The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-05

President Johnson had become atdth ieo
to the highest degree. He found the
party to which he owed his election re-
senfful and vindictive now. His action In
| the recess of Congress, restoring the
aouthern states to the union had 10 sup
porter in Congress. When Arkansas ap'
| piled. as Alabama had done, for read
mission, among the representatives this
state sent forward was Col James M
| Johnson. He had commanded p regiment
| in the army of the union throughout the
war While waiting with the others al
the dqor a member moved that In view
| of Mis- record as union soldier the
\ courtesy of seat on the floor be Of
fered him. Stevens objected Stevens
was chairman of the reconstruction COM
mites and the committee was practical
| ly the government. He said now; 1t Is a
monstrous doctrine that these defunst
states may send representatives TO Con-
gres." He said he desired to see neither
whites nor blacks in Congress from the
south until this (tie) Congress "a frag-
menD has done the great work of re-
generating the constitution and laws OF
the country
There had been three months nearly of
violent proceedings in Congress. The Pres
ident's vetoes had been denounced and
overrlden His friends in and out of Con-
gress desired to seize an opportunity FOR
him to deliver a popular address which
would explain and defend him and Sc
cure the widest notice by the press
The desilUd occasion was found in the
celebration of Washington's birthday.
February % 1866. Washington had refused
TO keep his word when-the war was over
he delivered 1t up to the law
The President was dauntess speaker,
an able logician. There was assembled
great audience in the evening at a
Washington theatre. The President rose
to speak and expectation was most eX-
cited. He ssid: Have you heard them
quote my predecessor who fell martyr
| to his counfry's cause, as going in OPP
| position, standing in contradiction to any
thing / have done? What principle have
avoided. what sentiments swerved
from? None. none. When the rebellion
was on the constitution was rolled up
as a scroll; If 1t was violated in some
cases to save the government, there may
have been excuse, but now peace has
come and we want written constitution;
and say the time has come to take down
the laid away instrument; to unroll it,
and read 1t and understand 1t. sss'
opposed Davis and Toombs, and Slidell
Now find men at the other end of the
line-I care not by what name you call
tlem-who stand forth and resist the re-
stored union of these states. | say
Thadeus Stevens tremendous applause)
say Mendell Phillips, / say Charles Sum-
neI great applause. and others of that
stripe are among them"
Immediately upon the opening of Con-
gress next day the House sent formal
notice to the Senate of its resentment OF
the speech The House protest was in
form of an article of amendment to the
constitution restraining the Presiden
from similar utterance against member.
III future.
Henry Ward Beecher, now thoroughly
aroused in his purpose or support the Pres
ident, proclaimed his approval of the
speech. Speaking of the demand OF the
radicals for negro suffrage he said. None
may escape the 40 years of ignorance In
the wilderness.
The President, disdainful of his pur-
suers, seemed to court their wrarh. He
now sent full pardon to General Har-
dee in Alabama. He sent a full pardon
to Gen. Henry D. Clayton OF Alabama.
News of this latter example of clemency
came before the document arrived. Upon
this news Governor Patton appointed Gen
eral Clayton circuit judge. rhe appointee
waited several weeks the arrival of the
pardon before taking his seat On the
bench.
Despite the bitterness OF the politi
clans, much attention was given by some
strong men and many noble women to the
matters of general society, charity and
patriotic memories In the south. Cover
nor Patton issued a long address through
the press, appealing to all who We're
able to build cotton mills to give EN-
ployment to the widows and orphans o.
the soldiers. The raw cotton was al
hand in OVERLOOKING abundance. the water
power here and the coal there were IN
phenomenal supply. The governor made
public showing how generous Missouri
and Illinois farmers had been. Intended
for the white counties. he had received
SIG sacks of white corn from Quincy. IL
sacks from Hannibal From Palmyra he
had received purse of s60o.25 cash and
| from a Ladies' Association of the same
place another purse of $685. to be applied
as a general relief fund. In addition ht
had received from the northwest purse
of $1,000 for Alabama orphans.
| In this same year. 1866 on August IL
| Cen o. o. Howard chief of the Freed
| mems bureau. issued an order warning
| his subordinates that government rationS
had been drawn habitually from thai
4 Dy lule neSfOcr. Ac foSuC "
rations will be stopped. read the order
except to the sick in regularly organize
hospitals and to orphan asylums for refu
gees and freedmen already existing
! Gen. Gordon Granger, famous unio'
soldier was sent on tour of inspec
| ton. He wrote; Had a policy of wise
and statesmanlike Cancellation been fol
| lowed out Immediately after the close o
the war, it is more than probable tina
the condition and disposition of the PEG
pie would be far better than they are
| Immediately after the fall of the Con
federacy the ladies of Winchester. w
Va. organized Confederate Monumen
association Col. Turner Ashby, ia
nous cavalryman. fell in battle in Ma,
and it was determined to celebrate hi
fame by associatlng the anniversary o
his death with that of the movement t,
| build the monument. When the monu
ment was dedicated Senator Morgan de
Iivered the address. four hours long. Find
/ ing the time lengthening, the orator wa
i observed by the audience to turn owe
half dozen pages of his manuscript a
| once. Turn them back cried vet
eran, 1--WE want it ALL
H Col. j. b. Roy. chief of staff to Gen
1 eral Hardee. now lived in Selma. II
was native Of the region and thu
was anpointed by the Winchester aSsu