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cilities are granted for the restoration of the rebel States； and that he is presenting improperly and unnecessarily hurrying forward the work of reconstruction； and that he is offering improper facilities for restoring those who have been engaged in the rebellion to the possession of their civil and political rights。
It is one of my purposes here this evening to show that so far as his policy of amnesty and reconstruction is concerned； he has absolutely presented nothing new； but that he has simply presented； and is simply continuing THE POLICY WHICH MR。 LINCOLN PRESENTED TO THE NATION ON THE 8TH OF DECEMBER； 1863。 Mr。 Johnson's policy differs from Mr。 Lincoln's in some restrictions it contains； which Mr。 Lincoln's did not contain。 His plan of reconstruction is absolutely and simply that of Mr。 Lincoln； nothing more or less； with one difference only； that Mr。 Lincoln required that one…tenth of the people of the disloyal States should be willing to embrace his plan of reconstruction； whereas Mr。 Johnson says nothing about the number； but； so far as it has been acted upon yet； it has been done by a number much greater than one…tenth。 * * * Their plans of amnesty and reconstruction cannot be distinguished from each other except in the particulars already mentioned； that Mr。 Johnson proposed to restrict certain persons from taking the oath； unless they have a special pardon from him； whom Mr。 Lincoln permitted to come forward and take the oath without it。 * * * That was Mr。 Lincoln's policy at the time he was nominated for re…election by the Union Convention at Baltimore； last summer； and in that convention the party sustained him and strongly endorsed his whole policy； of which this was a prominent part。 MR。 LINCOLN WAS TRIUMPHANTLY AND OVERWHELMINGLY RE…ELECTED UPON THAT POLICY。
In his last annual message to Congress； December； 1864； he again brings forward this same policy of his； and presents it to the Nation。
Again； on the 12th of April； 1865； only two days before his death； he referred to and presented this policy of amnesty and reconstruction。 That speech may be called his last speech； his dying words to his people。 It was after Richmond had been evacuated。 It was the day after they had received the news of Lee's surrender。 Washington City was illuminated。 A large crowd came in front of the White House and Mr。 Lincoln spoke to them from one of the windows。 He referred to the organization of Louisiana under his plan of amnesty and reconstruction； and in speaking of it he gave the history of his policy。 He said：
In my annual message of December； 1863； and accompanying the Proclamation； I presented a plan of reconstruction； as the phrase goes； which I promised if adopted by any State； would be acceptable and sustained by the Executive Government of this Nation。 I distinctively stated that this was a plan which might possibly be acceptable； and also distinctively protested that the Executive claimed no right to say when or whether members should be admitted to seats in Congress from such States。
The new constitution of Louisiana； （said Mr。 Lincoln） declaring emancipation for the whole State； practically applies the Proclamation to that part previously exempted。 It does not adopt apprenticeship for freed people； and is silent； as it could not well be otherwise； about the admission of members to Congress。 As it applied to Louisiana； every member of the Cabinet approved the plan of the message。 * * * Now； we find Mr。 Lincoln； just before his death； referring in warm and strong terms to his policy of amnesty and reconstruction； and giving it his endorsement； giving to the world that which had never been given beforethe history of that plan and policystating that it had been presented and endorsed by every member of that able and distinguished Cabinet of 1863。 Mr。 Lincoln may be said to have died holding out to the Nation his policy of amnesty and reconstruction。 It was held out by him at the very time the rebels laid down their arms。 Mr。 Lincoln died by the hand of an assassin and Mr。 Johnson came into power。 He took Mr。 Lincoln's Cabinet as he had left it and he took Mr。 Lincoln's policy of amnesty and reconstruction as he had left it； and as he had presented it to the world only two days before his death。 MR。 JOHNSON HAS HONESTLY AND FAITHFULLY ATTEMPTED TO ADMINISTER THAT POLICY； which had been bequeathed by that man around whose grave a whole world has gathered as mourners。 I refer to these for the purpose of showing that Mr。 Johnson's policy is not a new one； but that he is simply carrying out a policy left to him by his lamented predecessora policy that had been ENDORSED BY THE WHOLE NATION IN THE REELECTION OF MR。 LINCOLN。
Again Gov。 Morton said：
An impression has gotten abroad in the North that Mr。 Johnson has devised some new policy by which improper facilities are granted for the restoration of the rebel States and that he is presenting improperly and unnecessarily hurrying forward the work of reconstruction； and that he is offering improper facilities for restoring those who have been engaged in rebellion； to the possession of their civil and political rights。 It is one of my purposes here this evening to show that so far as his policy of amnesty and reconstruction is concerned； he has absolutely presented nothing new； that he has simply presented； and is SIMPLY CONTINUING THE POLICY WHICH MR。 LINCOLN PRESENTED TO THE NATION ON THE 8TH OF DECEMBER； 1863。
The following are extracts from Mr。 Johnson's Message to Congress； in December； 1865； on the re…assembling of that bodythe first session of the 39th Congress。 Indicating； as it did； a policy of reconstruction at variance with the views of the Congressional leaders； it may be said to have been another incident out of which arose the conditions that finally； led to his impeachment。 Mr。 Johnson said：
I found the States suffering from the effects of a civil war。 Resistance to the General Government appeared to have exhausted itself。 The United States had recovered possession of its forts and arsenals； and their armies were in the occupation of every State which had attempted to secede。 Whether the territory within the limits of those States should be held as conquered territory； under Military authority emanating from the President as head of the Army； was the first question that presented itself for decision。 Military Governments； established for an indefinite period； would have offered no security for the early suppression of discontent； would have divided the people into the vanquishers and the vanquished； and would have envenomed hatred rather than have restored affection。 Once established； no precise limit to their continuance was conceivable。 They would have occasioned an incalculable and exhausting expense。 * * * The powers of patronage and rule which would have been exercised； under the President； over a vast and populous and naturally wealthy region； are greater than； under a less extreme necessity； I should be willing to entrust to any one man。 They are such as； for myself； I should never； unless on occasion of great emergency； consent to exercise。 The wilful use of such powers； if continued through a period of years； would have endangered t