THUBSDAY, APRIL 20, 1865. THE HEW ADMINISTRATION. On the principle that the Amerioan Re public, like the unchanging maxims upon ■which It is founded, never dies, and that our most eminent sons may pass away, but that the indestructible foundations upon which our institutions reßt remain unshaken as the eternal hills, Andrew Johnson has taken up the reins yielded to him by Ms illustrious and lamented predecessor, and I may be said fairly to commence the ae j tive duties in the continuance of the Go- I vemment. We have no desire to overstate j the responsibilities of the Executive, but ir |j g right that we should face" and understand I them. The Chief Magistrate chosen by 'the American people in November of 1860 had many apparently insuperable obstacles to overcome; but after the people became educated to war, their re sources and their determination organized great and conquering armies, and sus tained and stiffened the Government in all its 1 departments, civil and military. With the "conquest of the insurgents, however, and the prospect of peace, came other novel duties, and it is these that President Johnson will have to meet and to master. There are two questions—although of not immediate, yet of crowning importance— that will remain for adjustment by Con gress. These were foreshadowed in the speech of President Lincoln on the eve ning of the 11th of April. We allude to the proposition whether in counting the votes of the States on the amendments of the Federal Constitution ; abolishing slavery, those only that have adhered to the Union should he' counted—not including the seceded' Commonwealths; also the proposition whether a State applying, as Louisiana applied at the: last session, for admission under her new Constitution, shall be retaken into the Union with her twelve thousand loyal ! voters. We take it for granted that upon i'these Important questions' Andrew John son concurs with Abraham Lincoln. have never understood him to take the ground that Tennessee, for instance, was not of the Union because the traitors frau dulently claimed to have carried her into [treason. If this were his belief, then he would not have assisted in the constitu tional reorganization of that Common wealth and participated in the election of j Governor Bbownlow and the legislature | how in session at Nashville; Andbew I Johnson stands upon the principle \that to refuse to count the votes of States holding the relation of Tennessee, Louisiana, a&d Arkansas to the Go vernment is practically to recognize the light of secession, and, by parity of rea soning, it is cleaT that two-thirds of the thirty-six States of the Americs|n Union -must be obtained to ratify the amendment of the Federal Constitution, and also that 1 it is the duty of Congress to admit them, [ after having organized free governments, |to the National Councils. But without the concurrence of Congress neither of these i important measures can be consummated, j The reduction of the public-debt Will be [ one of the first duties of the people, as well as of the Government, and in this work [ Lieutenant General Grant has happily > led the way in his four celebrated recom-‘ : mendations enunciated by the Secretary of [ War, several days ago, which included the disposition of useless vessels,, the cessation • of the draft, the cutting down of supernu merary generals and other officers of the [army, and the gradual diminution of all [the machinery, civil and otherwise, ih [ eluding the entire system of provost mar shals, made necessary for a state of active i hostilities. To this programme he has [ added the reopening of all the Southern ports, for the purpose of encouraging fo reign and domestic trade. But these most essential reforms will demand that what we have retaken and repossessed in the South Shall not be lightly given up—that the laws of Congress, as well of confisca tion as of the punishment of the traitors, shall be rigidly and - sternly enforced; and, to this end, that a large stand ing army shall be kept in -every | doubtful' State, - and a watchful and 1 vigilant navy along our entire sea-board. « Connected ■with this policy will be the care and discipline of the manumitted blacks of under the salntaiy legislation of Con S Tess - Here is a problem of difficulty and importance—one it o energetic and fertile mind k’iiMofeegw President. ” the forfeiteSSpSpSlftSis^irthe South is ” another matter for serious reflection. In one of Governor Johnson’s speeches he intimated his desire to transfer to the hands of the brave men who had aided in con quering the rebellion, and who wanted remain in the South, the propsrty which, ’ in the hands of its old rebel owners, had become neglected and made, Bimply the means of supporting them in their idle and luxurious effeminacy. The remodelling of the revenue system, the readjustment of the tariff upon foreign importations, and the preparations for the gradual approach to specie payment, are classed among the imperative and pressing obligations of our public servants. But while the ma chine of [Government is so securely set tled in all its grooves, and is moving smoothly ailqiSg'-’rits accustomed path, this is, we submit, no time for a called session of Congress. The subjects involved in the overthrow .of the rebellion may well, in deed they may better be temporarily con flded to public discussion than to be thrown, rude and raw into the chaldron of debate after such events as those ; through which we have just passed and are now passing. Intermediately and Lbefore the assembling of the peo ple’s representatives becomes necessary, [ let us give to Andbbw Johnson a hearty and undivided support—the influ ence of our best counsels and our truest energies.' If generously backed, he will carry us safely through; and if the people are unfaltering and confiding, there will be ! little left to Congress but to ratify their ex pectations. This they have always been I *o Abraham Lincoln; and this we be lieve they will be to bis successor, Ah , drew. Johnson. The Glory and the Shame of the Confede- No’gr that the rebel capital, for which w,e long battled in vain,'has fallen into our possession, hosts of able correspondents are daily crowding the columns of loyal Jour nals with graphic pictures .of its condition. The; accounts of what has occurred, and of what has been discovered, since" its occu pancy, coupled with the events that fol-, lowed its capture, abundantly prove the wisdom of the popular instinct which pointed to Richmond as the citadel of the •rt hellion. Its fall involved the loss ofthe flower of the Secession army, and the .de struction of the last rational hope of the champions Of the lt was tit® Tuicano from which burst forth the overwhelming lava-tide that has swept so many brave men to destruction, and laid waste so many fair fields and flourishing towns. There were hatched the schemes, and there were issued the orders, which so unhappily prolonged onr fearful civil strife, with its- attendant horrors. En throned in all the majesty of Satanic power, there the arch-traitor of the Con federacy issued Ms imperious edicts, and, ruling with a rod of iron, overawed and crushed opposition to Ms usurpation by a system of terrorism, oppression, and cruelty unparalleled in the bloodiest and blackest records of the most fiendish monsters that have disgraced the human race. The Popular Peeling. . Deeply as we sympathize with the popu lar feeling upon the base and cruel murder of Abraham Lincoln, our late President, we must equally reproach the unnecessary "violence displayed by the people in so many instances when they feel that they have been in some sort justified by the antece dents of the individual. But when such an instance happens as that which occurred at the corner of TMrd and Chestnut streets, we feel hound to remonstrate, with the agents in the commotion, and most decided ly to condemn, their action. One man struck another upon Monday last, suppos ing that he had spoken disrespectfully of the President. Almost instantly the cry of “ Copperhead’ 1 was started, and the ex cited crowd became wild in their efforts to. kill Mm. Officer Kendig ‘ fortunately rushed into the crowd, and bjr hard work succeeded in running Ms prisoner to the station house amid violent cries of “kill the Copperhead!” ,■ ! . ; TMs individual was a strong ;Union mam His name was Simon Sntder, and. he re sided on Noble street, above Sixth. He had voted for , the late President,.in 1880 and 1864, and had invariably supported the, , present Administration. Thus it will be! seen that an Union man suffered simply ; because he was called a Copperhead. That what he said /was true,;is vouched for by the Chief of Police, whoj had known him from boyhood. . ! , ■ .We call attention tothis fact ifor the.pur pose of showing our readers the absurdity involved in taking from, a casual expres sion of opinion or a momentary excla mation, the prejudice which maly induce them to resort to physical violence. In striking on the impulse—however patriotic —of the moment, they will very probably bring disgrace upon their profession of po litical faith, by the manner in which they develop it While saying this, we feel with the People in their present great be reavement, ana sympathizing ! with their 1 indignation, would justify them in all which, may be said by them ia reference to it. Abraham Lincoln iu Independence Hail. We reprint oh this day the report of the speech of the late President Abraham Lincoln in Independence Hall, in this city, on February 22, 1861, Washington’s Birthday, when he was on hiS route to Washington for the purpose ofhis Inaugu ration. It was Ms first speech in Philadel phia, and the portions which we have itali cised give evidence both that he looked' forward to the probability of assassination; and that what he said or did, he was, Gad willing, “ready to die by.” I ain filled -with deep emotion at flrqllhgmysolC standing here in the place where to gether the wisdom, the patriotism, the devotion to principle, Bom which sprang the Institutions under widen we live. You have kindly suggested to me thatin my hands Is the tasfcol restoring peace to our dlstraoted country. I oan eay la return, sir, that all the political sentiments I entertain haje been drawn, so far as I have been /able to draw them, from the sentiments which originated, and were given to the world from this hail in whioh we stand. I have never had a feeling, politically, that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence. I have often pon dered over the danger# which jwere Incurred by the men whir assembled here, and adopted the Declaration of Independence. I have pondered over the toils that were endored by tte oEEjew and soldiers of the army who achieved, that independ ence, I have often inquired of myself, what great principle or idea it .was shat kept tnia Confederacy so long together. It was not the mete matter of the separation of the eolontoa from tie mother land, hut something in that Declaration gwloap liberty, not alone to the people of this country timt hope for the world tor all future time. It was asst which gave promise that In quo time the weight# should he Ufted iiom the shoulders of all men, and that all should have an equal oaanool This W the sentiment embodied in the Declaration ol Independ- ence,, .1.. "■■■■. How, my-frjpnds, can this ooniitry'be saved upon thathaqlßl li it oeh, I will consider/myself one -of‘ the happiest men in the world it I can help to save It. If it can’t be eared upon that priooiplo, it will he truly awful. Bvtifthie country cannot tie sotted without giving up that principle, I wet about to sag I would rather be attastintled on tbit spot than to sur render it. Now, to my view of the present aspect or affairs, there Is no need of bloodshed and war. There 18 ns necessity for It. lam not In favor, of suck a course, and I may say in advance there will be so bloodshed unless It be forced upon the Government. TheGo* vemment will not use foroe unless force Is need ■■gainst it. [Prolonged applause, and cries of “That’s the proper sentiment.”] My friends, this is a wholly unprepared speech. I did.not expect to be called upon to say a word whonl cams here. I supposed X was merely to do something towards raising this dag. I may, therefore, have said some thing Indiscreet. But J have said nothing but what l aw trilling to live by, and, in the pleasure 0j- Almighty God, die by. » . We reproduce this Teport vqrbalim, the President himself having mentioned to. our Reporter that it "was the .most faithful verbal interpretation ih type of any of his speeches wbich had ever been made. We reproduce it, not on account of tMs, but with the simple Impulse to lay before our fellow-citizens the fiißt wordß ever uttered in public in this city by Abbaham LitK" coin— the more especially as they iß&rk the idea which had so frequently oWruded itself upon his mind, that he ipjght ulti mately become the victim ofg&ctioaal ven geance. Jf Virginia is still thar refuge of many of the worst traitorsthie Government. They feel up their old toeefiiagjawflßßpM days gone by, it sight to see a hundred and fifty human beings carried through the city of Washington from Maryland and from the adjacent counties in Vir ginia, on their way to the far South, to be' sold into life-long fortpre; and this horrid traffic was nowhere so profitable and so notorious as in parts of Maryland and Virginia. It has left its natural fruits in the dvinds of those who flourished upon it. r Hence we must not be surprised if the relics of this barbarism should' continue, like a dapgerous disease,, to pojson and to disturb the peace and .the prosperity of what was once*called the Old, but what is now soon to be the New Dominion. As we passed along the beautiful river of the James, on our way to Richmond, a few days ago, anficontenfplaterl the noble country, alternately champaign and val ley, we reflected-upop the wonderful and healthy innovation that would be produced if this ffuitM soil, ns# and heretofore held by .a few aristocratic slave-owners, should be parcelled amoig the enterprising and baTdy farmers ofe Middle Pennsyl vania. It is a common thing for one In dividual to own five hundred or a thou sand acres in Virginia, while through the West, and especially in Pennsylvania, the farms are small and compact, well-cared for, afil economically managed, so asto.be productive of the largest profits. All this, however, will be changed when in the course of time a new population is poured into these regions. It will be like new life suddenly infused into a languishing and sinking body. \ Ore of the overwhelming arguments in favor of the'fihandal system of the Federal’ Government, and in support of the theory that the best way to crush the rebellion is by the force of aims,.i® found in the sud den worthlessness of the paper trash issued by Utterly irredeem able and odiotfifa|s:if was: before the fell of Richmond and 'the * suraCßder of Lee’s army, the whole mass, after these events, perished almost in a night; and from the Potomac to the South Atlantic it was of no more use to the holders than so many dry leaves. As a citizen of Richmond said to ms—“ I could not take five bushels of Confederate money down to .the Balti more ships which are moored at Rockett’s wharf, filled with provisions and clothing, and buy a pair of socks or a bushel of po tatoes.” This is a much more eloquent argument than one of the long speeches of the ablest advocate of Southern inde pendence. T It re stated that a iriovement is on foot in the Southern States, headed by many of the leading politicians,' for submitting to the conditions of Mr. Lisroonst’a ’ammesty proclamation and the laws of Congress, asking only the modification of the statutes relating to confiscation. Op THE two fugitives from human and Divine vengeance—Jefferson Davis and J. Wilhes BooTH—which is the worst, the unsuccessful murderer of his country, or the successful assassin of the Chief Ma gistrate of the Republic ? THE LINCOLN OBSEQUIES. LETTER FROM “ OCCASIONAL.” Washington, April 19, 1865. It is precisely four years since the mob at Baltimore fired upon the Massachusetts volunteers on. their way to the defence of Washington. How strange it is that the anniversaries of some of the brightest and some of the saddest events should have been greeted by a great victory or a great calamity ! Lee fled before the triumphant legions of Meade on the Fourth of July. Grant captured Yieksburg on the same day. Lincoln fell .on the anniversary of the evacuation of Fort Sumpter, 'and Ms honored corpse is borne to its rest ing place on the same day when, four years ago,, the first Northern blood was shed by traitor hands. And yet more ex pressive still—and I name it not to be be trayed into irreverent comparisons—our Good President, after all his acts of for giveness of the enemies of Ms country, died at their hands, on Good Friday, the of the Crucifixion of. the Son of God and the Saviour of man. And I firmly be lieve that if Mr. Lincoln could have spoken after the fatal shot of the assassin.had shattered his brain, he would have ex claimed of his murderer: “ Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And why did they not know it ? Becausa they were taking the life of their best friend—he who had pardoned so many of t|ieir associates, and who, only three eve nings before, had spoken authoritative words of clemency and reconciliation. And do we ever reflect, in the midst of oar grief and wonder that such a deed should have stained'this age of, progress and refine ment, that Abraham Lincoln could have died at no time. when his surpassing excellence would have shone with so rare an effulgence f He passed from us as the land was echoing with songs of joy over the triumphs of liberty. He entered upon eternity- as a pious people were thanking God that He had stricken our country’s foe. How much better than if he had gone from us in the gloom of na tional despondency ! Even as ths sum mons came there was a wondrous peahe at his heart, and a felicitous sense of duty done. No monarch ever had such a funeral. Although not so elaborate and ornate as the pageant of .the dead Eighth Henry, or the return of Napoleon to the ' soil of France after he had fretted and smouldered away in the rocky island of the sea, it was the proudest tribute ever paid to the memory of an American President. The suddenness and the manner ofhis death! intensified the na tional sorrow, and called forth a’burst of popular gratitude without a parallel. I wish-1 could describe the wondrous scene. It was a lovely day. The air 'was filled with the perfume and the harmonies of. jocund spring. Crowds had come frbm.all the States. The Government was'typified -in Andrew Johnson; the army was repre sented by Grant and Ms staff; the navy by FarragutandMssea.lions; the Judiciary by Chase and Ms associates; the Cabinet, the Congress, the departments, the freedmen, the released prisoners, the penitent rebels, '&& clergy, the professions, fit People the base of the mighty pyramid, the foundation of private rights and public safety. I-leave to oi3ieij||pthe -filling up of the picture. Let me ijllrow from an old-fasMoned New beauttfhl'wfhlit'hihe wove for MTashington; that I may lay it on the great flag that-covers and canonizes all that is left of Abraham Lincoln: ! j ; ‘ Before the splendors of thy highjjenown,. How fade tbeglow worm iastresofa crown; How sink, dimlulflhsu, in that radiance lost, The glare of conquest, and of power the boast! Let Greece herAloander’a dteiiß proolalm, - '■ Or Ciesar’e trinmpt s gild toe Romanhame; Strips of thed&zzlujg glare around them oast, Shrinks at their crimes humanity aghast. With equal olaim to honor’s glorious meed, See Attila his bourse of havOolead; - X O’er Asia’s realm, In one vast rain trail'd, • See furious Zinge’s bloody flag unfurl'd. , On base far different from the coameror’s clialm Bests the nnsnllied column otthy fame— His, on the graves of mligons proudly based; r ./■; With blood qemented, and wlth thars defaced'; Thine, on a nation’s welfareffxedsabHme; I B] Freedom strengtUened’jraffrevered by Time. He, as the comet, whoae'pOrSntons light Spreads baleful splendor o’er the gloom of night, With dire amazement oblUs the startled . . While storms and earthquakes, dreadTta -course . attest; And nature trembles, lest In ehoos husl>