The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-03-12
SPEECH OF REVERDY JOHNSON
On the Reconstruction Bill

The following is the speech Of Hon. Roverdy
johnson, Senator in Congress from Maryland,
delivered in the Senate on the goth ult on the
bill to provide for the more efficient government
of the rebel States, which passed the Senate:
Mr. President: l have felt solcitude for
the condition of the country, consequent upon
the exclusion of the Southern States from their
right of representation n this body, that want
words to express. The view that have enter
tained is that, in their present condition, they
are entitled to be represented. But the Con-
gross of the United States, from the termination
of the rebellion to the present time, have taken
different view, and have lost all hope of see-
ing them at any early date, if at any day with
the consent Of Congress, reinstated in their orig
inal condition. E
Besides the interest, the vital interest, which
the people of the South necessarily have in tho
present state of things, the interest Of the other
States is almost as great. As long as it con.
tinues, 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 bringing the Southern
States back, however much may be opposed
to the conditions which may be exacted of them.
Nothing can be worse than the state 10 which
they are now placed Dcsolation around them,
all rights denied them Of political character,
of another branch of the Government, their
character as men has been expressed in terms
which have caused me nothing but the deepest
regret. l know that they are not deserving Of
such aspe-sion. I think know that the de-
scendants of the men of the South who upon 50
many occasions battled on the field for the honor
aud glory of the country and contributed 80
much to the success of our civil government,
cannot be such men some Of the members Of
Congress have designated them. wish them
to be here in our midst to show by their pre-.
that in all particulars, moral and political,
intellectual and christian, they are our equals.
The very battles which they have waged in
seeking to destroy the government exhibited
deeds of valor of which Rome in her proudest
days might have boasted. If had my own
way would receive them at once in this cham.
Der, with heart full of conviction that they
would be true to their duty to the country, and
that they would promote its permanent interest.
But have not my way. am obliged, there
fore, to acquosce in the decision of the majority
of Congress, however erroneous or unjust may
believe that decision to be, provided believe
that it will end in Q comparatively short time in
restoring the Southern States to the brother
hood of States. / am unwilling that this Con.
gress shall adjourn without the adoption of some
| measure that holds out q hope, however distant,
that this may De the result OF our dellperatl0ns,
and believing that this will be done by the adop.
ton of the measure as it now stands before you,
l shall now give it my vote, not because ap.
prove of it in the abstract, or 10 the particular,
but because think see in il mode of rescu.
ing the country from the perilous predicameni
in which it 10 now placed.
Mr. President, if there be feeling which
should animate the heart of every American, 10
should be one of generosity, magnanimity and
charity for the men who, although they sought
to break asunder the cords of the Union, ars
now looking with solicitude to their being rein.
stated.
If there be feeling which should animate
every American citizen, it is that We should De,
and at the earliest period, people one and in.
divisible, demonstrating to the world that how
ever alarming the few last years may have been,
and however they were calculated to cause the
| lovers of constitutional freedom TO despond, the
time will speedily come when the feeling con.
seauent upon that effort will have subsided, and
we shall be brought together again and be seen
! in the undisturbed exercise of duties imposed
upon ms, and exhibiting to the world people
great in war, and people capable Of being Ia
the end, the war terminated, as great in peace.
| k-ptant corn In <ahnn1anea and rotakocs