The Van Buren press., 1866-09-01
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER /, 1888.
National Convention and the President

Natl0nal Vouveutl0u oAu wv
The great National Convention com
posed Of the brightest talent and purest
patriotism of the country, adjourned on
the 18th of August, after three days of
the most harmonious action ever known
in's political body of similarproportions
in this country. The croakers and Rad
icals who predicted tmnultuous disrup-
ton, because Of incongruors elements,
are completely foiled, and their calcula-
tons non-plused. Among other things
the Convention appointed committee,
of which that old wheel horse, Reverdy
johnson, was Chairman, to wait on the
President of the United States and pre-
sent him with an authenticated copy o.
the proceedings. In fulfilling this duty
an neseruy johnson TOOK oacasfVn ~
address the President in short and most
able speech in which he took decided
grounds against the puritanical bigotry
which has for over eight months been stri
wing to bring about another civil war,
and has been doing, and is still doing,
all in its power to prevent a reunion of
the States. At the conclusion Of his re-
marks he handed the copy of the procee-
dings of the Convention to the Presi-
dent On receiving this additional testi-
monial of the confidence of the people,
through this peoples convention, the
President was almost overwhelmed with
his emotions, and, for some time, seemed
unable to control his, feelings sufficiently
to command language to return his
thanks, and express his conviction of the
fact that the finger Of Providence was
manifest in all this Heavowed his abb
ding faith in the people Of this Union,
and felt that they justify and uphold him
in his unequal struggle against n corrupt
and besotted Congress Hereiterated the
leading features of the policy he had
adopted, and expressed himself entirely
of the opinion that itmust prove a sue
cessfut one, as its foundation was COM
mon Justice reasoh and the Federal Con
stituton,, He Indignantly spnyned the
idea of Executive yaranny, which the
base corltlptiomstsIof' Congress, and the
Radical party generally, have attempted
to charge upon him. He made d most
pertinentapd happy aIlusion to the wise
saying of Thomas Jefferson, that Tyr
amy can be more easily exercised blythe
many than the ono. " The reckless dis
regard Of the provisions Of the Federal
Constitution, of which Congress have
been guilty, and the attempt to centralize
power in the General Government to the
utter disregard of State rights, is a
standing instance of the truth Of Mr.. JEFF
ferson's saying. The resolution to dis
tribute the arms to the loyal people of the
States, although it has unaccountably
created but little interest in the country,
is yet q step of the greatest moment preg-
nant with danger to the country, and an,
other evidence of the disposition Of Con.
gress to adopt despotic and tyrannical
measures The President then alluded to
the importance of the Convention, pro,
nouncing it the most important ever con
vened in the United States since | 7s7. HI
reply to the charge of desireto become
q adespot he cursoriy alluded to the pow.
er Congress attempted to put in his hands
by the anti Constitutional and antirepub.
hcan measures called the Freedman's Bu
fea'i and Civil Rights bills. With these.
the army, $40, or 800 100000 of appro.
priations at his disposal, all to be direct,
ediand controlled by him alone, in his
own language he could have proclaim.
ed himself Dictator" His refusal to ac-
cept THIS power does not look much as if
ne desired to perpetuatc his powerat the
expense Of repablicanism. .,uo'arG ea
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