The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-06-28
Speech OF Senator johnson.
RECEPTION OF Mr.. JOHNSON IN CINCINNATI

We find in the Cincinnati Gazette, Of Thurs.
day, full report Of the speech of Senator
johnson OF Tennessee, delivered in reply to an
address Of welcome from the Mayor Of that
city. Mr.. JohnsOn's reception was very en-
thusiastic. and his speech was patriotic and
eloquent. wecOPy from the report of The
Gazette:
SECESSION A HEREsY.
know that there has been much said
about the North, much said about the South.
am proud here Ia day, TO hear the senti-
ments and the language which have been ut.
/ tered in reference To the North and South,
and the relations that exist between these
two sections. (Applause.) am glad to
hear il said in such place as this that the
pending diiliculties-l might say the existing
war-which are now upon this country, do
not grow out Of animosity to the local insti-
tuition Of any section. (Applausc.) | am
glad to be assured that it grows out of de-
termination to maintain the glorious princi-
pies upon which the Government itself rests,
the principles continued in the Constitution,
and At the same time to rebuke and to bring
back as far Us may be practicable, within the
pale of the Constitution, these individuals,
or States even. who have taken it upon them
selves to exercise principle and doctrine at
war with all Government, with all associ-
alton - political, moral, and religious. -
(Applause.) mean The doctrine ofsecession,
,chich is neither more nor less than a heresy-
fundamental error-a political absurdity,
coming in conflict uih all organised yorern-
meni, with everything that tends to preserve
law and order in the United States, or where
ever else the odious and abOmnable doctrine
may DO attempted to be exercised. l look
upon the doctrine Of secession as coming in
conflict with all organism, moral and social.
| repeat without regard to the peculiar insti-
buttons OF the respective States composing the
Couiederacy without regard to any govern
ment that may be found in the future or ex-
lists in tho present, this Odious doctrine Of Sc
eession should be crushed out, destroyed, and
totally annihiidted. No government can
stand, no religious, or moral, or social organ.
ization can stand where this doctrine is toll
Grated. (Applausc.) 1t is disintcgration-
universal dissoly ement-making war upon
everything that has tendency TO promote
and ameliorate the condition of the mass Of
mankind. (Applause.) Therefore | repeat
that this odiOus and abominable doctrine
you must pardon me for using a strong ex-
pressiOn-I do not say it in profane sense
but this doctrine conceive to be hcll-born
and hcll.bound, and one which will carry
everything in its train, unless il is arrested
and crushed out from our midst. (Great
applause.)
TIE WAR NOT ANTI-sLAyERY.
In response TO what has been said to me
here to-day, confess, when lay my hand
ON my bosom. feel gratiiied ut hearing the
sentiments that have been uttered-that we
arc all willing to stand up for the constitu-
tional rights guaranteed to every State, every
community-that we are all determined to
stand up for the prerogatiyes secured to us in
the Constitution, us citizens of States compo-
sing one grand Contedcracy, whether we be-
long to the North or to the South, to the
East or to the West. say that lam gatiiicd
to hear such sentiments uttered here to-day.
regard them as the most conclusive evidence
that there is no disposition on the part ofany
citizens of the loyal States to make war upon
any peculiar institution of the South-(ap-
plauso. )-whether II be Slavery or anything
clse-leaying that institution, under the
Constitution. to be controlled by time, cir
cumstances, and the great laws which lie at
the foundation Of all things which political
legislation can control. (Applause.)
Mr.. JouNsoN's POSITION.
While am before you, my countrymen,
am in hopes it will not be considered out of
place for me to make single remark or two
in reference to myself as connected with the
present crisis. My position in the Congress
OF the United States during its last session is,
| suppose, familiar to most if not all of you
You know the doctrine laid down then, and
| can safely say that the opinions | entertain
now on the great questions OF the day are
Just rs they were then. have not changed
them. | haye seen no reason to change them.
believe thata Government without the pow:
or to enforce its laws made in conformity
with the constitution is no government
at all. (Applauss.) We have arrived at
that point or that period in our national
history at which it has become necessary
for this Government TO say to the civilized
as we'll as to the pagan world, whether
it is in reality Government, or whether
it is but pretcxt fora Government. lift
has power 10 TT serve its existence and TO
maintain the principles Of the Constitution
and the laws, that time has now arrived. IL
it is Government, that authority should be
asserted. Isdy, then, let the eirih:ed eorid
see that ,ce hare Government. Let us dis
pei the diffusion under which we have been
laboring since the Inauguration OF the Gov
crnment 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 the Government frittered 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
10 the civilized world that II is realty and
a perpetuity. (Applausc.)
Let us show to other nations that this doc
trine OF secession is heresy that States
coming into the Coniederacy, that individuals
living in the Confederacy, under the Consti-
tuition have no right nor authority, upon
their own violition, to set the laws and the
Constitution aside and TO bid defiance to the
authority Of the Government under which
they live. (Applause.)
substantially cited the best authority that
could be produced upon this subject, and
took this position during the last session OF
Congress. stand here to-day before you
and advocate the same principles | then con-
tended for. As carly as 1888 (lct me here
say that am glad to find that the commit
tee which have waited upon me on this oc-
casion, and have presented their sentiments
to me through their organ. am glad to
find that they represent all the parties among
which we have been dvided) as early as 1888,
| say, | formed my opinions in reference to
this doctrine OF secession in the notification Of
The Laws nf the limited Stntes. | held these