The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-04-11
Andrew Johnson at Home.
AN ELOQUENT SPEECH.
Interesting Revelations Of secession
in the Senate.
What he thinks of Breckenridge and
Benjamin.

Having announced in our paper of Fri
day and Saturday, that Hon. Andrew
johnson, Military Governor of the State Of
Tennessee, would address the people OF Da.
wilson county in the Capitol, we were not
surprised to find the hall well filed when
we arrived there at IL o'clock A. NJ, and
before the Governor arrived, twenty five
minutes thereafter, every available spot on
the floor and galleries was brought into
requisition to crafty the anxious crowd
who came to hear from the Governors own
lips, bis views on the momentuOus question
which now agitates not only the American
continent, but is felt by the powers and peo~
pie of the old world. Among the auditors
were several ladies, who were provided with
seats in front of the Speakers chair, and
who paid the most earnest attention to all
that was said, as did the entire audience.
One of the bands of the United States was
present, and performed several old time ia
vorite airs. At ll:25 the Governor arrived
accompanied by Hon. Horace Maynard and
other gentlemen. The Governor and MIR.
MAYNARD took seats at the Clerks desk,
when the band struck up Hail Columbia,
which being finished the Governor spoke:
I'VE can give only extracts from this
speech. We give, however, all that is of
Importance.
Why do we behold weeping fathers, dis.
consulate sisters, and broken hearted moth,
ers? Why is the matrOn clothed in black
and bathed in tears? Why is the disaster
brought upon contented and happy peo
pie? Why is our beautiful land-the asy-
lum of the oppressed of every cline
bathed in human blood? hope you will
keep up the inquiry, Why all this?
Permit me to make an iuquiry-in no OF.
fensive sense, but simply that may be un-
derstood--another inquiry: What right
has been denied, what privileges withheld,
what prerogatives lost, under the constitu.
ton and laws of the United States, by any
citizen thereof, and particularly citizen OF
Tennessee ? What one? Can you tell -?
Can you point it out? Can you take up
the constitution and call attention to any
right there guaranteed which you have
lost? Csn you see it-smell it-taste it
feel it? You may tax all your faculties,
and cannot tell what has been lost. What
excuse, then, is there for all this turmoil of
war? What has the South lost under the
constitution, that palladium of our liberties,
framed by the patriotic fathers of another
century? Slavery" is the reply. Where
has the institution OF slavery been invaded ?
Can any one tell?
was witness of the reign of terror
which followed the defeat Of Bell, Breckin-
ridge and Douglas, and when the election
was over REPAIRED to Washington. 1t was
there that Breckenridge showed the cloven
foot. South Carolina was basely and
adroitly attempting to dissolve the Union.
l saw Breckenridge and conversed with
him; told him the people were all disap-
pointed; that we had all been caught in a
snap; secessionists would break up the
Union. What was bis reply? "Can we
coerce State?" | remarked at is our
duty to save the Government. "Will you
c0erce 2" be again demanded. told him
not to deal in technicalties-the laws must
be enforced.
My interview with Breckenridge was like
an iceberg in my bosom. l was deceived
in him add discovered that Breckenridge
had no hope OF being eiected-~no hope but
for Kentucky and the Southern STATS. |
asked him if be was willing to disunite the
States b cause OF Mr.. Lincon's success,
and because Disconnected Sonth Carolina
agitatcd the subject? TO this question
Breckinridpe reojed in nd caDtn1oy,lm slapo
about suhiDyatinn and the horrors of ci.
vii conflict coavincino me that he had cone
into the arms Of djsunion. As he conld not
be President of nH the states he vaa WILING
f. divide tte,o ard become President 0f
mart OF theu, w. senarate3 lyon de
tajv.a M lien. ina, ygas yo,r f,,It. hnt
when v,u der,,ve me 90 IN # VII he
minc.''
In r..urf,i,, - my ntive s,,ta ofer
the OF pcaach 10 The opa ,anj md the
e-lst!iuton in the other. Vv;.h ard ,.r i
I come u Der;.h. II u.ed Ie--to nan, opt
nv k.oji : nee Etal,cG for ia nyts rva.
t.01 lA. i.d-.a. aoy.rumsut il MAJ, re-
soa.slge or tbs s;r hy the mn WHO have
aataI. lis horrors upon the copn,rv bv
cr.ipg cut their urctggdea riahts are zone
I.eJ Us forget al paIlizs and ,ormer associa,,
tions, aud sec tie question as it is.
We II Yos.ib!e for O.d Hickory 10 ra.
tpra anon. US. and see wat IS go,ng on
Wy