Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-11-02

last We give the f0lloWlng eXtrac1 iIom Tue
abstract of the speech, furnished Tor the news |
papers: T,o
noIicv of reconstruction at great length, claim
ING that it was following merely the footsteps
of Lincoln, and consisted simply IN opening
the easiest, shortest, and safest way Tor return
into the national family Of the people OF the
Southern States who now Tepented tor their
attempted separation.
lie attacked violently the Radical plan OF
reconstruction as proposed by Congress, and
denounced the impeachment project and char
acterized the designs of the Radicals as Wild
and the reckless proceedings OF the inconsistent
leaders such as kept Mexico in condition OF
anarchy through the period of forty years, and
which has left hardly a stable or even peaceful
republic remaining in South America.
1t was not his purpose to vindlcate the part
he took in these proceedings. He said: SIM
DIV say, that as | stood by the wise and mag
unanimous policy Of the late President LINCOLN
in his life, [ have adhered to that same policy
since his mortal remains were committed to an
untimely grave, and have adhered with
equal fidelity TO his constitutional successor:
So much, my friends, for the past. What
for the future? The cry is lranticaIly uttered
by all parties: ''Let us have peace; What
does the country need, in view Of the painful
situation? | answer my own question, Ii
needs just what it needed in l865-the admis-
sion OF loyal representatives. from the late
rebel States into Congress it needs at this
time, and at our hands, no more; but 1t belongs
| to the people of those States just as much as
| it belongs to the people of this State to say
| whether they shall live under one form OF re-
publican government or another. do not
| ask or require that representatives here or
governors there shall be white or black, or
| mixed. insist only that they shall be repre-
| sentative men, freely chosen in those States by
| the people themselves, not by outside com
pulsion or dictation | shall not take the
| sword into my hand or put it into the hand OF
! any other person to effect reform hy i0lcc III
| those States, where in which, am sure, 1t Will
| be effected much sooner and much more per-
manently through the exercise Of persuasion
| and reason. As little do | think it my duty to
use the sword to undo or remove what has al
ready been done in those States, whether 1t
| was necessarily done, or unnecessarily or un-
| wisely done. Ambitions OF parties and chiefs
must come to rest with the close OF this cleo
ton, and calmness and tranquility must sooner
or later resume their sway Of the public mind.
1t is possible that the dilemma OF reconclla-
| ton may continue unsolyed. ana may require
| the attention of the new administering. 1t Is
| in this respect that deem the present choice
/
portant, but perhaps critically so, as the last
two choices were so. Ooe consideration alone
| is sufficient to determine my Judgment In this
emergency. | cannot forget that the civil war
has closed with two great achievements The
| one saving the integrity of the Union; the
| other the abolition Of African slavery The
| magistrates who are to preside IN the work OF
reconstruction hereafter ought, like those who
| have preceded in former stages OF that work,
to be men drawn from and representing that
class of citizens who maintained the Govern
l ment in its prosecution OF civil war; and IN the
| abolition Of slavery. In no other hands could
| the work OF reconciliation be expected to be
| successful.
The attitude of each OF the political parties
| in this canvass is different from that | myself
could have desired. Very great crimes have
| been committed in the name OF liberty by the
| Republican party; nevertheless the Republican
| party neither rests under any suspicion OF It's
| LOYALTY ort devotion to human freedom nor
| can it fall ucder any such suspicion The Dem
| ocratic party 10 not propose to say with
| how much Justice not conducted ITSELF inlts
| corporate and responsible action so as to secure
the entire confidence ofloyal people III Its I'M
| conditional and Incorporating adherence to
| the Union, or IN It's acceptance and approval OF
| the effective abolition OF slavery. | entertain
| no Jealousy VI IUU panty VI 10 ICttu
| ers; no unfrendly or uncharitabe feelings
towards that great constituency. On the
| other hand, cherish grateful appreciation
| of the patriotism, magnanlmity, and her0lSm
| of many of my fellow citizens, With whom |
have cheerfulIy labored and co-operated, while
| they still retain their adhesion to the Demo
cratic party How could distrust the loyalty
or virtue of Andrew Johnson, Senator Bucka-
lew of Pennsylvania, or Senator Hendricks OF
| Indiana, or his associate, Mr.. Nlblack, or OF
| Mr. Cox of Ohio, to whom, personally, more
| than to any other member is due the passage OF
| the constitutional amendment in Congress
| abolishing slavery?
| To confde the responsibility Of the Govern |
ment to the Democratic party IN the present
| condition would be to continue, and, perhaps, |
| increase the lamentabie political excitement |
which alone has delayed the complete restOra- |
| ton of the Union up to the present time. The |
result of the election, if favorable to the can
didate of our choice, will prepare the popular
mind to expect now what it has heretofore re- |
! iected, namely: the most practicable and easy |
solution Of the national embarrassments.
Mr. Seward ended by stating, throughout his
| life he had been an advocate Of universal sutf |
rage for exiles, emierants, and slaves, and had |
given to those classes the support and patron |
age which the Constitution permits and al |
lows.
Number Of Electoral Votes In 1865.
The following States, not represented in the
electoral college at the last Presidential election
on account Of the war, having been recon |
structed" in conformity with the acts of Con- |
gress are now entitled to the follow ing votes
Alabama ................8 Louisiana.
Arkansas ............5 North Carolina..........9
Florida South Carolina .........6 |
georgia. 49, |
Iotal '''''f'
The entire number of electors, therefore, TO |
be chosen tomorrow will be as follows;
California. s. Georgia.
Connecticut ........ G. Louisiana. .............~
Delaware ......".,..... ebras
Illinois .~...........l6 Nevada.......; .:.......
Indiana .13 New pshire..,.... 5
lows ............... 8 New Jersey. ............"
Kansas ............ 3 New Y ork...............33 |