding Congress that while he had no {
loubt that the general Government could
lot extend the elective franchise, it was
equally clear that good faith requires the
aourifv of the Fraednnan IN thar lihartv |