Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-03-23
AYDY JOHNsON'S SPEECH.
The "Eevised and COrFected'' IDauKu'
raj speech OF An0y johnson, a. tt
appeared m the Congressional
Globe

The Vice-President elect, (HON. An
DREW JOHNSON, of Tennessee, In reply to
the question IS TO whether he was resdy
to take the oath am. Then turning to
the Senate he said: Senators. I am here
to-day as the chosen Vice President OF the
United States, and as such, by constitu-
tional provision, I am made the presid-
ing officer of this body. I therefore pre-
sent my self here In obedience to the high
behests of the American people TO dis
charge constitutional duty, and not pre-
sumptuously tothrustmysslf ins position so
exalted. May at this moment-it may
not be irrelevant to the occssion-adVert
to the workings Of our institutions, under
he Constitution which our fathers framed
and Washington approved, ss exhibited by
the position in which I stand before the
American Senate, in the sight Of the
American people? Deem me not vain OF
arrogant; yet l should be less than man
if, under such circumstances, were not
proud Of being an American citizen, for
to-day one who claims no high descent,
one who comes from the ranks of the peo-
pie, stands, by the choice of free constitu-
ency, in the second place in this Govern
ment. There may be those TO whom such
things are not pleasing; but those who
have lsbored for the contamination of 8
free government will appreciate and cher
ish Institutions which exclude none, how
ever 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 Su-
preme Court of the United States, are but
the creatures of the American people; your
exsltation is from them; the power of this
Government consists in Its nesrness and sp-
Proclamation to the great mass of the peO-
pie. You Mr.. Secretary Seward Mr.. Secre-
tary Stanton, the Secretary Of the Navy,
and the Others who are your associates
you know that you have my respect and
my conAdence-derive not your greatness
and yoIr power alone from President
Lincoln. Humble as 1 am, plsbeiau as
may be deemed, permit me, in the pres
ence Of this brilliant assemblsge, to enuns
ciate the truth that courts and cabinets,
the PRECEDENT and his advisors, derive their
power and greatness from the people. A
President could not exist here forty-eight
hours if he were as far removed from the
people as the autocrat of Russia is sepa-
rated from his subjects. Here the popular
heart sustains President and Cabinet Off
GERS; the popular will gives them sll their
strength. Such an assertion Of the great
principles Of this Government may be con-
sidered out of place, and will not con-
sume the time of these intelligent and
people much longer
but could not be insensible to these
great truths when ], plsbeian, elected BY
the people the Vice-Fresident of these
United States, am here to enter upon the
discharge of my duties. For those duties
claim not the aptitude of my respected
predecessor. Although have occupied
seat in both the House eff Representatives
and the Senate, am not learned in par
Iismentsry Law, and I 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 the dispatch Of its business. I have
only studied how may best advance the
of my State and Of my country,
and not the to -hnical rules Of order; and if |
1 err shall appeal to this dignifed body |
Of representatives of States for kindness
and indulgence.
Before I conclude this brief inaugural
address, In the presence of this audience
and !, though 8 plebet N boy, am author
lied by the principles Of the Government
under which live to feel proudly con-
sciOus that am a man, and grave digni-
taries are but men-befOre the Supreme
Court, the representatives. of foreign Gov
ernments, Senators, and the people, de-
sire TO proclaim that Tennessee, whose rep
resentative I have been, Is free. She hss |
bent the tyrsnt's rod, she has broken the
yoke of slavery, and to-day she stands re-
deemed. She waited not for the exercise |
of power by Congress; it was her own sct,
and she is now as loyal, Mr.. Attorney
General as is the State from which you
come. 1t is the doctrine of the
Federal Constitution that no State
can go out Of this Union; and
Congress cannot eject q State
from this Union. Thank God, Tennessee
has never been out of the Unionl It is
true, the operations of her Government
were for time interrupted; but she is still
in the Union, and I am her representative.
This day she elects her Governor and her
which will be convened on the
first Monday of April, and again her Sem
tors and Representatives will soon mingle
with those of her sister States; and who
shall gsinssy it, for the Constitution re-
ouires that to every State shall be guaran-
teed a republican form of government.
now am prepared to take the oath Of
cffice and renew my allegiance to the Con
stitution Of the United States.