Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-03-18
rHR REMARKS OF WOE PRESIDENT JOHN.

There nave Doen various statements 10 the Ell
feet that the remarks of Vice President John
con made in the Senate, on the occasion of be-
ing sworn into office had been. or would be,
.suspressed" in the official report but we find
It In Yesterdays Globe published In the regular
order Of the proceedings.
As the public idea OF his address on that oc.
casion has been gathe red m ainly from deta ched
sentences picked out by letter. writers to make
ND a piquant report and which do not really
give idea CT the address as whole, we pub.
lish it entire as subjoined:
Tie Vice President elect, Hon. Andrew John
son. OF Tennessee,) said Senators: am here
to-day as the chosen Vice President of the Uni
ted States, and as such, by constitutional pro-
vision ! am made the presiding officer of this
body. therefore present myself here in obe-
di.nce to the high behests OF the American peo-
pie to discharge q constitutional duty, and not
lresumptuousIy TO thrust myselt in position
SO exalted. May I at this momept-it may not
be irrelevant to the occaslon-advert to the
workings Of eur institutions under the Consti-
tuition which our fathers framed and Washing
ton approved, as exhibited by the position in
which stand before the American Senate, in
the sight of the American people Deem me not
vain or arrogant; yet should be less than man
il under such circumstances 1 were not proud
ofbeing an American citizen, for to day one who
claims no high descent, one who comes from the
ranks of the people, stands, by the choice of q
free constituency, in the second place
In this Government. There may be those to
whom such things are not pleasing, but those
who have labored for the contamination OF
free Government will appreciate and cherish
institutions which exclude none, however OBJ
scure his origin, from places Of trust2and dis
tinction. The people, in short, are the source
OF all power. You, Senators. you who constI-
tute the bench of the Sapreme Court OF the
United States, are but the creatures OF the
American people; your exaltation is from them;
the power of this Government consists ia its
nearness and approximation to the great mass
of the people. You, Mr.. Secretary Seward,
Stanton. The Secretary the
Navy, and the others who are your asssci-
ates-yeu know that you have my respect and
my confidence-deriven not ysur greatness and
your power alone from President Lincoln.
Humble as am, plebeian as may be deemed,
permit me in the presence OF this brilliant
assemblage to enunciate the truth that courts
and cabinets, the President and his advisers,
derives their power and their greatness from
the people. A President could not exist
here forty Eight hours If he were as far re-
moved from the people as the autocrat OF Rus.
STA is separated from his subjects. Here the
popular heart sustains President and Cabinet
officers the popular will gives them all their
strength. Such an assertion of the great prin-
ciples of this Government may be considered
out of pace and / will not consume the time
of these intelligent and enlightened people
much longer: butt could not be insensible to
these great truths when /, a plebeIan, elected
by the people the Vice President of these Uni
ted States, am here to enter Hpon the dis charge
of my duties. For those duties claim not the
aptitude OF my respected predecessor. AL
though / have occupied q sea- in both the
House of Representatives and tAe Senate, l am
not learned IN parliamentary law, and shall
be dependent on the courtesy of those Senators
who have become familiar with the rules which
are requisite for the good order OF the body and
the dispatch otfts business. have only studied
how / may best advance the interests Of my
State and of py country, and not the technical
rules of order; and if err shall appeal to
this dignified body of representatives OF States
for Kindness end indulgence.
Before conc Jude this briefinaugural address
in the presence OF this audienee-and L, though
q plebeian boy, am authorized by the principles
of the Government under which Ii We to feel
proudly conscious that am man. and grave
digni aries are but men-betore the Supreme
Court, the representatives OF foreign Govern
ments, Senators andthe people, desire to pro-
claim that Tennessee, whose representative L
have been, is free. She has bent the tyrauts
rod, she has broken the yoke OF slavery, and
to-day she stands redeemed. She waited not
for the exercise Of power by Congress; 1t was
her own act, and she Is TOw as loyal, Mr.. At
came. Il Is the doctrine OF the Federal Con-
sutution that no State caE go out of this Union;
and moreover Congress cannot eject a State
from this Union. Thank God, Tennessee has
never been out Of the Union! 1t is true the
operations OF her government was for a time
interrupted; there was interregnum; but
she is still in the Union, and l am her repres-
entative This day she elects her Governor
and her Legislature, which will be convened
on the first NJ onday Of April, and again her
Senators and Representatives will soon ningle
with those of her sister States; and who shall
gainsay it, for the Cons titution requires that to
every State shall be guaranteed republican
form OF government
now am prepared to take the oath Of office
and renew my allegiance to the Constitution of
the United States,