Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-03-29
Vice President Johnson.


Andrew Johnson as it appears officially
in the Congressional Globe of the 18th
inst
The Eice-President elect. (Hon An
drew Johnson, Of Tennessee | am. (Then
turning to the Senate he said y Senators
| am here to day rs the chosen Vice Pres
ident of the United States, and as such,
by constitutional provision am made the
presiding officer Of this body. | therefore
present myself here in obedience to the
high behestS. of the American people to
discharge 4 constitutional duty, and not
presumptuouslv to trust myself in a posi-
ton SO exalted May at this moment
1t may not be ire eyant to the occasion
advert TO the workings Of our institutions
under the Constitution which our fathers
framed and Washington appro ed, rs eX-
hibited 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 if, under such circumstances, l
were not proud OF being an American
citizen, for to-day one who claims no high
descent, one who comes from ranks OF the
people, stands bv the choice Of free
constituency, in the second place in this
Governments. There NAV be those to
whom such things are not pleasing; but
those who have laborea for the consum~
nation of Il free government VIII appreci-
ate and cherish institutions which exclude
none, however obscure his origin, from
places Of trust and distinction. The PEG
pie, in short are the source OF all power.
on, Senators, Won who constitute the
bench of the supreme Court of the United
States, are but the creatures of the Amerl-
can people vOnr exaltatiOn is from them;
the power of this Government consists In
its nearness and approximation to the
great mass Of people You, Mr. Secretary
Seward, Mr. Secretary Stanton, the Secra
tary Of the Navy, ard the others who are
vour associates--vou know that yGu have
my respect and nv coni!ence-derive
not vonr greatness and your power alone
from President lincoln Humble as
am, p!eheian rs NAV be deemed permit
ne, IN tie presence ot this brilliant as
Semhlage, to enunciate the truth that
courts and cabinets the President and
his advisors derive their power AID their
greatness from the people A President
could not exisf here for fortv-eight hours
if he We're rs far removed from the PEG
Dle as the autocrat Of Russia Ia separated
from his subiccts Here the nopullr heart
the popular Will gives them all their
strength, Such an assertion Of the great
principles of this Goyernment may be con-
sidere1 ont of place AMI viii not con
sumo the time of these intelligent and en-
liehtened people mulch longer bat | could
not be iusensible to these great truths
when |. plehcian, elected bv the people
the Vice President Of these United States
am here to enter upon the discharge Of
nv duties For those duties | claim not
the aptitude OF nay respected predecessor
Although have occupied a seat in both
the House Of Representatives and the
Senate. ! am not learned in parliamentary
law, and | shall be dependent upon the
courtesy OF those Senator's who have be
come familiar with the rules which are
requisite for the good order Of the body
and the dispatch Of its business | have
only studied how mnv advance the in
terests Of nv State and of my country
and not the technical rules of order; and
if CTR | shall appeal TO this di@nifed
body Of representatives Of States for kind
ness and INDULGENCE
Before conclude this brief inaugural
address, in tho presence of this audience
and J. thought plehean boy, am au-
thnrized bv the PRINCIPLES Of the Govern
ment under which live to feel proudly
conscious that | am n man, and grave digs
nitaries are but men-helore the supreme
Court, the representatives Of foreign Gov
crnments. Senator's, and the people, | de
sire to proclaim that Tennessee, whase
representative have been, IS free. She
has bent the tvrant's rod. she has broken
the yoke Of avery, and to-day she stands
redeemed She waited not for the exar~
else Of power by Congress-; it was her
own act and she i now rs Ioval Mr. At
torncy General, es is the State from which
Won come 1t is the doctrine Of the Fed
cral Constitution that 40 State can 90 out
Of this Union; and moreover, Congress
cannot cicct 4 State from this Union
/ Thank God. Tennessee has never been out
of the Union 1t is true, the operations
of her Government were for time inter-
/ rnptcd there was IN interre@num; but
she Is still in the Union, and | am her re
preventative This day she elects her
Governor and her Lecis allure. which wi il
lie convened on the first Nonday of April
and again her Senators and Representa-
tives viii soon mingle with those OF her
sister States and who shall gainsav it,
for the Constitution requires that to every
State shall he guaranteed q republican
form Of government
| am now prepared to iake the oath Of
Office. and renew my. ALLEGIANCE to the
Constitution Of the United States