Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-03-08

Mr.. johnson said that, while doing, as be
mos; sincerely dill, full justice to the conscien-
tious purpose Of the President, he could not but
regret that he (the Presidenl) had felt himself
to come 10 that, and TO send this mes
s1Se TO Congress. There were many PROPOSE
tons in law contained in that message which
could not be maintained. There were many
errors Of judgment in it which, upon eIamina-
ton, would be apparent and, above all, il the /
result TO which he 1.-THE President) had been 4
compelled to come in the exercise Of his own /
judgement-which there was 40 doubt was con-
scien;iously exercisei-he (Mr Johuson) saw
nothing but continued turmoil, danger and error I
10 the South and TO the entire country. He rose I
therefore, for the purpose of stating very briefly,
in addition 10 what be had already laid when
the measure was before the senate on former
occasion, why 1t was that be had cast the vote
he had cast on that occasion, and why it was
that he should give the same vote now. Zap
piause IN the galleries, which was depressed by
the Chalr.) II will not be for q moment sup
posed-saId Mr.. JohnsOn-by those to whom
am addressing myself. that / am governed now,
or that was governed then. by any hope Of
popular applause. My motives, if | know my
sglf, we're perfectly pure and patriotic. | saw
before me- distracted and almost bleeding
country. Thought | saw-and | think | see
now--the means by which it might he restored
10 healthtal condition and the institutions Of
the country in the end preserved. / have ar
rived at that period Of my life when, if ever any
other ambition animated me, | can have no
other ambition now than that Of serving my
country. Having referred 10 the views he had
previously expressed on the question Of recon
struction, contending that when the war ceased
the States were restored 10 their former relation,
/ and that no conditions for their representation
/ were requisite or constitutional. Mr.. johnson
| said that the present and the late Executive
thought differently. 1t was unnecessary for him
10 cay what were the conditions exacted by tbs
present Executive. They were IN his (Mr.
Jonson's) Judgment as unconstitutional as any
that could be ioJnd in this bill The Congress
Of the United States we're Of opinion that, not
withstsniing the people Of the Southern States
complied with the terms exscted by the present
Chief Magistrate, they could not be restored
without the sanction Of Congressional legislation
aud this was the judgment Of the country.
Then how we're they to come back only by com
plying with the conditions which Congress may
impose. whether Congress had the authority TO
imIcse them or not = or falling 10 comply, 10 re-
main in the sad condition in which they now
are. lie Mr. Johuson) imputed bad motives
neither 10 Congress or the executive. He
thought be knew his duty TO the institutions Of
the country too well to call in question the mo
tiyes Of either. lie accorded purity Of purpose
AMI patriotic principles to both lie differed
from both But be sought the restoration Of
the Union and he saw no way Of accomplishing
it now but by the adoption Of the measure nov
before the Senate. We are now, IN my opinion
in 4 state OF quasi war. Oar condition Is reyo
lutionary. Ten States Of the Union are virtual
" held a. provinces upon the ground that VI
have right 10 held them as enemies Of tn
Union and the Government. In that state Q
+ things. to hesitate in the adoption Of any meas
1 urs which promises. even the most distantly, {
pu, an end 60 this revolutionary condition is, II
I nv Judgment, 10 be false 10 the true interest
and safety Of the country. Mr.. Johnson said il
4 conclusion that he was glad TO see, from publ
prints ofthe South and TO be informed by man
L les.ing men Of the South, that II was the pur
pose OF the SouthernStates 20 organize under thi
bill They we're taking lessons from experience
The constitutional Amendment, if it had bee
adopted. would have brought into this chambe
and the other chamber representatives, from II
South. OF that have no doubt. Now it VI
not The bill which we passed, and which VI
J afterwards amended in the House, would hay
= accomplished the same purpose upon terms LEI
l. exactirg than the one now before the Senat
Ii was amended. and the amendment is the mo
2. obnoxious feature Of the bill. The Senate passC
< and | voted for it. Why? Because thought
knew, | thought l had satisfactorily ascertaine
d that this failing, q measure Of more rig
r character, measure founded upon the i'd
i that the people Of the South were conquer
D" enemies, their property liable to forfeitur
r would be enacted.