Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-04-05
The VlCe.Presldenl's Speech al the In
alIgnrNllOn,
IIum lhe MashIngI0n NI0ho. !

IRON the Washington dlohol
The Vice President elect Hon, Andrew johnson,
Of Tennessee In reply to the question whether he
was ready 10 take hGoathD am, Thon turning 10
the senate he soid senators | am here to-day as
the chosen Nico-Presdent Of the United States, and
Ms such, 10y constitutional provision | am made the
presiding officer Of this body, therefore present
myself here In obedience 10 the high bchests of the
American people to discharge constitutional duty
ana not pl~umptiousy TO thrust myself In II posi-.
uon so exalted, May at this momentum may not
be irrelevant to the oCCuslon-adver TO the work.
ng- Of our institutions under the Constitution which
our fathers framed and Washington approved, MS
exhibited by the position In which stand before the
American Senate, IN the sight Of the American peO-
plef Deem me not VAN or Arrogant yet | should
bc less than man If, under such circumstances /
were not proud Of being an American citizen, for
to-day one who claims 40 high descent one who
comes from the ranks Of the people, stands by the
choice Of a free constituency in the second place in
this Government Ihcro may be those to whom
such things are not plcaslugi but those who have
mbured for the contamination OF II tree Government
will appreciate and cherish institutions which OK.
clude none, however obscure his origin from PLACES
Of trust aud 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 but the creatures Of the Ameri-
San people, your cXnltatOn Is from them the pow
cr OF TINS Government consists in It's nearnoss 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 assocates-yOu know that you have my re-
.pcct and my ConlidcnCe-dcryc not your greatness
and your power alone from President Lincoln
Humble ms ! am, pcbeian ms | may be deemed per-
NIT me- in the presence Of this brilliant bage
TO cnunclutc the truth that courts and cabinets the
President ana his advisers, derive their power and
their greatness from the people, A President could
not exist here forty eight hours if he were us far re-
moved from the people rs the autocat of Russia is
separated from his subjects, Here the popular heart
sustuins President and Cabinet officers the popular
will gives them all their strength. Such an asser-
ton Of the great principles OF this Government NAV
DO considered out Of place, and will not consume
the time Of these intelligent and enlightened people
much longer; but could not be nsensible to these
great truths when l. plebeian elected by the peo-
pie the Vice President of these United States am
here to enter upon the discharge of my duties For
those duties | claim not the aptudeoi my respected
predecessor. Although | have occupied seat in
both the House of Representatives and the Senate
am not learned in parliamentary law, and shall BE-
dependent on the courtesy Of those Senators who
have become familiar with the rules which are re-
Qui.tc for the good order of the body and the dis
patch of its business. ! have only studied how |
may best advance the interests Of my State and of
my country, and not the technical rules of order;
and if | err / shall appeal to this dignted body of
Representatives of States for kindness and indulg-
ence.
Before conclude this brief inaugural address, in
the presence of this Nudience--and |, though pie.
bcian boy am authorized by the principles of tho
Government under which live to feel proudly con-
scious that | am man, and grave dignitares are
but men--belore the Supreme Court the representa-
tives of the foreign Gov ernments Senators and the
people, desire to proclaim that Tennessee, whose
representative have been, is free She has bent the
tyrant rod, she has broken the yoke Of slavery and
to-day she stands redeemed. She waited not forthc
exercise of power by Congress it was her own act
and she rsw as loyal, Mr.. Attorney General, as
is the State from which you come 1t is the doc
uine of the Federal Constitution that no State can
70 ont of this Union; and moreover, Congress can
not eject Il State from this Union. Thank God, Ten
nessee hns never been out of the Union. 1t is true
the operations Of her Government were for time
interrupted; but she is still in the Union, and am
her representative This day she elects her Cover
nor and her Legislature, which will be convened on
the first Monday OF April, and again her Senators
and Representatives will soon minge with those OF
her sister HUatcs, ana VINO snul guinsuy it, for the
Constitution requires that to every State shall be
guaranteed II republican form of government?
now am prepared to take the oath of office and
renew my allegiance to the Constitution of the Uni
ted States