The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-02-28

IRecon.fructIom IlIIl.

h9GCOmHtrmctAOM AhAAAs
The following is a full report Of the
speech Of Mr., Roverdy Johnson, de-
livered in the Senate on the Military
Bill;
"Hfr Presidential have felt solici-
tude for the condition Of the country,
consequent upon the exclusion OF the
Southern States from their right Of
representation in this body, that want
words to express. The view that
have entertained is that, in their pres
ent condition, they are entitled to pc
represented. But the Congress- OF the
United States, from the termination
of the rebellion to the present time,
have taken different view, and have
lost ell hope of seeing them at any
early date, il at any day with the con
sent Of Congress, reintated in their
original condition.
"Besides, the interest, the vital in
terest, which the people Of the South
necessarily have in thepresent state OF
things, the interest of the other States
is almost as great. AS long as it con
tinues, more or less will Interpolation
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 l may be
opposed to the conditions which Right
be exacted of them.
"Nothing can be worse than the
state in which they are now placed
Dissolution around them, all rights de-
MED them of political character, and
on the floor of the Senate, to say moth
ing of another branch of the govern
ment, 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 aspersion. / think l know that
the descendants of men of the South
who upon so many occasions battled
on the field for the honor and glory
Of the country and contributed SO
much to the success of our civil gov
eminent, cannot be such men as some
Of the members of Congress have de-
signated them. wish them to be here
in our midst to show by their presence
that in all particulars, moral and po-
litical, 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 boosted. If
| had my own way would receive
them at once in this chamber, with
heart full of conviction that they
would be true to their duty, to their
country, and that they would promote
its permanent interest.
"But | have not my way. l am OBJ
liged, therefore, to acquiesce in the de-
cision of the majority of Congress,
however erroneous or unjust I may
believe that decision to be, provided
] believe that it will end.in compar-
atively short time in restoring the
Southern States to tile brotherhood of
States. ] am unwilling that this Con-
gress should adjourn without the adop-
ton of some measure that holds out a
hope, however distant, that this may
be the result of our deliberations, and
believing that this will be done by the
adoption of the measure as it now
stands before you, shall now give it
my vote, not becauseI approve of it
in the abstract or in the particular,
but because think I see in it mode
of rescuing the country from the per-
ilous predicament in which it is now
placed"