Year: 1865

President Johnson's reply to the Penn


sylvania Delegation.


Nj Chairman and Gentlemen l can only
reply 10 general terms; perhaps as good re-
ply as can make would be TO refer to or re
peat what have already said TO other deega-
lions who have come for the purpose of en-
couraging and inspiring NE with confidence on
entering upon the discharge OF duties so re-
spousibIe-so perilous. All that could now
already Indicated The words you have spoken
are most fully and cordially accepted and re-
sponded to by me. |, too, think the time has
arrived when the people of this nation should
understand that treason is crime When we
turn to the catalogue OF crime we fnd that
most of those contained il it are understood,
but the crime of treason has neither been gen
orally understood nor generally appreciated as
| think it should be. And there has been an
effort since this rebellion commenced to make
the impression that it was a mere political
struggle, or, as | see it thrown ous in some of
the papers, q struggle for ascendancy of GER
tain principles from the dawn of the Govern
ment to the present lime. and now settled by
the final triumph of the Federal arms If this





the Government is at al end for no question
can arise but they will make it a party issue,
and then to whatever length they carry it the
party defeated will be only party defeated,
and DO crime attached thereto. But | say
treason is a crime-tbe highest crime known
10 the aw-and The people ought to under
stand il, and be taught to know that unless. it
be so considered there can be no Government.
| do not say this to indicate reveDgeful or
improper spirit. 1t is simply enunciatlon OF
deliberate consideration and temperate iudg-
ment. There are men who ought 10 suffer the
penalties of their treason but there are also
some who have been engaged in this rebellion.
who, while technically speaking, are guilty of
treason. yet are morally not. Thousands who
have been drawn into 1t, involved by various
lnhuences-by conscription. by dread, by force
of public opinion in the localities in which
they lived-these are not so responsible as
those who led, deceived and forced them To
the unconscious. deceived, conscripted-ln
short. to the great mass of the misled-I would
say mercy clemency. reconciliation aud the
restoration of their Government To those
who have been deceived-to the conscious, in-
tuenial traitor, who attempted 10 destroy the
life of nation, l would say: "On you be
Inflicted the severest penalties of your crime. )"


Applause. | fully understand how easy it
Is to get up an impression in regard to the ex-
ercise of mercy; and, If know myself and
my own heart. there is in it as great a dispo
sition to mercy as can be manifested on the
part of any other individual. But mercy
without Justice is a crime In the exercise OF
mercy there should be deliberate consideration
and profound understanding of the case; and
| am not prepared to say but what il should
often be transferred 10 a higher Court-a
Court where mercy and justice can best be
united. In responding to the remarks of your
Chairman in reference to free government and
the discharge of my duties. can only say
again that my past public life must be taken
as the guide OF what my future will be. My
course has been unmstakable and well defined
know it is easy 10 cry out demagogue :
but let that be as it may. If l have spent
the toll Of youth and the vgor Of my life for
the elevation OF the great masses of the peo
pie, why it was a work of my choosing and
will bear the loss. A nd if it is demagogism
to please the people-if it is demagog-m to
strive for their welfare and amearation-th
| am demagogue. | was always proud when
my duties were so discharged that the people
were pleased. A great monopoly-the remark
of your Chairman brings me 10 it-existed !;
that of slavery and upon it rested an aristoc.
racy. 1t is the work of freemen TO put down
monopolies. You have seen the attempt made
by the monopoly of slavery TO put down the
Government. But in the making of the at
tempt thereby to control and destroy the Gov.
ernmeDt. you have seen the Government put
down the monopoly and destroy the institu-
ton. Applause. Institutions Of any kind
must be subordinate TO the Government or the
Government cannot stand do not care
whether it be North or South. A Govern
ment based upo2 popular Judgment must be
paramount to all institutions that spring up
under the Government; and if, when thev at.
tempt 10 control the Government the Govern
ment does not put them down they will put it
down. Hence The main portion Of nv efforts
have been devoted to the opposition of them
Hence | have ever opposed arstocracy-op
posed it 10 any shape. But there is kind Of
aristocracy that has always, that always will.
command my respect and approbaton-the
srisiocracy OF talent, the aristocracy of virtue,
the aristocracy Of merit, or an aristocracy rest
ing upon worth; the arsiocracy of labor, rest
ing upon ho1est Industry, developing the indus
trial resources OF the country this commands
my respect aud admiration-my support in ife
In regard TO my future course in connection
with this rebellion nothing that | could say
would be worth listening to. If my pas, is not
sufficient guarantee, can only add that have
never Knowingly deceived the people, aud new
er have betrayed a friend [applausel and, God
willing. never will. Applause. Accept NY
profound and sincere thanks for the encourage
ment you have given me, and believe me when
say that your encouragement. countenance
and confidence are great aid and great spur
to the performance Of nv duties. Once more
| thank you for this manifestation Of your re
gard and respect.


QUIr Ir.-Some of our exchanges, SAYS the
Bee, have an abominable habit of speaking of
L.. L 1