Year: 1866

be thought of for the restoration of harmony it
p9sSlee interference with such emigration, was one
OF the chief objections to military rule and by some
i is thought that the influence Of class legislation in
favor of the slavehOlding monopoly heretofore ex-


tlng IN the Southern States. would still be strongly
exerted to prevent peaceful emigration into those
States and would exclude the laboring pOpulation
ethe North from hat soil of exhuberantfertility and
friendly climate


That productive region embracing the eight or nine
States nearest the Gulf of Mexico and that hence
toD IlghtS IN th9Se states shoud be vEilantly pro-
though the measure enacted by Congress for this pur-
pose failed to receive the Executive sanction, yet
having been adhered TO by two-thirds vote in each
House. they have now passed to the statute book
and ceased to be the subject of debate Another
measure or series OF measures Of prime Importance,
now pending before Congress merits remark name
~: The plan Of restoration reconstruction az it is
sometimes called. To the plan reported by the Joint
committee, have not been able to give my assent
1t contemplateS an amendment to the Federal Con-
Sututlon, the third section of the proposed article
being in these terms


all persons who voluntarily adhered to the late ipsur-
rection, giving aid and comfort shall be excluded
from tue rlshtto vote for Representatives in Con-
gress and for electors for President and Vice Presi-
dent of the United States.''


1t urged by the advocates of this plan that this
others of no value.


-, Its exclusive action will no doubt commend it to
Tne feelings OF many as wise and just provision, but


am unable to so regard it, because it binds Congress
70 exclude from voting for Representatives and Pres
ldental electors all persons who voluntarily adhered
cOmtOrt-
matter what may be the condition of the country nor
what proof present and future loyalty NAV he given
an absolute constitutional bar to be erected for four
years against large class OF persons Change Of cir
cumstances and condition often work rapid changes
IN party or political sentiments and no where with
more marked result than in the South


1t believed that elements of change ara now at
work there, stimulating on one side to loyalty and
on the other tending to continued hostile feelings
In my judgment every proper Indictment to Union
should be testered and cherished and for Congress to
limit IN It's own power oy constitutional amendment
:0r the period OF four years, might be deplorable
inls result. To those who differ accord tn estv
and perhaps greater wisdom than can claim for nv
sell. AS the proposed plan now stands. am unable
to perceive the necessity justice or wisdom of the
measure, but having no place nor will in the body
before which the measure is pending djsclaim anv
purpose to interfere. beyond the expression of my


Having thus declared my views as they have here.
toiore been declared to those who had right to
Know them on the material questions that have late
y arlsen or are now pending thrust that your pur-
pose on TINS occaso Is answered, and Ishal be clad
Il these. expressions may. have any beneficial in
huence IN questions the right disp siton thereof is


matter OF socltude to every patriot and is deeply
important to the peace and tranquility of tho
country.


Recognizing the constitutional power of all the CO.
ordinate branches of Government, legislative, judi
cial, and executive, and entertaining for each the
respect which IS due from every loyal citizen, they
are entitled TO. and shall receive, according TO my
best Judgment the support which is required by tn It
been upheld and sanctioned by Divine favor, and
through the sacrifice Of so much blood and treasure


- SECRETARY McCULLOCH'S SPEECH.


The Secretary of the Treasury was next called on
Mr. McCulloch said:


Felio,o Chi=ens:-You are aware that am not in
the habit OF making speeches, and l take it for
granted, therefore, that in making your call upon
me, you intended only to pay passing conpli-
ment, and not to expect from any extended re-
marks. ma Yet shall not disapPoint you. shall not
be so ungrateiul for your kindness as to nfet upon
you n speech Ny position. gentlemen, in reference
to the issues which are engaging the public at
t9nton, IS not, apprehend, misunderstood by you.
Cheers


/ took occasion last fall among my old friends in
Indiana to define my position, aud since that time
have seen no occasion to change, much less to abau-
don it. lApplause.l / will say therefore-as sun
pose must say something on this occason-that the
general poHcy OF the President in reference to the
Southern States and the people recently in arms
against the Federal Government has commended
itself to my deliberate judgment, [Cheersl And al
though it has been violently. and in some instances
yindlcllyey aSsaied, have an abiding conviction
that will be approved ythe people when they shall
be allowed to pass judgment upon at the ballobox.


This plan is fairly stated in the platform Of the
club which many OF you represent. l need not say
therefore, In regard to that platform, any more than
that subscribe to all its doctrines fully ana without
reserve ICheerS.l ! suppose. gentlemen that none
OF us expected that at the close OF this great war in
which much bad blood had been executed and more
good blood shed, We should have bright skies and
calm seas take it for granted that most of us ex
pected that at the close of this war there would ne
passion and pique and perhaps violence which Il
would take time to bring into proper subiugation.


But although we anticipated this. we knew that





for whatever might come up. We anticipated that
at the close of this war, great questions would come
up for settlement, the discussion of which would be
likely to agitate this country. to shake it perhaps
from centre to circumference But we knew also
that the people had not been wanting in any previ-
Gus emergency, and we had confde dence that they
would be prepared to cope with and settle saislac-
torily any questions that might be presented in the


1t is strong with us tonight We have faith in the
people, and we have faith in that good Providence
which, having led this nation through the Red Sea
Of battle. is not likely to desert it, now that the
dreadful passage has been accomplished. The Pres
ident of the United States gentlemen stands before
the country in doubtful attitude. His voice gave
utterance to no uncertain language when it de-
nOunced treason. At the outbreak of the rebellion
in the Senate Of the United States. [cheers he
showed no faltering fidelity, when, counting every
thing else of no value as mere dust in the bal
ance, in comparis ison with the Union and the Consti-
tuition, he went back to Tennessee to fight treason
and secession IN their stronghold, and peril his life
and the lives of his family. Cheers


his policy is straightforward, intelligent practical
If better policy can be presented one more in con-
sonance with the principles of the government bet
ter calculated to preserve the supremacy of the Fed
eral authority, while II trenches not the reserved
and legitimate rights of the States just, more
humane better fitted to bind the people of this great
country in 4 common brotherhood, at the same time
that it places just condemnation on treason and vim
dicates the majesty of the law-if such policy can
be presented, there is no man in the United States
who would more willingly embrace it than Andrew
johnson. II earty cheers.


But, until that better policy be presented, he must
be false to himself false to his record, and must in
TACT, cease TO De Andrew johnson, If he does ad
here to his policy and sink or swim with it. Cheers
1t is pretty good evidence after ALL gentlemen of the
correctness of his policy. that Congress- after having
been in session nearly six long, weary months has
been unable 10 present one which they can agree
on as substitute, LGheerS and laughter It was
kris, the constitution tinkers were the most to be
deprecated. ICheers.l If the old man could rise
from his grave, what would he say to the present
Congress- in which every third man. at least is con-
stitution tinker. [Cheers and laughter.l But they
are not wise enough to amend that grand old nstru
of the republic the glory of the United States and
the admiration ofthe world. lCheersl.


My fellow-citizens. there is but one proposition
that has been presented hch stands the ghost
of chance Of acceptance by the people of the North
and that is the proposition basng representation on
voters. And whose fault is it that it Is not part of
with the amendment abolishing slavery? Whose
fault was that? [Cheers-"The coprerheads." Other
drew johnson? [Shouts of-"The fault of Congress-
"Thad. Stevens" and counter cheers for Mr.. Ste
vens. If the course hch the President was pursu-
ing was obnoxious to the charges made against it in
the of Congress- how happens it that there
no denunciation of It until the meeting of Congress
gress were as silent as though they had been dumb?
Those men whose duty IT was to stand in the ram
parts Of the Constitution and alarm the people of
that policy and demand Of che President of the
United States a convention of Congress? No such
demand was made; no such denunciation was then
heard. We did hear voice from Pennsylvania, |
believe, and perhaps response from Massachusetts
Laughter But the people were silent. The Press
was silent, if not approving. Fellow citizens. did
not intend speaking SO much. Voices of go on.
have only this to say. l have desired and hoped
for the continuation of this great Union party with
which have been ever identified. lCheers.i
But fits leaders can present nothing better than
the programme of the committee, greatly appre-
hensiye that its days will be mbered. trust fel-


low citizens that this will not be the casethat it Wil
discard its hostility and attempt to continue aliena-
ton between the two sections Of the country and that
it will embrace those principles which look to har-
mony, to restoration and to peace If 1t should dc
this, it will still continue to be the great and controll
ing party of the country, and itself with mper-
ishabe glory If it does not, its days numbered
and the epitaph that will be written on ii will be-
1T knew how to prosecute the war with vigor but
it lacked wisdom to avail itself of the benefits of VIC
tory" lApplau'e and three cheers for Secretary
McCullochl


| SPEECH OF PesTMAsTER-GENERAL DENIsoN.
The serenading party next proceeded to the resi-
dence OF Observation-Disclosures HenlsCn who. after re-
peated calls, came forward and spoke as follows:
FeLoJo CfzeRs:-l am not the less grateful to you
for this call because OF its being made in my
official character and as member Of the Cabinet
And yet am admonshed by this fact as well as by
the ateness of the hour not to discuss many topics Of
public interest, upon which, under other circum-
4 stances, might be glad to express my views.
| may say, however, that we have much reason to
fectate ourselves on the general condition Of the
country in view of the perils through which have
so recently passed, and to congratulate ourselves
upon the promising future that awaits 1t is true
that the restoration of the Southern States to all
eminent IS not yet accomplished.


| So far as that duty or that consummation de-
! yolved on the Executive branch Of the Government
| it has been fully performed [Applause.l I cannot
now recall any failure in this regard With all these
things you are familiar and the cGur try knows what
hac haon 1nn Hyuha AOsr nln aOft h.