The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-03-01
SPEECH OF
HON. ANDREW JOHNSON
OF TENN ESSEE,
On the Crisis

In tho course of tho debate in tho u. S
Senate, on Tuesday, Fob. 9Th
MIR. johnson (Dem., Tenn.) said that in {
former speech bo thought he had placed
himself on the Constitution with the fathers
and against tho doctrine of notification anC
secession, which no considered to bo a ma
tional heresy. As far back MS 1893 he bad
planted himself on tho same principles. and
believed tho doctrine of secession to be an
| enemy, which, if sustained, would load to
tho destruction o! the government; and he
| opposed the doctrine to-day for tho same
reasons. lie beloved it would bo tho de-
struction also of any government which
might be formed subsequently. Ha looked
upon this doctrine us prolific southern po-
IltIchl sin, MS production of anarchy, which
was the next step to dospotism. But once.
when he made speech on the 18th of Jan
uary, he had boen attacked and denounced,
but he was inspired with confidence that
he had struck treason blow, and men who
wore engaged in it being traitors, felt the
blow. llis object now was to meet attacks.
On Yesterday wo had quito scono, piece
Won played, gotten up to order, and the
pieces well memorizcd.
whether anxious mournors were prepared
for the occasion, he could not saw. Tho
Senator from Louisiana, (Mr. Benjamin J
had argued that his State had violated no
obligation,as sho was not bought for price,
but had her sovereignty simply handed over
in trust. He, Mr.. johnson, then read from
the first article Of the treaty of ccssion of
Louisiana, claiming that 1t was explicit tina,
the conveyance of absolute jurisdiction and
control to tho United States of the property
and sovereignty, both were conveyed to the
people of the United States. 1t was not,
as represented by the Louisiana Senator,
any good will of tho French, but the Unitcd
States bought this property and sovereignty
for 40 many million dollars. Then the Sen
ator from Louisiana portrayed the enormity
of the wrongs done to Louisiana, till he, Mr..
johnson, almost thought Marc Antony had
como back, and expected to hear tho Soma
tor oxclaim: IF you havo tears to she'd pro-
pare to shed thom now" What are these
dreadful wrongs? Tho United States bot
her, paid sixty million francs for her, and
then admitted her into the Union.
Was any oppression and wrong thoro;-
Was there any wrong when, at the battle OF
Now Orleans, Kentucky. who, thank God,
stands firm to-day, and Tennessee, who, ho
hoped, will stand firm with Kentucky, wont
to the help and saved that city from Pack
enham? How much pro lection has she had
for sugar: Is this another wrong: Then
where are tho wrongs which justify Lousi-
ana to-day in leaving tho Government, in
violation of tho rights of .all the States of
the unionl Without consulting even Ken
lucky or Tennessee, who defonded hor, she
has taken the forts, arsenais and mint of
the United States. He said this reminded
him of tho fable Of tho frogs and their king
Log, who got dissatisfied with tho wrongs
received, and took king Stork, who began
to devour them;that South Carolina had got
King Stork now, and Louisiana will have
him whom they mako heavy appropriations
for war.
There was largo portion of people who
think that thoro have been aggressions, and
that something ought to DO done; but thorc
was another part. who arc afraid that some
thing may be done, being for reconciliation.
lie reforred to speech of the Senator from
Louisiana. when hc said, since tho election
OF Lincoln, those Who prate disunion arc
like silly savages who shoot at the sun, but
the sun still runs on. What changed the
Senator's mind so soon: He claimed that
the Senator from Virginia. MIR. Hunter, was
forced to the conclusion, after careful think
ing, that secession was not right given by
tho SonsututlOH, anu tnaL Do would De Will
ing to regulate il so that no STATE should 90
out of tho Union without the consent of the
rest.
But, when Jefferson, undor the confedera
ton of said States. had tho right to compel
the obedience of u State, he (Mr. Johnson)
would as soon take the opinions of the Old
DomiGion's earlior statesmen as the ater
ones. Ho argued at some length the ques-
tion of coercion; claiming great differ
ence between tho enforcement of the laws
and what was called coercion of States. Ho
quoted the Richmond Enquirer of 1914,
referring to the Hartford Convention, and
saying that no State had right to withdraw
from tho Union, and that resistance against
the law was treason. calling on the govern
ment to arrest the traitors, for the Union
must be saved at all hazards. He said he
subscribed fully to those opinions. But was
il treason : The constitution says: /: "Trea
son consists in levying war against the Uni
ted States. or adheriDg to an enemy and
giving him aid and comfort"
Does II need any search to find men levy
ing war and giving aid and comfort to enc
mics against the United States Treason
ought to be punished, North and South,