- THE TRI-WEEEI HERAL
Devoted to uhe nissalhion of General infortmation.
- VOLUME 1.NEWBERR,S C.., WEDNEDYMA3118. NUMBl)8
THE TN-WEERY HERALD
. PUBISHE AT
NEWBERRY. C. H.,
President Johnson's Policy.
'Delegations from the States of New York and
VaIne, to Washington, received the following
reply from President Jonhson:
!-need not ay, gentlemen, how deeply grateful
I am to you nd the influential and 'eminent
-cides whom you represent, for the words of en
couragement .and confidence which you have
spokep. hueh a manifestation of re rd would
at any time be acceptable, but at e present
time it finds in my heart the warmest response.
You will not expect of me, under existing cir
cumstances, any extended declhrtion of 'my
public affairs. My past life must be the guarantee
of my future course. And if on the principles
which have heretofere guided my action as a
-public man, there is not found a sufficient earnest
-of those which, with the blessing of God, rill
'direct my course in dealing *uith the great public
questions which are now coming up for de
termination, no professiOn that I should now
-aake, no declarations of policy that I should. lay
0 ?wn, would command your respect or insure
your confidence. Yet there are some points
which stand out so prominently that none can
hesitate to yield a ready' assent to' 'their forae
and truth. Our great and good Pretident has
been stricken down by the hand of an assassin.
Every one will agree that arson is a crime, and
must be punished. No one will deny that mur
'der is a crime, and must ineet its jest penalty.
All will concur in awarding to the assassin the'
yunishment- of his crime. But if the assassit of
- the President is not to escape desetted panisb
lment, wh-At shall bi done- to those who hate
atteipifd the assassination of the arepublic ?-1.
- who have compassed the lifeat the nation ? The
lessons mustgbo taught beyond the possibility'. of
e,Wer being unlearned that treason is a crime
the greatest of human crimes. Yet in exercising
the high prerogaie which devolv,sjupon me..
S ehal, ij know myself, temper jusuc with mercy.
I shall not forget, however, I trust, tikat while.
the exercise of mercy is easy and pleasnt,merty
to the indrvidual. is often a source 'of. the greAt
-est, misery to the mass of. the people. Every
question, as it arises, must be 4isposed of according
so the circumstances which sha!l surround it at
the tinie. The quiet and'orderly manher in
'which the hiatus created by the death of the
Chief Magistra.t of the natiu, so suddenly, and
iby so terrible a stroke, has been closed up in the
peaceful working of the Constitution, is a sure
guarantee that~the strength 'and wisdom of the
people and'oftheir Governmens will be found
equal to 'every emergency that isay arise.
Had any one, four years ago, podertaken to
predict the wonderful events which have hap
pened during the great struggle through which
- we have passed, his utterance w'ould have been
classed. with the stories of the 'Arabian Nights,'
abd the tale of the 'Wondei-ful Lamp.' So, whale
it is not for.us to anticipate what may recur in
- the ;uture, we are sustained by an abiding faith
-!a the Divine Being, and by a sure confidence
that the great principles of government- and
- freedom, which have been viudiented by our
success hitherto will be secured and prepeuated
-in the midst of all the vicissitudes through which
it may bkou fortune yet to pass. I thank you,
gentlemen, again, for your kind expressiofs of
vonfidence. Certain I am, that while - the re
ponsibilities which devolve upon me might have
fallen upon many possessed of 'far more.ability to
meet and fulfil them, yet no one 'ca approach
them with a.imore sincere desire, or a more honest
determination, to discharge them with a view
. solely to the welfare of the people and the peace
and prosperi'ty of the nation.
- On motion of one of the gentlemen, the report
was unanhiously ado.pted.
The Ohio d.elegration received an answer,
- which, together with a speech in reply to the
delegration of the Christian commission, followsI
below : " ^
RESPEc'rw Sia: ~1.might adopt all that you
have said on 'this occasion, and preseat it as
mine. I respond most cordially, and endorse
- 'every sentiment you have uttered ;-and I might
-thus conclude what I have 'to say in a much bet
ter nmanner than I can otherwise express it,
* ?dopting your remarks as my reply to. yourself.
The sad calamity, the affiifig occurrence-.of tL.e
- &assassination of the President of the Unte
SStateir, is not more deeply felt by any one than
'myself; and- especially so while I occupy the po
sition I do, being thrmwn into it by. that sad
event. And in entering upon the discharge of
,. 'the duties tiat are imposed on me in the office
thus conf4rred, I feel and know the Vesponsibili
-'ty, and have on various occasions felt as it were
-overwhelned ; and I stand before you' to-day
embarrassed exceedingly as to how the responsi
bility shall be fulfilled. IHence the importance
and value of the encolnmagement that you givE
'here 'to-day. The countenance tendered rnie,
and the support you propose in an undertaking
so fearful, and responsile as the one in which I
enter, is:ulysappreciated, for in the midst of
- -tis embarrassument-in the midst of this great
national calamity-in arting upon the -career I
2nlust pursue--the confidence, the coundtenance,
the encouragemnent and the ipromise 'that you wilt
~aid the instruinent that has been 'thrown 'where
gteat deal to any one, and especially. to myself.
As f.remarked but a short time since, lack of
support may paralyze the most courageous ;. but
the encouragement, countenance and support of
an, intelligent people is calqulate& to make even
a coward colurageous, and to win merit in-the
discharge of his duties. I repeat, that I most
fully respond to all that you haie said, and con
cur most fully, especially in- the ide4 that this
Government has bee sent on a; mission, and
that the mission has not been fulfilled, and that
the history of this counstry shall demonstrate that
this ition, as it moves alotg down the strea
of time, is to be permanent as the sun.
I start, sir-though it may be considered by
some as a kind of wild enthusiasm or supersti.
tion-with the idea that this Government was
founded by our fathers upon a great principle of
right-that it was founded upon the principles of
free government proper, with the essentials and
leading principles running th-ough it. It was
sent here upon a great mission, which has not
yet been fulfilled; but in its onward and upward
course it will carry out its mission, and establish
the great principle of free government not only
here but throughoat the civilized world, I be
lieve, in the midst of my aupe'.stition, if it may
be called such, er,in other words, I have a reli
ance and abiding faitii, that there is a great
principle of right which lies at the foundatibn of
all things. I.btlieve thr.t time *ill ome when
this nation, instead of being the recipient, it has
been for a-considerable length of- time, of arts,
or sciences, and of religion from the other quar
;ers,of the globe, and of emigrants of every kind.
and of every coraplexi6n, will become the radia
ting point, the centre fom which will proceed
arts, -science and religiod to ouf brothers through
out the civilized world. We have been sent on
a great mission and that mission nist be fulfilled.
We look at this gIglntic rebllion, snd see that
the Government has struggled. with it and ear.
tied it along; and just at the time we beliele,
and sabstantially know, that the rebellion was:
about to be ended, and the nation was rejoicing,
with~its banners unfutled and its artillery thun.
tiering through every towr and hamlet through
out the.legth a4d. bi'eadtb of the confedai"i-,4
then;ii the midst of jubilant feelings and the ei
tiltation of a free people, the chief magistrate is
4truch like a star from its sphere, in death. Here
we receive an intimation of the,eternal principle
that sent forth this Government-the Govf-n
ment 'rejoicing'on the vue hand a rebellion
crushed, and on the other mourning at its chief
slai ; and though presidents may give way in
regular succession,. still this Government will
more on, and in the end carry out its mission
among the nations.
I cannot but-say,. and in saying so itds a. mere
repetitiob of what has been expressed before,
that the time has come with' this, Government
when crimi shall be understood. We are taught
in si0 the States, and even in the courts o't .he
United States, that the commission of various of
fences are -crimes. ArSon is a crime, burglary is
a crime, murder is a crime. The time has come
when the people shall be educated and taught to
understand that treason ts a crime. And not
only a crime, b.ut the highest of crimes. We look
upon the ass-sination of the President-this di
abolical and fiendish act which has been recently
committd-as the highest crime ;.and the mind
canno-. conceive the penalty commensurate With
it. It is a deed for which the hnman thind can
not invent a penalty4evere enough. To assas
sinate the President. The assassins, in the garb
and shape bf treason, have lifted their impious
arms against the Government under which they
live. I will say, in this conneetton in reference,
as you hare just.remarked,,asto-tmy fnrture poli
cy, that if ipy past coorse ups' various -public
questions that have come up, and especially since
this rebellion commenced, is -any indication or
evidence to yen of what my future will be, any'
lrofssions now n1kust be iunnecessary. So far as
regards my action in the disposition or winding
up this great drama, my past life must be taken
as some indication of my future. In the pro
gress of thisu queston, in bringing it to a close,
when justice is meted out, and it becomes neces
sary to ciereise.mercy hnd lenience, we shall be
sure tO discriminate and ascettain what is mercy,
because sometimes mercy, misconceived and ex
ercised improperly, results in ruin of'States and
men.
It it is right and proper to take away the life
of one individual for destroying that of aesthet,
what shall be done with those mthe detroy the
life of t.he, nation?, Treason must be ponished
as the-highetdrime knowiitothe law. Some have
committed! treason;techniedly speaking. Thou
sanda..and shouasands have-been.saken from their
homes upon one c4use or other ; sometimes by
conscription, sometimes by I'orce of public opin
ion, sometimes misled by leaders. I would say,
in the exercise of mercy, try to make the proper
discrimination ; visiting.the-pealties of treason
on th'e conscious, intelligent, misleading traitor,
and extending leniency to the great mass of the
deceived. Gentlemen, all I osa say, and all I can
promise you after referring to my past, that .in
ascertaining what my futore will be in the dis
charge of-myJ duties in the -adniineration of the
Government, all will .be done-ia a-proper spirit, I
think, and in-acordance with -my best ability.
There may be some wlio would pesidem those
duties with more signal ability than I cak; but
there is one thing, sir, df*-hieh I assure you and
this audience, that-whatet'er be the evidenc.e of
my past life r-thag.I.my not bring to ther
idmintatin of t% Gnunra that. sidnal
ability that sone mighf, I have an fonest. wil
and impulse sincere. I have Abored the mdst of
my life--yes, -he vigor rnd strenzth of my life
have been expended in those directions which
have been calevilated to bring about the greatest
goord to the greatest number. I have labored in
cessantly to maintain and carry out the great
idea that government was made for mar and
not Man for -.he Government. The Sabbae. was
made for -man, and not man for th,e rabbatlh.'
I toiled to establish. and make that great idea.
permanent as this GovernmenlL I have labored
to establish this idea. I shall net desiit from that.
I hive labored to advance and aineliorate the
condition of the great mass df mei,and, God wii
ling,wjth your belp,as far as in ni- lies,iu the-ad
ministratioa of this Governmeut, it shall be my
future o1ject. - Then, gentlemen, and you. sir,
please accept my acknowledgmenv, my' aincetj
thanks, for the cosntenance ad encouragement
rendered me ba this occasien, and uy reitera
tion that though I way not discharge any dudes
as tome might, yet still I do so honestly and sin
cerely. I thank you for the kind attention you
haVe paid .me.
ANOTHR SPECH FROM THE PRiEIDEMT
Directly after the delegations had -retired the
President received a large 'number oi delegates
ot the Christian Commission, temporarily residing
in Washington. The Rev. Mr. Borden, of Aloany,
delivered a brief but eloquent and impressive
a'dress, saying that they _Pecognized him as
called, in the Providence of God,- to have, rule
over the naL:on; that in the past public 'servicei
of the President they had their foundation of
hol* for the future; and not as they looked oh
the face of his illustrious predecessor, whose
death had moved the country to tears, they oe
lieved that God had sent him, as Moses, to lead
the people and his successor, as Joshua, to give
them a land of promise; that in the administration
,f'justice mercy would lollow the success of our
arrns their prayer was for- an epduki-ig peace
and all the blessings of free government.
The President replied that such were his feel
ings. In consequence of the late afflicting events
be -could not respond iu appropriate terms. He
ii v~r, acknowledged his thaiks for kinA
senti;ente expressed. Although he -might fail,
he -ould promise that hip would undertake to
ptrform th grave and responsible duties devolving
upon him with all the zeal of an honest heart.
He had knowledge of and 'appreeftd 'th ofices
of the Christian Commission. He always had an
abiding faith in the oeople, and looked on the
Government as based upon the prinziple3 of
human- rights. The nation's mission is not vet
completed. It is in our hande. When we look
4at the country's condition it gives a complete
contradico.on in the assumption of our- e:iemies.
In the midst 'of treason and .rebellion we irid
that we will triumph at-last.. Althougi we have
had a civil war.which has covered the laud with
glooin, and while the enthe country was rijoiciig
ove- the triumph of the struggle, there has been
an assassination the mostatrocious add diabolical
the world has ever witnessed.
While the nation was jubilant the Chief
Magistrate was stricken down like a otar fi onu i's
sphere. A iAter-:gnum, a hiatus, was c-e'ted
in the Government.. I. Fr.ince, for- instance,
wider simiar cirournstances, there would have
been scenes of anarthy. But-not so here, where
the Government is founded on justice and right.
We have developed the great t,ruth that it is
strong enough to preserve its existence while
suppressing all public disorders within our widely
exiended limits.- Government is made for the
people; and not the people for the Government.
He was not sectarian; be claimed a charity co-ex
tensive with the, human family. He believed, in
the-langdage'of aniotrer, that ieligion in an airch
of promise, spanning humanity, with its ends
resting oni the.horizon.. Religion is seen in its
acts more than its profession, and good deeds
hever fail to receive recognition. - .
, He then repeated his.sentiments regarding his
future 'politibal course, similar to those addressed
to the :llinois delegation, saying the time- had
come when intelligent men like those before him
shonid exert their moral influence in erecting a*
standard by whiich every bddy should ee taught
te believe that treason is the highest crime kno*n
to the law, and that the petpetratoi- should be
visited *itb the punishxnett which be geserves.
The 9t;te -of Soath CaroHlna,
- EXECUTIVE DEPARTME~NT. -
CoLUMaM, May 22i, iS65.
:Ththe*Peope of& Suth arolina.* . n
THAVE this day recei4ed information of a
I.order issued by Major-GenerralQ. A. Gillmnore.
I deem it proper, without delay, to present to vou
for. tour -itotnation, such portioas thereof as
affect mfe anid coscera you: because they create
for yoti a confliot rithi the forces of the Ujnited
States, which can only be ,avoided- by my for
bearance to exercise the functions of the Eix
ecutive- Dejiarutent of tihe State :
HEAQ'RS DNPT OF' TIE SOUfi
H1Los Hain, S. C , May !.5, I SS5.
GENERAL ORDER$ NO. 63.
1. The proclamation of A. G. Msaat, sty'ling
bimaelf Governor of South Caroirna, dated at
Headquarters, Columbia, South Carblna, May Z,
1865, declaring that all eubsistenens stores and
the property of the Confederate States witaih .
the limita of the Stat.e hould 'be gue?ned over and'
acaoidated for by the agents of tbi.p ..t, appointeij
forthetpurpose, s'nd diuEingtliathe subnNtene .
people of the State: and the proclamation of
Joseph E Brown, styling himself GoverAo~r of
Georgia, dated at the ca pital of that State, od
the ;d dav of May, 1865, requIirifig the o&eers
ahd menbers of the Getieral Assemb!y to Inet
in vitraordinary session at the Capitol in,Mijledg.
ville, on Monday, the 2!d day of May, 1865-;and
the procbuation of A. K. Allison, kl.ng himself
A.-ting Governor of Florida, dated at Taiabasse,
on the 8th day of April, 18G5, giving notic and
directioij that an election will be held on Wednes.
day, the 7th day of Jun, 1865, for Governor of
the State of Florida; are, each and all of shem,
declared- null and void,.it having become knoffn
id me, from trustworthy* information, that the
aforesaid A. G. Magrati, Joseph E. Brown and
A. K. Allisoa, are disloaal to the United States.
having committed sundry ind dimcis acts of
treAso4 against thk same, in adhering to their
enemie, giving them aid'and comfort.
The persons and people to whoin thi proclama
Lios bereinabove referred to havd been ripec
ively addresset, are, therefore,. enjoined And
qommanded to give no- heed whatevet theteeO,
or to any orders, proclamations, cbmmiioit or
commands enihating from persons plaiming die
right to exercise .he functions and iuthority of
Governor in either of the Stats of South Carolin,
Georgia or F,ori'da,. unless the same shall ha*e
been p-omulgated by the advice or consent of ih6
United States authrorities.
It. i 4- . . * a
III. District and Post Commanders throhout.
tb Department will tt odce cause this ordii tor
be circulated far sand wide, by special co.uriers dr
otherwise, and-will take, sudh steps ta sese ig.
enforcement as may by tiem bt deefed nees
sary. Q. A GILLMORE,.
Mnjor General Commanding.
offic*.W: G. F.McKir, IS' LIC-Ut. And A. A.
General.
I canuot, under ll.the circumstandes which
surround you, expose .you- to the. consequences
which will be produced because df any effort on
my part-fruitless, if not nictiev8us, as it auist
be-Eo exercise those functions: which you in
your confidence have committed to me. Nor
am I wiMing that, withoult such donnAequences to
you, while in the Rieeutire Chair of tje State, I
shall be held foi th to the *orld charged wit
crine; witbout the most -positive declratioo,
that I. an ready to neet and kepel jt, wheser
and by whomsoever made.
In that peculiar condition of or affids, whidi -
ii now dim;lbsed to iu, I feel that ay duty
whether-considerell in regard to myself as yowr
Executive, or to you a a people wlose welfaro
is dear to me, is at o:c plain and imperAive.
I will not introduce within this St4te discord er
contention. I wilt noi alQw myself to furnish.
the occa-ion by which a single atom of -sufferin;
can be added to ta.t load whih now weighs.'s
heavil! upon you. I mill not giv6 oppdrtMitf
for conflict between the Government of this
State and the Government of the Utei'd States.
The func.tioas, therefore. of the Exectuiveat
suspended by rie ufrom tbis day.
Under other circunatances and' at other tlh,
I wuid p iuse in doing tht which.I now do with
out 4esitation, and with a'perfect -onviction thti
it is due to Yod that it shduld, be dowe. The es.
ercise of the executive power in te p1 a
tion of the 2d May', 186,' which wai coiplaid
of, has been rectilied aud the prOd&sMafrda ti
called. Iefore iny letter was received containi
the explanation ofthe cireumstanee which led
to the proclamatio6, these orders have bien is
sued ia tYhidh, because of "trustworth inforztra
Lion" of 'disloyalty" and -"undry and diei'
acts of treason," the functions df the Governor of
toe State are suspended and hid authority denied
To exerei e my' functions in the face of th'ii~e of.
ders, is to invoke force to stPtain uee in oy ositioi
to that whion will be displayed agaiust e. STuih
a contest could have bus one result. While to.
thesae in the State who would give their supportm
to the Executive, there must adme penalties an4
sufferin;t, without the possibility of advantagd.
Whatever, therefore, may be the feeling whicl
belongs to nie aus a man er a citizen; in a cash
like this; whetc co.rvic:ion precedes the hekinf
and uentence comes before the 1t-181 W feel that
it becomes jie to b'e mindful ofthe consideratioi@
whicl1 involve your petce and aff'ect year welfm*.
I hava said to ydu beiBre, I.say fb fobu no#, sDu
war is dver ; hostilities have ceaised ; add it i
your duty to forbear opposition whieh is hopeL
,ess-contest which is unuavaiing-and re.conele
to yo-uselves th:tt submission which the Govern
ureat of the Utnited State4.can imZpose,. and yoik
e~not .restst.
While the consideration uish .I have nio
expresi. lead] meu to thla feotkea.pUee in the ey
ercise- '(the functions of *Ih( Ejecadreu ?epsW
ment ofT the State, I owe it19 mjef, to y6u,- te -
the State, theLegislature .of 4 iga according to
the Co.nsatudon of this State,. ,legted me the
Goyerzaor of.the State, o make my prdpart against
the power claime~d and exerdis#d t et. Gill
more. It inivol ves a question *hiclt coneernu not
alone this State, hat all the Staes pf the l)'ited.
States. It arms a principit4 whjg is a o& nc
essary nowg for me to discues. -
Whatever may~. bb your condition, .unavailing
resistance onyour part will :,ut inske it. worse.
With an earnestuese, of the sineeiiy of whici .'
need! not glte-you assurance, I urge ation fe.
tse resuwipdon of your peacefdl purewar, an3d4lie
adatationt of y'ourselves to shoune changes gic.
nmafh be'aAe in vyour c.ondition. Do ha~s be'mit
MA by ezim.-nt giuehbd to muion;4db