The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-03-07
Speech of Senator Johnson.

The following ia the speech of the Hon.
Reyerdy johnson, Senator in Congress from
Marylnad, delivered in the Senate Feb. 90,
on the bill to provide for the more efficient
government of the rebel states, which pas
sed the Senate that night:
Mr.. JOHNSON Mr.. President-I have felt
a soIiciLude for the condition Of the country,
consequent upon the exclusion Of the
southern states from the right of representa-
ton in this body, that want words to ex-
press. The view that | have entertained is,
that in their present condition they are en-
titled to be represented. But the Congress
of the United States, from the termination
of the rebellion to the present time, have
taken a different view, and | have lost all
hope of seeing the at an early date, if any
date, with the consent of Congress- reinsta-
ted in their original condition.
Besides, the interest, the vital interest,
which the people of the south necessarily
have in the present state of things, the in
terest OF other states is almost as great. As
long as it continues, more or less will the
reputation of the country suffer. have
been, therefore, from the first, ready to
agree to any proposition which | believed
would result in the bringing the southern
states back, however much | might be OPP
posed to the conditions exacted of them.
Nothing can be worse than the state in
which they are now placed. Dissolution
around them, all rights denied them of
political character and on the floor Of the
Senate, to say nothing of any other branch
of the government, their character as men
has been expressed in terms which have
caused me nothing but the deepest regret.
know they are not deserving of such as
pensions. | think | know that the descend
ants of the men of the south who upon so
many occasions battled on the field for the
honor and glory Of the country and contrib
uted so much to the success of our civil
government, cannot be such men, as some
Of the membeEs of Congress have designa-
ted them | wish them to be here in our
midst to show by their presence that in all
particulars, moral and political, intellectual
and christian. they are our equals. The
very battle which they have waged in seek
ing to destroy the government exhibited
deeds of valor Of which Rome in her proud
est days might have boosted If | had
my own way | would receive them at once
in this chamber, with heart full of con-
viction that they would be true to their du-
would promote it's interests.
But have not my way. | am obliged
therefore, to acquiesce in the decision of
the majority of Congress, however errone-
GUS or unjust | may believe that decision to
be, provided that believe that it will end
in comparatively short time in restoring
the southern states 10 the Brotherhood of
the states. | am unwilling that this Con-
gress should adjourn without the adoption
of some measure that holds out hope, how
ever distant, that this may be the result of
our deliberations, and believing this will be
done by the adoption of the measure as it
now stands before you. | shall now give it
my vote. not because approve of it in the
abstract or in the particular, but because |
think | see III it a mode of rescuing the
country from the perilous predicament in
which she is now placed.
Mr.. President, if there is feeling which
should animate the heart of every A
merican, it should be one of generosity,
magnanimity and charity for the men who.
although they sought to break asunder the
cords Of the Union, are now looking with
solicitude to their being reinstated
If there be feeling which should ami
mate every American Citizen, it is that We
should be, at the earliest perion, a people
one and indivisible, demonstrating to the
world that however alarming the few last
years may have been, and however calcula-
ted to cause the lovers Of constitutional free
dom to despond, the time has come, or will
speedily come, when the feelings conse-
quent upon that effort will have subsidized,
and we shall be brought together again and
be seen in the undisturbed exercise of du j.
ties imposed upon US, and exhibiting to the
world a people great in war, and capable
in the end, the war terminated, as great in
peace.