Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1865-05-17
SPEECH OF ANDREW JOHNSON
OF TENNESSEE,

inc resolt'to" asking for the appointment o.
a committee TO Investigate tie facts attendigr
NE attack upon Haper'S Ferry, in the fall
q 1902 commonly known as lie ",Jouy
BRowN RAID"
| Mr.. JOHNSON, of Tennessee, said
Mr.. President, | regret that this resoln.
tlon, when it was first introduced. could
not have passed without discussion. II
seemsd to seek for information TO which
the country was entitled and was more
than anxious that the country should be
furnished with it, without looking at the
question IN party aspect. But it has
tufhed out differently, and regyet that
II has. The discussion has taken pretty
VIDE range, involving party politics gem
eraiIy and the range which it has taken
mas rendered it incumbent on me, occu-
pying the position do, to say a few words
upon the resolution, and to answer some
remarks that have fallen from Senators
during this discussion 1t is my inteu-
tion 10 do 1t in proper spirit, and | trust
and hope | shall not be led beyond the
boundary Of propristy and courtesy.
Before proceed, however, to the line
of argument. that intend 10 present on
this occasion, | wish 10 notice some few
remarks which fell from the Senator from
Illinois, Mr.. Trumbull {; and intend.
atier noticing his remarks, to show that
what has recently occurred at Harper's
Ferry, IN the shape OF an iusurrection, or
invasion, or treason, or by whatever name
You may think proper TO call il, has been
the legitimate result Of certain teachings
in this country.
In the discussion of Thursday last, the
Senator from Illinois attempted to Law
down the doctrine Of the Republican par
ty and TO give his construction of that
doctrine. In doing so he called our at
tention to their platform, which, he says.
Is mere reiteration of the declaration of
independence. (at least that is the idea, J
as 1t was formed by our fathers. TO make
myself ineligible and distinctly under
Stood, will read that portion ofthe plat
form which he quoted
"ReSolUci. I hat, with our republican
fathers, we hold il to be self.eyident
truth that all men are endowed with the
inalienable right of life, liberty. and the
pursuit OF happiness, and that the prima-
ry object and ul,erior design Of our Fed
f5dli li9yffr:9o@assnd ujAio q ,cyapAA Ahssevrjah%
diction."
As the discussion progressed, drawing
deductions from this part Of the platform,
the Senator seemed 10 think was
the tenor of his argument-that by reit-
Grating the Declaration OF Independence
in this platform. they were embracing
the doctrines laid down by Mr.. Jefferson,
and showing that he really ment TO in
1 - -, h,,1,r,,,r..
and that such was the understanding Of
our revolutionary fathers. | LnoT that
sometimes it has been saiS., aad changes
hrve been runF on it, that Mr.. Jefferson,
the apostle Of Democracy and of liberty,
laid down the doctrine that all men were
created cqu0., that they had certain in
alienaJle rights, that among these were
| life, liberty, ard the pursuit Of happiness.
Nov, il seoms TO me, that party, an in
tellgcnt party that understands all the
doctrines and principles OF our Govern
ment, in this does great injustice TO that
! instrument and TO the trainers Of the
| Constitution of the United States. When
We take the Declaration of Independence
and connect it with the circumstances un.
der which il was written, is there a man
throughout the length and bredth of this
broad Republic who believes for one in
slant that Mr. Jefferson, when he penned
il, had the negro population in his mind ?
Notwithstanding, he says that "all men
are created equal, and that they are by
| their Creator endowed with certain inal-
ienabe rights, that amongst these are
life liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" "
is there an intelligent man throughout the
whole country, is there Senator, when
he has stripped himself oc all prejudice,
who will come forward and say that he be-
lieves that Mr.. Jefferson, when he pen
ned that paragraph of the Declaration OF
! independence, intended il 10 embrace
the African population? ? Is there a gen
tleman in the Senate who believes any
such thing Is thsre any one who will
stake his reputation on the assertion that
that is the correct Interpretation of the
Declaration of Independence? There is
not man of respectable intelligence who
will hazaid his reputation upon such an
assertion Why then indulge in this dd
captdndum discussion Why try to delude
and deceive the great mass Of the people
by intimating that Mr.. Jefferson meant
Africans or the African race? How were
we situated when Mr.. Jefferson penned
the Declaration Of independence Did
he not own slaves? Did not most Of the
persons in the Congress which adopted
the Declaration own slaves, and after the
Declaration was adopted, by way of Civ
ing correct Interpretation to it, what do
we find Incorporated in the Constitu-
tion OF the United Statesi Were negroes
then considered the persons who were
embraced in the Declaration Of lndepen-
dence? Were they not considered as
property In fixing the repr tation,
slaves we're regarded as property, and on
ly three fifths of them were to be coun
ted, clearly recognizing that they were
one Of the forms Of property, and not per
sons intended to be embraced in the Dec
laration of Independence. as contended
by some. think it is clear:
What more was provided in the Con
sttution of the United States, by way OF
| giving n olpar oonstrl,plion to the Dec, a.