Year: 1868

Reyerdy Johnson ON the Freedmen's


Ala Union.


A dsputation of the members OF the Freed
mems AID Union waited upon the Hon. Reverdy
johnson on the 9th at his residence, No. Upper
Portlan d-place, to present hlm with an ADDRESS
of congratulation. The American Minister was
accomp anied by the SecretaIy OF Legation,
BENJAMIN Morar, Esq.


M Allbrieht (Hon. sec.) proceeded to give
q short outline of the objects OF the Union, and
of the work the Union mad performed.


Mr. johnson said If he were to touch upon
eyery subject that had been mentioned by the
different speakers, he could not do it unless he
were to deliver a speech lasting an hour or
Two. That, he considered, would be taxing
their patience to too great an extent, and he
thought the best thing he could do would be to
refer to them in general terms. slavery was
nations. 1t had no foundation in morality and
less in Christianity. slave could hardly be
said TO be half man. II his body did not
dwindle, his mind dwlnoied, anu ms near
less was brought to bear injuriously upon the
master. He thought he was not mistaken in
saying that but for the invention ofthe cotton
jenny Gan invention of Northerner, they must
remember) which incidentally increased the
wealth of the Sonth and from Its having after
wards become topic OF political controversy,
slavery. would not have oeen Abolished
through which they had just passed. But the
increase of the wealth OF the South gave TO the
labor of the slave value which it did not be-





his real worth was not 10 be found in the acres
which belonged to him, but in the men he
thought he had right to control. The masters
in the South then dld what most of them
thought they had right to do-seceded from
the Union; but Tor what purpose? For the
purpose of perpetuating slavery and establish
ing q government which they wished to call
free, which had its foundation on slavery, and
which, therefore, was certain to fall to destruc.
ton. They raised their arms, therefore, against
the authority OF the Government, tor the pur-
pose OF perpetuating slavery as an institution;
but God, in His providence, so directed the
blow that what was designed to continue 1t
ended in its destruction, and by no other
me ans which man now could realize could that
have been accomplished In any era in so short
a period 1t would be almost Impossible
tor those present to realize the sadness OF the
strug gle-reading the accounts would give them
but little knowledge of its actual results. Let
them travel through the South and see the
rayaqes of the war-tne desoiatlon OF the homes,
the badges of mourning which were to be found
in every households; the refined woman obliged
to resort to labor for the purpose OF supporting
b, rself aud her children-and then, having done
that let them look at the graves, the millions OF
graves which are to Oe found in every Southern
State. He thanked God that none were to be
found in any Of the Northern states. He was
Southerner, and lived in a state @here the slave
population outnumbered at one time the whites,
and where, at the beginning OF the late war,
they mum bered some $4,000, in addition to the
free blacks, who were some 10000. Their
domestic and agricultural servants were all
slaves aud he had been brought into
connection with hundreds and thousands
of them. He had defended over aud over
again those who supposed themselves entitled to
freedom. From the experience he had had of
them he believed they were as capable OF re-
celvipg education as the whites, but OF course
there were differences among them, as am ong all
classes of people. Every lawyer could not be a
Mansfield, nor every member OF the House of
O. mmons a Wilbertorce. The honorable gen.
tleman then paid a graceful tribute to the
memory and services OF the late Lord Brougham,
and dwelt on the phllanthropic works OF the
brave Howard. He thanked them again tor the
which he represented and himself, and con-
cluded as follows:-l know | can assure you
that during my residence among you-happy
from the first, getting happier every day,
and never more happy than now-I shall so
conduct the duties OF my mission as TO satisfy
you that in heart, soul, and mind feel upon the
great subject which has Interested you precisely
as you do. Mr.. johnson was frequently loudly
applauded during his speech


The American Election.


From the London Times. November 8.


1t is q wonderful result of science and social
ORGANIZATION that the opinions OF an immense
population should be taken IN single day over
a territory as large as all Europe, and that In
less than twenty-tour hours after the close OF
the polls The issue of the contest, with the
approximate number OF votes given in each
Slate. should be known In the capitals of the
Old World. Such triumph OF civilization is
more impressive than the event which Is thus
recorded and 1t causes us to remember how
independent of political action are the forces
which most impel the human race in the path


9he result is that the Republican candidates
have decisive majority, though, when IT Is
considered that there are five millions OF voters
in the United States, the preponderance OF
Republican and Democratic votes given
throughout the country will seem by no means
large. The Americans so much enjoy the
excitement OF electioueering that there is never
likely to be so OVerpoWering preponderance
on either side as to make contest impossible.
AS bows In the playground will join the weaker
side at any game in order to keep 1t going 80 an
irrepressible con baiiveDess Is sure 10 prevent
any district iu America from becoming tamely
unanimous. The Democrats have been beaten,
and by the political machinery OF the country
the representation in Congress Is cast largely IN
favor OF their opponents. But 1t 10 impossible
to look at these returns without seeing that they
still rem ain q very powerful party, and must
influence in q high degree the policy OF the
Onion.


The able and gallant soldier who is now raised
10 the first place in the Union Is one whose
success no one will be disposed to regret. Gene.
rsi Grant has fairly won his high rank by hard
work. real devotion to his country, and SER
vices which will live long in its remembrance:
II il in his favor that his reputation Is aimosi
exclusively professional. and that be Is not, and
has never been, party politician. he Will
take Office with greater freedom than u ne were
the hero of q hundred platforms, and had IN
long canvassing tours taken all the pledges and
He is, in fact man whom his coun-
trymen OF ali opinions my bring them
selves TO accept. simply because he has not
identified himself so strictly with one faction
SIS is COmMOn With the multitude Of candidates,