Year: 1868

this because believed that if it was not
done it would be modified by the dominant
party so as to be much more Objectionable
and injurious to the South. In this was
not mistaken. It was so modified when 1t
was returned to the Senate. The President
vetoed it; and on the I'd of March, in
short speech, I assigned my reasons for
continuing to vote for the measure.
That speech, as well as the one
of February, and the one in reply
to Senator Buckalew, are published in
a pamphlet, with a short explanatory
note, and with this you will receive a
copy. In no part of either speech did |
pronounce any opinion contained in the
veto message to be " unconstitutional doc
trine." On the contrary, so far from
thinking so, the President maintained the
unconstitutionality Of the bills upon
grounds substantially the same as those
which had urged upon the Senate when
the measure was first before that body. |
did state, in the speech of the I'd of March,
that I regretted the tone of a part Of the
message, it being, as thought, calculated
to exasperate the majority in Congress,
and not necessary to his constitutional ar
gument. I also said that it contained
some legal propositions which I believed
to be unsound, but these had nothing what
ever to do with the question Of the consti-
tutionality of the bill. So far from assail-
ing him in that speech, or any other made
by me in the Senate Or elsewhere since Mr..
Johnson became President, have, with
full conviction that it was his due, given him
oF o4rfo
desire to secure to the States and the peo-
pie everywhere every right to which they
are entitled; and am glad to know that
he has never for moment questioned my
determination to give to his Administra-
ton every proper support, and to serve
the whole country to the full measure Of
my ability; and am also glad to know that
the confidence reposed in me by my party
associates in the Senate and the House re-
mains undiminished. And what, if posi-
BILE, is more gratifying, my course in rela-
tlon to the measure was approved by most
of the intelligent citizens Of the South.
This was made known to me soon after
my vote by many letters from civilians in
that section and from gentlemen who had
belonged to the Confederate army, whose
devotion to their local interest is not to be
doubted, they having perilled life and for
tune in the endeavor to achieve for their
States separate independence. Amongst
the names of this class were Generals j. E.
Johnston, Beauregard, Longstreet, Taylor
and Chalmers. May | not, therefore, be
permitted to say that my conduct cannot
be properly considered as voluntary
abandonment of the rights of our southern
brethren, or a disregard of their welfare


When it was sanctioned as wise and pa.
triotic by those Immediately concerned
and whose intelligence and knowledge o.
the actual condition of their States made
them peculiarly capable of forming a cor.
rect judgment; and, in conclusion, l add
that if reelected to the position which
now hold T shall (as have done in the
past) devote myself with untiring industry
to the protection of the rights Of all the
States, to the maintenance Of the just au-
thority of the General Government, and
the welfare of our whole country.


remain, with great regard,


Your obedient servant,


REvERDY JOHNSON.


Hon. John Lee Carroll, Annapolis.