Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-02-28
NUMBER 80.

plCulOtIOHS' II JOu iOOh DdChi you
will see line of prophecy from 1860;
and in every single case their pro-
phecies have failed. You remember
they said the war would be failure;
the Republican party is going under;
they are almost used up they are
on their last legs. But does it look
as if the Republican party was de-
clining, when, last fall, they rolled
up majority, from Maine to Nilsson
ri, of four hundred thousand lkrong,
and that on this very issue that we
are discussing here to-day My
Democratic brethren, the moral con-
victions of the world are against
you almost every pulpit in the land
is against you. Daniel Webster once
we'll said that no party could main
tain itself against the moral convic-
tions of a Christian land. Poor
souls were you to die as party,
there is not decent clergyman in
the land who would read the burial
service for you. Every intelligent
man who breaches the truth, or who
can analyze a single proverb in the
Book Of Divine Wisdom, has lifted
up his voice on the side of liberty,
and prayed for the overthrow of its
enemies. Gentlemen, your prophe-
cies are all vain the Republican
party will not die it has within it
elements of progress and morality :;
it is based on right, for it has aimed
at the right. 1t embraces the intel
ligence and the morality of the land.
| would say, i'll order to save your
selves with them they will take you
on trial, though your probation must
be protracted by reason of your past
misconduct.
l now come to the question that
we are discussing, that is the resolu-
tion condemning Edgar Cowan.
There are two lines of policy in
this country, and this resolution will
be voted for or against, Just as those
who vote upon it hold to the one or
the other line of view.
The one policy embraces these
ideas : First, the rebel States have
not in the least affected their rela-
tiOns to the General Government by
their rebellion. Second, they are all
sovereign States they were sover-
eign States when they seceeded ];
they were sovereign States during
the war they are sovereign States
to-day. Third, they are entitled to
full and immediate representation.
The very moment we wrested the
bayonet and sword from their grasp,
that very moment they became rein
vested with all their civil rights, and
if they are denied representation, it
is wrong, an outrage and a usurpa-
tion. They should come in at once,
and participate in the government of
the country, in making laws for the
country, and that the past should be
forgiven and forgotten. Those are
the items of "my policy"
The ideas connected with the other
policy are these, that the rebel States
did affect their connection with the
General Government by their rebel
lion ; that, by secession and open
war, they became divested of their
constitutional and legal authority,
avowcd public enemies, and have no
right to participate i'll the legislative
affairs of the country until we, the
masters of the situation, are ready to
permit them. In this other policy,
the idea is that they are not sover-
eign States, that they lost their SOW
ereignty by their treason. Another
idea is that treason is a crime, and
ought to be punished and that they
cannot be represented until the basis
Of representation is changed, SO that
they may be admitted with safety
Mr. Johnson is the advocate of one
policy, the advocate of the sovereign
ty of the lately rebellious States, the
advocate of their right to representa-.
ton, and of their equality with all
the other States, while the loyal peo-
pie represented in Congress hold to
the opposite ideas. Mr.. Cowan has
been the lickspittle of Mr.. Johnson
"a mere tool Of his, to play his Sec
ond hand fiddle. l voted for him in
1861 therefore / have a full right
to speak. But | did not vote for his
nomination. l wanted another and
better man. Edgar Cowan has be
lied everything l ever heard of him
before | voted for him he has belied
every representation his friends made
to me if he had any noble impulses
before l voted for him, he has belied
them since He is not the man
voted for. In regard to President
Johnson, | may say this he is a re-
markable character. Not remarka-
bic for talent-he is not afflicted with
that. He is not remarkable for
craftsmanship, for that embraces the
idea of sagacity and comprehension.
He is not remarkable for patriotism,
for that signifies love of country, and
those principles which make a coun-
try great and happy President
Johnson is most remarkable for au-
dacity he is the most audacious
character in the land. He is remark
able for impudence. From head to
heel, he is compound of impudence
and audacity. Look at his St. Louis
speech, where, in speaking of Re-
publicans to Democrats, he said -
" If you will stand by me, l will kick
them out as fast | can" He is char
acterized also by persiStency. If he
cannot rule, he will ruin. Hence, his
organ came out, the other day, say
ing that the President would main
tain his rule for the next two years,
until his time was out, and, if it was
necessary to carry out his purpose,