Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-07-12
RUTLAND HERALD.
MONDAY, JULY o, 1866.
Letters oE President johnson and
Secretary seward.

FFtNAN'NN'J J
The Tammany Society OF New York
invited President Johnson and Secreta-
rjes Seward and WelIes TO unite with
them IN tnr celebration OF the Fourth Of
July. Letters We're sent in reply 10 the
invitations The letters of President
Johnson and Secretary Seward have
more or less political significance 10 the
present situation" and we therefore
publish them. The President regrets
that his public duties will not permit
him TO be present at the celebration, and
thanks the "time-honored Society of
Tammauy' for their cordial invitation
The national tone and patriotic spirit
Of the invitation he writes, meet my
hearty approval. They are indications
Of a growing public sentiment, which
now that the bitter strife Of civil war
has ceased requires q renewal Of the
pursuits Of peace and return to the
constitution of our fathers, rigid adhe-
renee to its principles, Increased Tever-
ence for its sacred obligations; a re-
stored, invigorated and permanent
Union, and a fraternity OF feeling that
shall make US, as people, one and in
dissOluble There can be for the patriot
no higher duty, no u0ber work than the
obliteration of the passions and preiu-
dices which, resulting from our late
sanguinary conflict, have retarded re
concilation, and prevented the COM
plete restoration of all the States to
their constitutional relation with the
Federal government, which is essential
to the peace, unity, strength and prosper
ity OF the nation"
Secretary Stewards letter was as fol-
lows
WASHINGTON, June %.
Hon JOHN T. HOFFMAN: SRI have
had the honor to receive the invitation
OF the Tammany Society for the celebra-
tion Of the approaching Fourth OF July.
| am highly pleased with the form of
the invitation like the motto which
is placed at its head The Union must
and shall be preserved" like the Wig
nette which illustrates it. ! Ike the as
sociated hues with which Il is colored,
namely, the red, white and blue, like
me temple OF liberty based upon the
rock Of the constitution, and protected
bv the eagle of the American continent.
| like the ships and railroads, indlca-
tive Of prosperity and progress | like
the significant conjunction Of dates
l176 and lS66-a period OF ninety years.
Why IN looking at these figures we al
no4l feel assured that our republic has
g life Of at least one century: alas, how
many republics have been shorter lived !
I wouI have han The flag OF the Union,
which is on the right, present iii us az,
ure field only the thirteen Original
states but | especially delight in the
flag which is on the left hand and in
whose enlarged field twenty-three stars
are blazing, which have come out from
.the deep ceruleau within the past ninety
years while the original thirteen stars
vet remain in their ancient place all
their morning lu-trc undlmiuished.
have had some differences, in my time,
with the Tammany Society, but | long
.agO forgot them all, when recalled the
fact that the Society has never once
failed to observe and honor the anuiver-
sarv Of national independence and the
Further fact that during the recent civil
Iwar the Tammany Society sent its sons
to fight for the Union and with un-
swerving fidelity heartily supported the
Federal government in its struggle with
sedltion. In view Of these facts and of
the noble principles now avowed I hail
the Tammany Society as a true Union
league. l rejoice with the Society that
the conflict of our arms has ceased that
the rebellion has been suppressed, that
the authority of the government has
been vindicated, AMI that the flag Of the
Union now floats triumphantIy over ev-
cry loot of national domain.
n On the other hand, | mourn with the
Society that the perfect Union given to
rs by our patriotic forefathers has not
yet been entirely restored that eleven
Sovereign States have been denied repre-
sentation in the federal Congress, and
are not recognized as coordinate parts
IN the national legislature. How strange
al this is! We have killed disuniOn
Outright, and have killed African slavery
with it, and yet we are not completely
fe.United. If did not feel assured that
the American people cannot suffer so
great and fatal a solecism to continue, |
Should say, as many Others do, that We
Ore at crisis. But have unbounded
confidence in the wisdom and virtue OF
the American people. 1t is said in ex-
cuse of the denial of representation that
the States and their chosen representa-
lves still continue to be seditiOus and
ols.oyal l ask, is Tennessee disloyal ?
Is Arkar Sas seditious Are the Sena-
TORS a. representatives of either Of
f1ose States dislOyal2 2 I desire in this
Respect that each Of the two houses Of
tongress will apply the constitutional
Ist, with all the Improvements OF legis-
Etlon upon it, and thus admit those
etates and representatives who are loyal.
and reject only those against whom the
Crime of disloyalty shall be so estab-
lshed.
1 believe with the Tammany Society
that the Unioa was created to be per
letual, that the States are equal under
the constitution, that the restoration OF
the Union by the recent war ought to be
IL \