New-York tribune., 1868-04-24

faithfuness and frnness shall be venerated,
d n our own and in other ands-who declared in
the resolution which he offered that the war
or submgaton but that the dignity and equality. and
rights Of all the States should be impartaly maintained
Do not misunderstood me, Senators IL Is pot my pur
pose enter into any discussion upon the derences l
opinion the President and Congress IN regard 70
the reconstruction policy which has been pursued py
them | only advert TO IL for the purpose OF showing
that there was pledge OF equality OF rights To be pre-
served in 1850 and 1861 when the galleries o the Senate
Chamber rang with applause of the multitude when
voro NOT ashamed to express their admiration and graft
tude for him who is trial before you Tor he course
he then took II he had advocated doctrine which was
exceedingly obnoxious to the southern people wha' Vas
iti 1t was that the Congress OF the United states ha
the power compel obedience TO the Constitution ana
laws of the United States He denounced the doctrine
of Secession, and denied that any State had the
right to withdraw from the Union without ne tne
consent OF all the States He insisted that the great
power OF the Government should be brought INTO requ
ston to keep those States within the Union; and when
the war was over when Lee had surrendered when te
Government Of the United States was cast upon MN SUI
denly and unexpectedly-ln the sudden emergency IN IN
which he called upon to act hastily anu speeuyt 50
as TO bring the to termination as soon as possDe
what did he doi There was time to call Congress TO
gether no time to assemble the representatives OF ma
ton and such the state OF the country as 10 demand
immediate and prompt action what ana the rTesiHehs III
Of the United States dol The President uhder'o9k 10
carry what he believed TO be the policy OF nls
lamened predecessor He undertook this IN so1d , I t
lie manifested no desire 10 segregate hiise nun III cue %
party by whom he had been elevated to power. lie eh
preserve the dignity equality ana ngns oi te Stas ~
and impair them In the slightest degree ana now te
is ghti the Of all thai is great and good ask
any of you he is traitor to his principles, OF
traitor TO inc ppg ny eeyeS vnfortnate @ diierence
very unfortunate difrerence-between him and the
Congress OF the United States; but who can
say i'm the spirit of candor and truth that he was not
endeayoring and did not try in all his acts TO carry out
he was elevated to power And after he had taken his
stand he did all he could TO have The policy OF ts
amented Lincoln carried ont In regard 10 Arkansas ad
Louisiana, believing that when Mr.. Lincoln made his
proclamation in regard TO the restoration OF inc states
he designed TO restore them TO the state IN which hey
were before the war commenced. ask, who can say
there guilt III that You may differ IN opinion; you
of ths Senate believe cOnsccntousy that lie was wrong
but still do you believe you can deprive m OF ie cam
OF honesty and integrity Is judge To be red because
he mistakes the law In charge Ia 1uryl need not
turn 10 authority; need not read lawbooks, to satisfy
ne Justice OF the Peace ChefJustce of the highest
court in the United states protected by the laws WINE
n the faithful and honest exercise Of the Judgment when
is conferred upon him. You hear great deal about the
doctrine Of implied power and shall nave occasion 10
speak OF that further another part OF my reafks pu
let put plain simple question 10 TINS senate ana
10 the whole country Can auy man put ms nIger on any
TO restore the relations OF peace ia he iald heh ey
have been disturbedby cyil wari lou nave te p9We %
To suppress rebellion; but the moment you 20 beyond IN,
language Of the Constitution you make use OF an hpd
power, and the moment you admit thc doclnhe OF 'c
implication. then maintain that that doctrine j. just as
applicable the President Of the United states as
any senator or Representative. ask thls qn3es-
uon again. know whom am addressing. Know the
intelligence, and the high respectabty ana character u
this great tribunal and nnt ts question Th m r ,h
power In the Constitution TO pass your reconstruction
laws unless under the power 10 suppress lhsuroco ~
Where unless under those general powers by which hc
war was carried and under which y If declared that
the Government has the inherent fght 10 protect tse
against dissolution, and III the name OF justice thht you
naugurate here IN this chamber ana hscHDe over e
doors that the entrance here ask you IN te la
and order and Justice where do you get this power II
not Implication The Constitution is silent IL does
that % have been in Te6eom il does not say that
the President OF the United states shan do thls.
YOu are Obliged 10 resort 10 implication. lie Is
,1,. tdar. inf
Of Peace had not been declared Whcn These mea
sures Of his were taken u was neessSay 10 pOcG te @
wake hundreds aud thousands OF soldiers turned loose
nsnt 'np ~ tSe cnrdss Of the United States lie was
forced In constituting the powers ana duties mat he
longcI 10 him upon his own Judgment COmmanderin-
Chief az fhc Army and Navy: and II he misconccvcd his
duty hs power II he fe into an error INTO Nmc you
NAV say Mr. Lincoln, his lameHted predecessor, had
fallen let me ask Won gentlemen there to be char
iy, tolcraOn no hDeray Tor dnefehce oi oplnohl
Are we 10 Judge In the spirit that governed the world 20
years ago Are We Ike those who burned helctcs at
the stake 20 introduce In this nlueeehth century sucn
a standard Of Judgment aud forget that the spirit
of thc Ospc has spread HbTuad and that spirit OF
beraity is infused into the minds of the people 1I ths
agei ask. senators If the President is to be judged IN
te spirit Of the Dark Ages OF the Middle Ages, 0rln an
enlightened patriotic. and Christian spri Now main
tain upon this great question, that the PRESIDENT IN MS
position as the Chief Executive Officer Of the nation, Is
entitled the credit Of having acted honestly ana being
tain also that in this Court, or In any court under
Heaven, honesty and integrity OF motive IS shield ana
protection 10 him against All the darts ta may De lo'te
al him from any quarter hg or low Tue servant that
knew his masters VIII but ala u not was punshed put
never the servant VINO dld not KNOW hs hhstcl N w
WHO erred In honest exercise OF his Judgment ana rea
Now, Senators, maintain thjt S Su50,y glce !,
at the history OF the country anu az 5h1 vi
OpiuOn that exists between Congress ana the flcsdcht
II sufficient 10 show that hc animated by correct ana
upright motives and that he ought not 10 be uHed III
the spirit which the honorable Managers ask that he
shall be judged His acts ought not 70 be taken US an
to he his duty under the circumstance NoN,
for the purpose OF calling the attention vi 10 VIC
subject beg leave 10 remind them, as have already
done. that according 10 Mr. santons own testimony In
another nyes CATION, which has been published under
the authority and sanction Of Congress the President of
the United States endeavOred to carry out what he be-
leved 10 be the policy OF Mr.. Lincoln. viii refer you
TO some dates and circumstances IN connection with
this, and shall then pass from without undertaking 10
discuss the merits or differences OF opinion between the
Senate and President do 80 for the purpose Of reley-
ing him from the charge Of being an usurper traitor
heaven Now. MIR. Lincoln IN ms proclamation OF the
sth OF july 1864, stated that while he had failed TO a
prove the first Reconstruction bill passed by Congress- yet
e expressed unwilngness TO set aside the Consttn-
tions Of Arkansas and Louisiana and ia his Emancipation
Proclamation Of 1863 he invited the Rebel States 10 form
constitutions, to be adopted by not less than one
Presidential election OF 1862 each having taken the oath
prescribed by his proclamation. Mr. johnson, us you
a Ss tbe Of Vest virginia which the Con
gcss OF the United States thought and rightly was sf
cicntly weorganlzcd 10 Justify them IN consenting 10
the formation Of State Senators VIII pardon me II
fall into errors on these subjects because am no potlcan
and ~ IL like carving Goals 10 Newcastle, Tor any OF us
10 argue these qualities before Senators ana the House OF
Representatives who are more ialmlar Win tlei tha
we are and IL fall into errors, they are evidence OF g
norance and not of design know the great superiority
the honorable Managers have In this respect over u.s. and
IT, because each member OF the House OF
REPRESENTATIVES and every SENATOR In reference TO these
subjects have been concerned IN them But stl Sena
tors beg leave to remind you that MrJohnson recognizes
her ;oyernor That state recognized az state under
an election held by the people Under that election West
Virginia was formed into new State and all this was
done II am not misinfOrmed without any act OF Recon-
structon being passed by the Congress of the United
states Now when the President came into power when
he saw that the Congress Of the United States had ecog
nIzed and accepted West Virginia as state was he not
iustned I'm the belief that he pursuing not only the
policy OF Mr. Lincoln and the party that elevated hm TO
power but policy Of the Senate and the House OF KEEP
OF the United Statesf And n he committed
an error OF the head ana not OF the
heart and Il ought blOt 10 be mace q matter oi
Iafgn