The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-03-06

exercise OF his judgment, which there was no
doubt was conscientiously exercised seemed
70 nlm, the speaker, fraught with nothing but
continued turmoil, danger and error to tbe
South and to the entire country He roso
therefore, for the purpose OF stating yery brief,
ly, in addition to what he had already said
when the measure was before the Senate on 4
former occasion, why it was that he had cast
the vote he had cast on that occasion, and why
it was that he should give the same vote now.
Applause in the galleries, which was repress-
ed by the chair.] 1t will not be for a moment
supposed, said Mr.. 5ohnson, by those to
whom am addressing myself that am gov
erned now, or that was governed then, by
any hope Of popular applause. My motives, if
know myself were perfectly pure and patri-
otic. saw before me distracted and almost
I5ieeding country. 1 thought L saw, and
.hlnk see now, the means by which it might
De restored to healthful condition, and the
d''i1Iutlons Cd of the country in the end preserv
who nave arrived at the period of my life
co., eveEany other ambition animated me,
servinn We, no other ambition now than that of
him TO- .any y country. 1t was unnecessary for
l,inl ~ 70 say what We're the Conditions Tof rscon.
Than Ill eAaeted by the present executive.
..uey were IN his Judgement az unconst;t,,.
The Conorass Una. could be found in this bill.
aMo Sonsress OF the United States wara oS
opinion tnat, notwitnstandine tbe "'es ' were or
southern states complied with tbo t VI W the
acted by the present chief maoistrota Ems eA-
could not be restored without the sancfon ,ney ~
SohSAOSSiohol ASSiSidoiou, anu tllS
Judgement OF the country. Then how uan sne
they to come back? Only by complying with the
conditions which Congress may imnose0o
whether Congress had the authority to Impose
them or motor, failing to comply to remain in
the sad condition in which they now are He
imputed bad motives neither to Congress nor
to the executive. He thought he knew his du-
ty to the institutions of the country too well
tocall IN question the motives of either. He
conceded purity of purpose and patriotic princi-
pies to both. He differed from both, but he
sought the restoration of the Union, and he
saw no way of accomplishing it now but by the
adoption OF the measure now before the SEN
ate. In conclusion he said he was glad to see
from the public prints of the South, and to be
informed by many leading men of the South,
that it was the purpose of the Southern States
to organize under this bill. They were taking
lessons from experience. "The constitutional
amendment" he said, "if it had been adopted,
would have brought into this chamber and the
other chamber representatives from the South.
OF that have no doubt. Now it will not.
The bill which we passed, and which was after
ward amended in the House. would have ac-
cOmplished the same purpose upon terms less
exacting than the one now before the Senate
1t was amended and the amendment is the
most obnoxious feature of the BILL The Sem
ate passed it and / voted for it. Why? Be.
cause thought, l know thought, had satis-
factoriy ascertained that this failing, meas
urc of more rigid character, a measure found
ed upon the idea that the people of the South
Were conquered enemies and their property IL
able to forfeiture, would have been enacted"