, 1865-03-23

We take the earliest opportunity to present
to orr readers the speech Of Hon. Andrew
johnson, as it. appears ofle!al1y in the Con-
gressional Giebe Of the 18th inst: s.
The Vice-Ptesldent elect, (Hoh. Andrew
johnson, OF tennessee, II am. Then turn
ing .othc senate, he sald J Senators: nm
here to-day as the choten Vice. e.Pfcsidcnt of
t,onal provision um 1uade the presiding 9th
Ger Of tits body. i therefore present myself
hero in obedience to the high behests OF the
American people to discharge constitutional
duly, and not presnmptuellsly to thfuss my
self ~ position go exalted. May at this
tasiop-adyrrt 10 the. workings Of our instl.
tu1l.ns under. the Constitution which our
fathc. finmed rnd Washington approved, as
exhibited By the position in which stand
betore the AneItcan Senate" In the sight OF
the American people, Deem me not VAN or
arrogant yet l should be less than man If
under tuch circumstances, I wcro not
prond OF = being on, American citizen,
for to-duy one who claims no high descent,
tne Tiap comes frttn the r1nks OF tho peOE1e,
stands, by nethnice of free constituency,
In tie second place in this Government.
There May be these to whom such things are
not pltssirg; but those who have labosed fur
the consuumntiou Ut o free government wall
apprcciatc and cherish institutions which tx
clude none, however obscure his origin, frum
places OF trust and distinction. Tie people,
in SHIRT, are the soutce Of all power. You,
the Supreme Eourt Of the United States, are
hut lie crt atutcs Of the American people
your eXalta ton Is fiom them the power Of
sttls Government consists in Its neaf1tess aud
approximation to the great mass OF the peo-
pie. You, MIR. Secretary sewnrd, Mr. Secre-
the others vito aso your associates knoW
that YOU Lave my respect and my confidence
derive not your greatness and your power
alone frum President Lincoln. Humble g. !
am, plebeiun as mag be deemed, p.rmit me,
in the Iesepce Of this brilliant &sscmblaye,
to ennnciate the truth that courts and caoi-
ntts, the President and Ills advisors, derive
their power aad their greatness from
the peoplc. a. President could not
exist here tor torty-ei.ht hours If he were
as far removed frum the people as the a7to-
c1nt Of RUSSIA Is separated from. his subjects.
and Cabinet Officers; the popular will gives
them all their strength. Such an assertion
Of the great principles Of thus Government
may be Considered out Of place, and will.
not CONSUME the time Of these Intelligent
md ensel,ened people much longer; but 1
WHEN !, ptcbeian, elected BY The people the
Wee President of these United States, am
here to enter upon the discharge OF nv du-
ties. For those duties claim not the apti-
tude OF my respected predecessor. Although
| bare occupied seat In both the House of
Representatives and the Senate, I am not
learned in parliamentary Inv, and shall be
dependant upon the courtesy OF those Sena-
tors who have become familiar with the rules
which are requisite for the good order Of the
body and the despatch Of its business. have
only studied how may best advance the In
tctests Of my State aud Of my country, aud
not the technical rule Of order; and II err
T f.a %Fs$ Ind kna,, 1F
scntat1ges OF States Tor kindness and indul-
gcnce.
Before conclude this brief inaugural nd
dress, in tho presence of this audicnc AND
!. though q plebt Ian boy, am authorized BY
the principles OF the Government under
am man, and grave disnltarles are but men
before the Supreme. Court, the 1cpreseuta-
uEes oil foreign Governments, Senators, md
the people, desire to proelnlm that Tennes-
see, whUse representative have been, Is ftee.
She has bent the ty.ant's rod, she has broken
the yoke Of slavery. and to-day she stands re-
deemed. She waived not for the exercise Of
power By Congress; 1t was ler Own act, and
she is now as loyal, Mr. Attorney General, as
Is the State frun which you come. It Is the,
doctrine Of the Federal Constitution TINT no
State can 60 out Of this Union; and more
oyer, CoEk ress cannot eiectn Siate from this
Cnlon. Thank God, Tennessee has never
a,ious Of her Government were for time in-
terrnRted; there was an inter7egnum bat
she is still in the Union, and am her repre-
sentative. This dag she elects hsr Governor
and her Legislature, which will be convened
On the first Monday Of april, and again her
Senators and Representatives will soon min
gle with those OF her sister States and who
shall ga,nsay 1t, for the Constitution requires
that to every state shall be guaranteed il re-
publican toln Of government.
EN- Low prepared to take the oath Of Of
ice, md renew my allegiance to the Conssi-
tuition Of the United States.