The Secretary read as follows: "But. My countrymen, afler hnving passed through the rebellion and given such evidence as I have— though men croak a great deal about it now [laughterl—when I look back through the battle fields and see many of these brave men. in whose company I was.in parts of the rebellion where it was most dif ficult and doubtful to befound before the smoke of battle hasscarcelypassedawn. beforethe blood shed. hasscarcelycon caled. what O we find? The rebellion is put down y thestrongarmof the Government in the field; but is that the only way in which we can have rebellion? Theystruggled for the breaking up of your government; but betore theyure scurcel out of the battle field, and before our rave men avo scarcelyreturned to their homes.to renew the ties of ntle ction and love, we find oursclves almost in the midst of another rebellion. [Applause] Iliewar to suppressone rebellion was to prevent the separation Oft O States, to prevent them from flying off and thereby changing the character of the Government and weakeningits power. Now what is the struggle? There is an attempt to concentrate the powerof the Government in the hn.ndsof the few and thereby bring about a consolidation which is equally danger ous and objectionable with separation. [Enthusiastic applause] We find that powersare assumedand at tompted to beexercisedof amost extraordinary character. What are they7 We find that Governments can be revolutionized. can be changed without going into the battle field. Sometimes revolutions, the most.disastrous to the people. are effected without the shedding of blood. Ihc substanceof government may be taken away, while the form and shadow is still adhered to. Now what are the attempts“! Wbut is being proposedi We find that, in fact by an irresponsi c, central directo. nearly all the powers of Government are assum, without even consulting the legislative or executive Depts of Government. cal and by resolution reported by n committee upon whom til the legislative power of the Government has been conferred. that great principle in the Constitution. which authorizes and empowers each branch at the legislative Dept, the Senate and HoRep.to be the judges of the clect on and qualification of its own members.has beenvirtually taken away from those Depts of Government and conferred upon a committee.who must report before theycan act under the Constitution and ullow members duly elected to take their seats. By this rule theyassumethat there must be laws passed.ihatvthero must be recognition in respectto a State in theI men. with all its practical relations restored.before the respective Housesof Coup ms. under the Constitution shall judge of the electron and qualitication oi its own members. What position is t at? You have been struggling for 4 years to put down the rebellion. You enied in the beginningof the strangle that any State had the right to go out: you said that they had neither right nor power. The issue has been made and it has been settled that a State has neither the right nor the power to:0 out of thoUnion: when you have settled that by the executive and military power of the Government and by the public Judgment you turn roupd and assumethat they are out, and not cousin. [ and cheers.). I am free to say to you, as your Executive that am not prepared to take any such position. Isuld in the Senate, in the very inception of the rebellion. that States had no right to go out, and that they had naonpoIwcacrnntootgtouorunt.round That noqwueasntidonghivaes tbhcecnlieeedtirtelcedt. to all I professto have done in the last fire years. [Lou hter and applause] I cando no such thing. I lay that when they comply with the Constitution, when they have given sufficient evidence of their loyalty and that theycan betrusted. When they yield obedienceto the law, I say extend to them theright. hand offellowship, and let peace and Union be re stored. [Loud cheered,