Year: 1867

flor the suppression of the insurrection. Attera
long and terrible struggle the efforts of the Govern
ment were triumphanty Successful and the people
of the South, submitting to the stern arbitrament,
yielded forever the issues of the contest Hostll-
ties terminated soon after it became my duty to as
sumo the responsibilities of the Chief Executive
Officer of the Republic, and l at once endeavored
to repress and control the passions which our civil
strife had engendered, and, no longer regarding
these erring millions as enemies again acknowled-
ged them as our friends and our countrymen.- -
The war had accomplished its objects. The na-
ton was saved, and that seminal principal Of mis-
chief which, from the birth of the Government,
had gradually but inevitably brought on the rebel
lion, was totally eradicated. Then, it seemed to
me, was the auspicious time to commence the
work of reconciliation; then, when the people
sought once more our friendship and protection, l
considered it our duty generously to meet them in
the spirit of charity and forgiveness and to con-
quer them even more effectually by the magnan-
unity of the nation than by the force of its arms.
yet believe that if the policy of reconciliation
" restoration of these people to all their political
rights, had received the support of Congress, eve
ry one of these ten States and all their people,
would at this monet be fast anchored in the ..
Mon, and the great work which gave the war all
its sanction, and made it just and holy, would
have been accomplished. Then. over all the vast
and fruitful regions of the South peace and its
blessings would have prevailed, while now millions
are deprived of rights, guaranteed by. the Consti
tuition to every citizen, and after nearly two year,
of legislation, find them placed under absolute
military despotism. "a military Republic Go
Government formed on mock elections and sup
ported only by the sword " was nearly quarter ot
century since pronounced by Daniel Webster
when speaking Of the South American States, as
"a movement indeed, but retrogade and disas
ed monarchial system" and he added:


IF men should enjoy the blessings of republican
government, they must govern themselves by rea
son, by mutual counsel and consultation, by sense
and feeling Of general interest, and by the acqui
escence of the minority in the will of the majority
properly expressed: and above oil, the military
must be kept, according to the bill of rights, II
strict subordination to the civil authority. Wher
ever this Ii IN is not both learned and practiced
there can be no political freedom. Absurd, pre-
posterous is it, scoff and satire on free forms o.
constitutional liberty, for forms Of government tt
be prescribed by military leaders, and the right q
suffrage to be exercised at the point Of the sword
| Iconfdently believe that time will come wher
in the Union. The barriers which seem SO obsti
nate must yield to the force of an enlightened and
just public opinion, and sooner or later unconstitu
tional and oppressive legislation will be effaeed
from our statute-books. When this shall have
been consummated, pray God that the errors Of
the past may be forgotten, and that once more we
shalt be a happy, united, and prosperous people,
and that at last, after the bitter and eventful ex
perience through which the nation has passed, we
shall all come to know that our only safety is in the
preservation of our Federal Constitution, and in
according to every American citizen and to every
State, the rights which that Constitution secures


ANDREW JOHNSON.


WASHINGTON, March 25, 1867.