Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-03-31
VICE PRESIDENT JoHNsON,s SPEECH.

VICE PRESIDENT JOHNsON's SPEECH.
Much has been said by the daily press inle-
gard to the speech of the Vice President, at his
Inauguration, and of the condition in which he
appeared before the Senate and the country 10
assume his obligation. The condition Of the
Vice President was bad enough certainly, but
we see nothing in the speech itself 50 very de-
serving ofridicule or censure. The following
is the speech as published in the Congressional
Globe:
The Vice-President elect, (Hon. ASDREw
JOHNSON, Of Tennessee, in reply to the question
as TO whether he was ready to take the Oaih.-
| am. Then turning to the Senate he said:
Senators. am here to-day as the chosen
Vice President of the United States, and as such
by constitutional provisions, ann made the pre-
siding officer of this body. l therefore present
myself here in obedience to the high behests of
the American people to discharge 4 coDstitu-
tiOnal duty, and not presumptiOusly to thrust
myselfin in position 50 exalted. May ] at this
mOment-it may not be irrelevant to the Occss-
iOn-advert to the workings of our institutions
under the Constitution which our fathers franz
ed and Washington approved, as exhibited by
the position in which | stand before the Amer
lean people? Deem me not vain or arrogant;
yet | should be less than man If under such cir
cumstances, / were not proud of being an Amer
lean citizen, for to-day one who claims no high
descent one who comes from the ranks Of tho
people, stands, by the choice of free eonstitn
ency, 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 cOnsummation OF free government viii ap-
preciate and cherish institutions which exclude
none, however obscure his origin, from places
of trust and distinction. The people in short
are the source of all power You, Senators, YOU.
who constitute the Bench of the Supreme Court
of the United States, are butthe creatures of the
American people; your exsltation is from them;
the power of this Government consists in its
nearness and approximation to the great mass
Of the people. You Mr.. Secretary Seward; Mr.
Secretary Stanton, the Secretary of the Navy,
and the others who are your assOeiates-yOu
know that you have my respect and my con-
fidence-derive not your greatness and your
power alone from President Lincoln. Humble
as am, plebian 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, derive their
power and greatness from the people. A Presi-
dent could not exist here forty EIGHT hours if be
we're as far removed from the people as the au-
tOcrat of Russia is separated from his subjects
Cabinet officers; the popular viii gives theu
all their strength. Such an assertion of the
great principles of this Government may be cOn-
sidered out of place, and l viii not consume
the time Of these intelligent and enlightened
people much longer; but l could not be insen-
sible TO these great truths when !, plebian.
elected by the people the Viee-President Of
these United States, am here to enter upon the
discharge of my duties. For those duties
claim not the aptitude of my respected prede-
eessor. Although 1 have occupied a seat in
both the House of Representatives and the Sen
ate, am not learned in parliamentary law, sDd
shall be dependent ON the courtesy of those
Senators who have become familiar with the
rules which are requisite for the good order Of
this BODY and dispatch Of its business I have
only studied how j may best advance the inter
ests of my State and the good Of my country.
and not the techniehal rules Of order; and if
err l shall appeal to this dignified body Of rep
resentatiyes of States for kindness and indul-
gence.
Before conclude this brief inaugural address.
in the presence of this audience-and I, though
plebian boy, an authorized by the principles
OF the Government under which | live 10 feel
proudly conscious that | am man, and grave
dignitaries are but men-before the Supreme
Court, the representatives of foreign Govern
ments Senators, and the people desire to pro-
claim that Tennessee, whose representative
have been, is free. She has bent the tyrsnts
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 row as loyal Mr. Attorney
General, as is the State ron which you come
II IS the doctrine Of the Federal Constitution
that no State can go out of this Union; and
moreover, Congress cannot eject a State from
this Union.
Thank Godl Tennessee has never been out of
the Union. 1t is true, the operations of her gov
ernment were for time interrupted; but she is
still in the Union, and | am her representative
This day she elects her Governor and Legisla-
ture, which viii be convened ON the first Mon
day OF April, and again her Senators and Rep
resentatives vii soon mingle with those Of her
sister States; and who shall gainsay it; for the
Constitution 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 lInited States