Year: 1866

{ that much lamented public servant, who's
| foul assassination touched the heart of tb
civilized world with grief and horror, 20


had been false if you had not labored {


carry out the same policy. Judged now b


the opposite one, which Congress has pun


sued, its wisdom and patriotism are vindi


Gated by the fact that Congress has but con


tinued a broken Union, by keeping ten {


the States, IN which:at one time the iusUr


rectiOn existed, ss far as they could accom-


plish it, in the condition Of 5ubjugate


provinces, denying to them the right to b


represented, whilst subjecting their peopl


to every species of legislation, including


that of taxation. That such state of thing


is at war with the very genius Of our Gov


ernment, inconsistent with every idea o
political freedom, and most perilOus to tht
| safety Of eur country, no rejecting mar


can fail to believe. r


We hope, sir, that the proceedings Of th'


convention will cause you to adhere, if pos
| sible, with even greater frmness to tht


course which you are pursuing by satisfy


ing you that the people are with you anC


that the wish which lies nearest to theil
| hearts is that perfect restoration of oul
| Union at the earliest moment be attained
and a conviction that that result can only


be accomplished by the measures which yOu
are pursuing, and in the discharge of the
| duties which these measures devolve, we, as
did every member of the convention, again
for ourselves individually tender to you our
profound respect and the assurance of our
cordial and sincere support.


With reunited Union, with no foot but
ireeman's treading or permitted 10 tread
on our SOIL with industry renewed, with q
nations faith pledged forever to a strict OBJ
servance of all its obligations, with kindness
and fraternal love everywhere prevailing,
the desolation of war will soon be removed,
its sacrifices Of life, sad as they have been,
will, with christian resignation, be referred
to prOvidential purpose Of fixing our be-
loved country on a firm and endurable basis
which will forever place our liberty and
happiness beyond reach of peril. Then and
forever will our government challenge the
admiration and receive the respect of all
nations of the earth and be in no danger of
any efforts to impeach our honor.


Permit me, in conclusion to add that great
as is your solicitude for the restoration of our
domestic peace, and your labors to that end,
you have also a watchful eye to the rights
of the nation, and any attempt by an as
sumed or actual foreign power to enforce an
illegal blockade against the government or





mild but expressive words, "will be disre-
garded." In this determination l am sure
you will receive the unanimous approval Of
your fellow citizens


Now, as chairman of this Committee, and
in behalf OF the Convention, have the hon
or to present you with an authenticated copy
of its proceeding.


The allusion in the above address TO the
determination of our government to dlsre-
gard the attempt of an assumed or actual
foreign power to enforce an illegal blockade,
caused loud and continued cheering.


The Presidents Reply.


When Mr.. johnson had concluded the
President said:


Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen Of the Commit


tee:


Language is inadequate to express the
emotions and feelings produced by this Oc-
casiOn. Perhaps l could express more by
permitting silence to speak and you to infer
what ought to say. confess that not
the experience I have had in
public life and the audiences l have ad-
dressed, this occasion and this assemblage
are well calculated and do oyerwhelm me.
AS have said have not language to con-
vey adequately my present feelings and
amntiOns-


IN listening 70 LLe huuIeSS WHICH your
eloquent and distinguished Chairman has
Just delivered, the proceedings of the con-
vention, as they transpired, recurred to my
mind seemingly, as I partook of the inspi
ration that prevailed in the convention.
When l received dispatch from two of It's
members conveying in terms
the scene, which has Just been described, of
South Carolina and Massachusetts, arm in
arm, marching into that vast assemblage,


a.sSs
united as in the past, for the preservation OF
the Union; when the dispatch informed me
that in that vast body Of men, distinguished
for intellect, every eye was sutfused with
tears on behOlding the scene, l could not
finish reading the dispatch to one associated
with me in my office, for my own feelings
overcome me. ICheers.l think we may
Justly conclude that we are moving
under a proper inspiration and that we need
not be mistaken that the finger of an over
ruling and unerring Providence is IN this
matter. Loud cheers


The nation is in peril. We have just
passed through mighty, bloody, and
ordeal, yet we do not find our
selves free from the difficulties and dangers
that at first surrounded US.


While our brave men have performed
their duties, both officers and men, (turuing
to Gen. Grant, who stood at his right, while
they won laurels imperishable, there are
still greater and more important duties to
perform, and while we have had their CO.
operation in the field, we now need their
support in our efforts to perpetuate peace.
I Loud cheers.


So far as the Executive DEPARTMENT of the
is concerned the effort has been
made TO restore the Union, to heal the
breach, to pour oil into the wounds which
were consequent upon the struggle, and to
speak in common phrase, to prepare, as the
learned and wise physician would, plaster
healing in character and cO-extensiye with
the wound. [Cheers.l We thought, and
vet think we had partially succeeded, but as
the work progressed, as reconstruction
seemed TO be taking place and the country
becoming reunited, we found a disturbing
and marring element opposing us. In al
luding to that element ] shall go no further
than did your Convention and the distin-
guished gentlemen who have delivered to
me the report of its proceedings. / shall
make no reference to it that l do not be-
lieve the time and the occasion Justify.


We have witnessed in one department of
the Government every effort as it were TO
prevent the restoration of peace and har-
mony in the Union. We have seen hang
ing upon the verge of the government, as it
were, body called, or which assumed to
be the Congress of the United States, in fact
a Congress of only part Of the States. We
have seen this Congress assume and pre-
tend to be for the Union when its every step
and act tended to perpetuate disuDion and
make disruption Of the States inevitable.
Instead of promoting reconciliation aud
harmony its legislation has partaken Of the
character of penalties, retaliation and re-
venge. This has been the course and the
policy of one department of your govern
ment.


The humble individual who is now sd-
dressing you stands the representative of
the Government. The manner in which he
was called upon to occupy that position 1
shall not allude to on this occasion. Suffice
to say that he is here under the Constitution
of the country, and being here by virtue of
its provisions, he takes his stand upon the
charter of our liberties as the great rampant
of civil and religious liberty. Prolonged
cheering.I Having been taught in my ear
ly life to hold it sacred, and having practic-
ed upon it during my whole public career l
shall ever continue 70 revere that cOnstitu-
ton, the constitution of the fathers Of our
country, and to make it my guide. Enthu-
siastic cheers.


know it has been said, and l must be


..-r,5.to1 70 iy,drIoa N the rernsrk tn haf the