Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-08-29

villainous character has made its way through
the public press What has been the cause
Of our offending? l will tell you daring TO
stand by the Constitution of our Fathers.
loud cheers)
The President here approached the spot
where Senator johnson was standing, and said
consider the proceedings of this conven-
ton, sir, as more important than those OF any
convention that ever assembled in the United
STATES. (Great applause.) When | look
with my minds eye upon that collection OF
citizens coming together voluntarily and cit
ting in council with ideas, with principles
and views commensurate with all the states
and 60 extensive with the whole people, and
contrast them with the gentlemen who are
trying to destroy the country, L regard IL as
more important than any convention that has
sat at least since 1887. loud chcers.) L
think l may also state that the declarations
that were there made are equal with the Dec
aration of Independence itself, and here to-
day | pronounce it seconi Declaration OF
Independence. (Cries of GLORIOUS" and
most enthusiastic and prolonged appause)
Your addresses and declarations are nothing
more nor less than re-afhrming OF the Con
stitution of the United States. Ceres of
good" and cheers.) Yes, L wall go further,
and say that the declarations you have made,
that the principles you have enuncated In
your aUQroeS, are sccOuu frOcihindtiOu Vi
Emancipation to the people of the Uni'ed
States (Applause), for in procaimlng AID re-
p:oclaiming these great truths you have laid
down constitutional platform upon which
| all can make q common cause and stand TO-
gether for the restoration of the statesand
preservation of the government without rel
erenee to party. (Cheers.) The question
| only is the salvation of the country, for the
| country rises above all party considerations
4 Aak..a
| How many are there In the United States
that now require to be tree, that have the
shackes upon their limbs, and are bound rs
rigidly as though they were in fact In slavery!
| | repeat, then, that your declaration is the
| second Proclamation of Emancipation to the
people of the United States, and offe1s coul-
mon ground upon which all patriots can
| stand. (Cheers.)
| Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen, let me in
this connection ask you what have to gain
more than the advancement of public welfare
| am as much opposed 10 the indulgence OF
egotIsm as any one, but here, in q CONVERSE
| tional manner, while formally receiving the
| proceedings of this convention, L may be per-
mit:ed again to ask what [ am to gain by
consulting human ambition more than have
gained Except in one thing, my race is
nearly run. have been placed in the high
Office which | occupy under the Constitution
y,
from the lowest to the highest, almost every
/ position to which man may attain In our
government. [ have pa sed through every
position, from an alderman OF a village TO the
Presidency of the United States and surely,
/ gentlemen, this ought to be enough to gratliy
q reasonable ambitlon. If | wanted author
Ity, or if | wished to perpetuate my own
power how easy it would have been 30 hold
and WELD that " hIch was placed IL my hands
h,rt ha, n aI rpaE
bill daughter and applause), with an army
which 1t placed at my discretion.
| could have remained at The Capital of the
United States, and with its fifty or sixty mil
Ions OF appropriations at my disposal, with
the machinery to be worked by my own hands,
with my satraps and dependents in every
town and village. and then with the Civil
r ghts bill following as an auxiliary (laugh
ler) In connection with all the other appll-
, ances of the government, L could have pro-
| olaimcd myself dictator {crics of - that's
rue" and three cheers for the President) ;
but gentlemen, my pride and my ambition
nave teen TO occupy that position which re-
taIns all power the hands of the people.
(Grea: cheering.)
r Ii is upon that have always relied it is
upon that rely now. "a voice. The pso-
pie will not disappoint you.") And repeat
that neither the taunts nor The Jeers of Con-
Sfees, nor OF q suDolulLSQ press
! can drive me from my purpose. (Grear ap-
plause.) L acknowledge no superior except
nay God, the Creator of my existence, and the
= people of the United States. (Prolonge
cheers.) For the one, try to obey all his
I commands as best may, compatible with my
= poor humanity for the other, in q political
g and representative sense, the high behests OF
: the people have always been respected and
0 obeyed by me. cloud cheers.)
III MIR. Chairman, | have said more than | in-
: tended to say, tor the kind allusions to my
: self contained IN your address and in the res
5 olu tions adopted by the convention. Lot NE
# remark that this crisis and at this period
= of my public life, shall hold above all price
b and shall ever recur with feelings of profound
= gra .ifcatlon, to the last resolution, containing
d the endorsement of the convention, emanating
: spontaneously from the great mass of the peO-
|, pie. Cloud cheers.) l trust and hope tha,
L my future action may be such that you anc
the convention may no. regret the assurance
{? of confidence you have expressed of me
0 (Cries of " we are sure of it.'')
l., Before separating, my friends, one and all
O committee and strangers, please accept my
e sincere thanks for the kind ma nlfestations D
is regard you have exhibited this occasion
d | repeat, l shall always continue to be guiteC
!. by firm and conscientious onviction of du
IS ty, that always gives me courage under th
5. Constitution, which l make my guide.