The national Republican., 1861-06-24

be, rs It often has been, in the language Of
Andrew jackson: "The Federal Union, it
must and shall be preserved"
Mr.. johnson proceeded, referring to his
position in Congress You know the doctrine
laid down theu; and l can safely say that
the opinions l entertain now on the great
questions Of the day are just as they were then.
ihave not changed them. l have seen no rea.
son to change them. believe that a govern.
ment without the power to enforce its laws
made in conformity with the Constitution, is no
government at all. Applause. We have ar.
rived at that point or that period in our ma.
tionsl history at which il has become necessary
for this Government to say to the civilized, az
we'll as to the pagan world, whether it is in re.
ality government, or whether It is but pre-.
text for a government. Ii it has power to pre-
serve is existence and to maintain the princi.
pies of the Constitution aud the laws, that time
has now arrived. II it is a government, that
authority should be asserted. say, then, let
the cipiiized acorld see that zoe hare a gorern.
ment. Let us dispel the delusion under which
we have been laboring since the inauguration
of the Government in 1889; let us show that
it is not an ephemeral institution, that we
have not imagined we had government, and
when the test came that the government frit.
tered away between our fingers and quickly
faded in the distance. Applause. The time
has come when the Government reared by our
fathers should assert itself, and give conclusive
proof to the civilized world that it is reality
and perpetuity. Applause. ..#.
Let US show to other nations that this doc.
trino Of secession 10 heresy, that States com.
ing into the Confederacy, that individuals liv.
ing in the Conieaeracy, under the Constitution,
have no right nor authority, upon their own
vOlition, to set the laws and the Constitution
aside, and to bid defiance to the authority Of
the Government under which they live. Ap.
plause. ...
substantially cited the best authority that
could be produced upon this subject and took
this position during the last session Of Con.
gress. stand here to day before you and ad.
vocate the same principles then contended
for. As early as 1888, I say, l formed my
opinions in reference 10 this doctrine of seces.
sion in the notification Of the laws Of the
United States. held these doctrines up to
the year 1850, aud maintain them still. Ap.
plause.
entertained these opinions, as I remarked
before, down to the latest sitting of Congress,
and then reiterated them.. I entertain and
exnress them here TO night. Applause.
Referring to Eastern Tennessee, Mr.. johnson
said: q.
But while this contest has been going on, q
portion of our 'fellow.citzens have been stand.
ing up for the Constitution and the Union, and
because they have dared to stand upon the
great embattlement of constitutional liberties,
exercising the freedom aud the liberty of
speech, portion of our people have declared
that we were traitors; they have said that our
fate was to be the fate Of traitors, and that
hemp was growing, and that the day of our
execution was approaching-that the time
would come when those who dare stand by the
Consultation aud the principles therein EN-.
braced that the expiation Of these deeds
would be upon the gallows. We have met all
these things. We have met them in open day.
We have met them face TO face-toe to toe-at
least in one portion Of the State. We have
told them that the Constitution Of the United
States de6ues treason, aud that definition is,
that treason against the United States shall
consist only in levying war against the General
Government Of the United States. We have
told them that the time would come when the
principles Of the Constitution, and The law de-
fniug treason would be maintained. We have
told them that the time would come when the
judiciary Of the Government would be sustained
i'll manner that it could defne what was trea.
sou under the Constitution, and the law made
W SohioIp'ty WIN ~, anu tuat Wnen uenheu,
they would ascertain who were the traitors, aud
who it was that would stretch the hemp they
had prepared for us. Applause.
l know that in reference to myself and
others, rewards have been offered, aud it has
been said that warrants have been issued for
our arrest. Let me say to you here to. night
that am no fugitive, especially no fugitive
from justice. Laughter. If were fngi.
tive, l would be u fugitive IRON tyrauny-a iu.
gihve from the reign Of terror. But, thank
God, the country in which ] live, and that di.
vision Of tho State from which hail, will re-.
cord vote Of $4,000 against the secession
ordinance. The county in which I've gave
a majority Of 2,OO7 against this odious, dia.
bolical nefarious, hell.born and hellbound
doctriue.
TIE speaker continued in a strain similar to
the above for about fifteen minutes longer, and
wound up with . heart.,trring appeal for the
preservation Of the Union.
Mr.. johnson closed amidst great and enlhu.
sias.ic applause.
He was followed by Hon. Emerson Ether.
idse, in an earnest, eloquent, aud patriotic
speech, which the crowded state Of our col
umus to-day prevents US from publishing.