Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-06-27
Andrew Johnson on the Traitors.

Andrew Johnson on the Traitors
On Tuesday of last week Hon. Andrew
johnson of Tennessee arrived at Cinein-
natl on his way to Washington, and met
with most brilliant reception. He de-
livered one Of his powerful speeches to the
crowd, from which We make the following
extract, commencing it TO the atten-
ton of those peaceful" gentlemen who
are endeavoring to lead the democracy into
" Hartford Convention federalism :"
know that there has been much said about
the North, much said about the South. am
proud, here to-day, TO hear the sentiments
and the language which have been uttered in
reference 10 the North and the South, and the
relations that exist between these two sections.
am glad to hear it said in such a place as
this that the pending dificulties-I might say
the existing war-which are now upon this
country--dO not grow out Of any animosity
to the local Institution Of any section. | am
glad TO be assured that it grows out Of deter
mination 10 maintain the glorious principles
upon which the Government itself rests-the
principles contained in the Constitution-and
at the same time to rebuke and To bring back
as far as may be practicable, within the pale
Of the Constitution, those individuals, Or
States ever, who have taken it upon them
selves to exercise a principle and doctrine at
war with all government, with all association
political, moral and religious.
| mean the doctrine Of secession, which is
neither more nor less than 4 heresy-a fun
damental error-a political absurdity, com
ing in conflict with all organized government
~ 1, u.
and order in the United States, or wherever
else the odious and abominable doctrine NAV
be attempted to be exercised. | look upon
the doctrine Of secession as coming in con
fict with all organism, moral and social.
repeat, without regard to the peculiar insti-
tuition Of the respective States composing this
Confederacy, without regard to any govern
meut that may be found in the future or ex-
lists III the present, this odious doctrine Of Sc
session should be crushed out destroyed. and
ann1hIlated. No government can stand, no
religious, or moral, or social organization can
stand where this doctrine is tolerated Ii is
egrati9n-unVersal dissolvement-ma
king war upon everything that has a tenden-
cy TO promote and ameliorate the condition Of
the mass Of mankind. Therefore, | repeat
thatthis odious and abominabIe doctrine-you
must pardon me for using strong expression
i do not say it in a profane sense but this
doctrine | conceive to be he'll barn and Heil
bound, and one which will carry everything
in its train unless il is arrested and crushed
out from our midst.
We have arrived at that point or that per
iod in eur national history at which it has be
come necessary for this Government to say to
the civilized, as well as to the pagan world.
whether it is In reality Government, or
whether It is but pretext for Government
If it has power to preserve its existence and
to maintain the principles Of the Constitution
and the laws, that time has now arrived. Ii
it is Government, that authority should be
asserted. | say, then, let the civilized world
see that we have a Government. Let US dis.
pei the delusion under which we have been
laboring since the inauguration Of the Gov
ernmentin l7S9-lct Us show that it is MT an
ephemeral institution; that we have not i'm,
agincl we had Il Government, and when the
test came. that the Government frittercd away
between our fingers and quickly faded in the
distance. The time has come when the Gov
ernmcnt reared by our fathers should assert
itself and give conclusive proof t. the civil
ized world that it IS reality and pcrpe-
tuItY