Year: 1866

anu kGAsOioQS "ouAt AAfStNC tue vase All


the more difficult, 1 thought / foresaw


that division between him and Congress


would be the worst disaster that could


befall us; that the practical test of true


craftsmanship just then was not TO be
found in theories or philosophers, how


ever sound, but in securing and confirm


ing Mr.. johnson ia his then dispositions.


Upon the assembling Of Congress 1


went to Washington, l found Southern


men lying PROSTATE before Mr.. johnson,


and appealing to his tender heartedness,


for he is man of kind and tender


heart. disarming his war rage by utter


submission.


l found Northern men already utter


ing suspicious of his fidelity, and, con-


scious of power. threatening impeach-


mcnt The men who seemed alive to


this danger, were, unfortunately, not


those who had the management of


affairs. Bad counsels prevailed. The
1 North denounced and the Souta sued:
we see the consequences.


Long after 1 despaired of seeing the
President and Congress harmonious, l
felt it to be the duty of all good men to
/ leave no influence untried to lessen the
/ danger, and TO diminish The evils which


are sure to come, should the President.


rebounding from the Republicans, be
caught by those men who were in SYM


pathy and counsel with the South
throughout the war. I shall not attempt


to apportion blame where both sides
erred. 1t is enough to say that unity
secured ut the seat of Government would
have been noble achievement OF leader
| ship


Deeming the speedy admission OF the
Southern States as necessary to their
own health, as Indirectly the best policy
! for the freedmen, as peculiarly needful
| to the safety of our Government, which,
for the sake of accomplishing good
I end, incautious men are in danger of
perverting, l favored, and do still favor
/ the election to Congress of Republicans
who will seek the early admission of the
recusant States. Having urged it for
year past, l was more than ready to urge
1t again upon the various conventions
which precede the nomination of Repre-
sentatiyes to Congress this fall In this
spirit and for this end, | drew up my
Cleveland letter. deem IT'S piesrs sound;
I am not Sorry Mat 1crote IT, | regret the
misappreh enson which it has caused
and vet more, any sorrow which it may
have needlessly imposed upon dear
friends. As look back upon my course,
| see no deviation from that straight line
which | have made, without wavering,
for now thirty years of public life, in
favor of justice, liberty and the eleva-
ton of the poor and ignorant.


TIE attempt TO class me with men
whom l have opposed all my life long
will utterly fail / shall choose my own
place, and shall not be moved from it.
| have been, from my youth, a firm, un-
wavering, ayowed and active friend of
all that were oppressed. l have done
nothing to forfeit that good name which
| have earned. l am not going weakly
to turn away from my settled convictions
OF the public veal, for fear that bad men
may praise me, or good men blame
is 4 serious difference of judgement be-
tween men to the best policy. We
must all remit to the future the decision
of the question Facts will soon Judge
us.


feel now profoundly how imperfect
my services have been to my country
compared with its desert of noble servi-
ces. But l am conscious that / have
given all that had to give, without fear
or favor. Above all earthly things is my
country dear to me. The lips that taught
me to say ssOur Father" taught me to
say "Fatherland." !" ! have aimed to con
ceive of that land in the light of Chris
tianity. God is my witness that with
singleness of heart have given all my
time, strength and service to that which
shall make our whole nation truly pros
porous and glorious Not by 1ustre Of
arms, even in a just cause, would / seek
her glory, but by civilization that
should carry its blessings down to the
lowest classes, and nourish the very roots
nf ht- hpr
by her public conscience, her political
justice, and by intelligent homes, filing
up continent, and rearing q virtuous
and nobler citizenship


BY night and by day this is the vision
and dream of my life. and inspires me
as no personal ambition ever could /
am not discouraged at the failure to do
the good meant, at the misapprehen-
sion of my church, nor the severity Of
former friends. Just now those angry
voices come TO me as rude winds roar
through the trees The winds will die,
the trees will live. As soon as my health
is again restored, + shat 90 right on IN tie
sery course fare hitherto purs0ed Who
will follow or accompany it is for others
to decide. / shall labor for the educa-
ton of the whole people; for the enfran-
ehiSement OF men without regard to
caste, class or color: for full development
among all nations of the liberty where
with Christ makes men free. In doing
this / will eheerfuily work with offers,
with parties, any and all men that seek
the same glorious ends. But / will not
become a partisan. l will reserve my
right to differ and dissent, and respect
the same ight in others. Seeking others
full manhood and true personal liberty,
| do not mean to forfeit my own.


Better days are coming. These throes
Of our day are labor pains. God will
bring forth ere long great blessings In
some moments which It pieases God to
give men, think l discern arising be-
yond the present troubles, and over the
other side of this abyss in which the
nation wallows, that fair form Of Liberty
Gods dear child-whose whole beauty
was never yet disclosed. I know her
solemn face That she Is divine know