Year: 1865

New oTk, September l2.-Ihe Hollow
ing are the main points Of very impor-
tant speech made yesterday by President
Johnson To delegations from Southern
States:


Gentlemen: We have passed through
this rebellion. / say we, for it was Us
who were responsible. Yes. tie South
made the issue, and | know the nature
Of the Southern people well enough e
know that when they become convinced
Of IN error they frankly acknowledge II
in most open and direct manner; and
now in the performance Of that duty, 3r
indeed in act, they undertake IL perform,
they do il heartily and frankly, and now
that they come to me, understand them
as saying that we made the issue. wc set
up the Union of the States against the
institution of slavery, selected the arbi
tration of the God of the battles The
argument was the sword-the issue was
fairly and honorably met-both questions
have been settled against us ana We are
prepared to meet tie issue | find Oh
all sides this spirit Of candor ana honor
pervading. 1t is said by al that the is-
sue i ours. and the judgment has been
against Us; and the decision having been
made against Us, We feel bound Ill honor
to abide the arbitramcnf In doing this
we are doing ourselves no dishonor. and
should not feel humiliatcd or degraded,
but rather that we are ennobline our
selves by our action; and we should feel
that tho Government has treated us mag
unanimously, and meet the Government
upon the terms it has SO magnanimouslv
protfered us. 60 far as am concerned,
personally, | am not influenced by any
question, whether it affect the North or
the South, the East or the West; | stand
where L did of old, battling for the Con
stitution and Union of these United
States. In doing 30 | know I opposed
some Of you Of the South when Mil doe.
trlne of secession was being urged III the
country and the declaration Of your
rights to break UP the Government and
disintegrate the Union. I stand today
as ! ever stood, firmly in tie opinion if
monopoly contends against this country
it must 90 down and the country 20 ND.
Yes, the issue was made BIZ the South
against the Government, and the Gov
ernmcnt has trinmphed, and the South.
true to her ancient attributes of frank
ness and candOr, comes forth and ax-
presses her willingness to abide the re-
suit of the decision in good faith While
L think that the rebellion has been arrest
ed and subdued, L am happy in the con
sciousness of duty well performed. /
want not only you, but the people Of the
world TO know that while / dreaded and
feared disintegration of the States, ! am
equally opposed to consolidation or con
centration Of power here under whatever
guise or name they bear; and if the issue
is forced upon us, shall still cndcavor
to pursue the same efforts to dissuade
from this doctrine of running TO extremes;
but ] say, let the same rules Be applied,
rs | have before remarked to you. an
gratlfied to see 50 many Of you here to,
day; it manifests 2 spirit | am pleased
to observe. | know that it has been said
Of me that my as2erities are sharp, that
! had vindictive feelings to crafty. and
that should not fail to avail myself Of
the opportunities that would present
themselves to crafty such dcspicablo
feelings. If my acts will not speak for
me and themselves, any profession /
might now make would be equally uso-
less But, gentlemen, if know myself,
as think | do, know am Of the Sou
thern people, and love them, and will ~
all in my power 70 restore them to that
state Of prosperity which they enjoyed
before tile madness Of misguided men, i'll
whom they had reposcd their confidence,
led them astray, to their own undoing
If there is anything that can be done oil
my part, on correct principles Of the
Constitution, to promote these ends, Be
assured it shall be done.


Let me assure you also that there Ii no
disposition on the part of the Govern
ment to deal harskly with the Southern
people There may be speeches publish
cd from various quarters that may breathe
different spirit; do not let them trouble
or excite you, but believe that il il the
great object of the Government to make
the Union of these United States more
complete and perfect than ever, and to
maintain it Oh Constitutional principles,
If possible more firmly than II ever has
before been.


Then why cannot We al come up to
the work in a proper spirit; in other
words, let us look to the Constitution
the resolution has been made and decided
Then as wise men, men who SCI their
rights and are determined to follow Il;
as fathers and brothers, and rs men who
love their country in the hour Of trial
and suffering


Why cannot We come up and help ID
settle the questions of the hour and ad-
just them according to the principles Of
honor and justice} The institution of
slavery il gone The former status of
the negro had to be changed, and we,
wise men, must recognize so patent a
fact, and adapt ourselves to circumstan-
ces as they surround us. We are will
ling to do 20. Yes, sir, we are willing
to do 50. | believe yoU are. / believe
when your faith Is pledgcd-when your
consent has been given, as have az
ready said. believe it viii be maintain
ed in good faith, and every promise fully
sustained. (Cries Of 1T will.")


1t j. not to BE- deRied that We have
great sufferers on both sides. Good men
have fallen and much misery has been