The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-04-26
Nh %

''l'N''ehS Va
mon sense, that tyranny and despotism
can be exercised by many more vigor-
ously and tyrannicallv than by one.
WhatpoWer has your President to be q
tyrant: What can he do? What can
he originate? Why they say he exer-
cses the veto power! 4 voice, "To put
down the Niger" Laughter
Who is your President9 Several
voices, ANDY Johnson" Is he not
elected by the people through the cleo
toral colleges? The President is moth
ing more than tribune of the people,
His office is tribunal in It's character. In
olden times, when tribunes were first
elected by the Roman Republic, they
stood at the door of the Roman Senate.
What was there encroaciIing on the
popular rights and putting the heel of
power on the neclls of the people? The
people choose q tribune, and placed him
at the door Of the Senate, SO that when
the body yentured on oppressive acts, he
was clothed With the power to say TIVE
TOT forbid. Your President is now
the tribune of the people, thank God, l
am, and | intend to assert the power
which the people have placed in me.
Cheers.
Is your President, standing here day
after day and discharging his duty, like
VIZ u ttiNl OCCGlUSG ilNt
dare differ in opinion in regard to public
measures, he must be denounced as q
usurper and tyrant. Can he originate
anything under the veto power? | think
the veto power is conservative in its
character. All that can be done by the
veto power is to say, when legislation is
improper, haSty, unWiSa, Unce Institution
al-"Wait till this can be submitted to
the people and let them consider wheth-
er it is right or wrong" Applause.
That is all there is in it. Hence / say
that tyranny and power can be exercised
somewhere else than by the Executive.
He is powerless. All that he can do is
to check legislation-to hold it in state
and understand what is being done.
Then what has been done? Ihave done
what l believed the Constitution requir-
ed me to do. Applause. | have done
what believed duty and conscience re-
quired me to do. Cheers. So believ-
ing, intend to stick to my position, re-
lying on thejudgment, the integrity and
the intelligence of the masses of the
American people, the soldiers and sailors
expressly. Cheers. Then, for my life,
| cannot see where there is any tyranny.
1t is very easy to impugn motives and
suspect the purity of the best acts of
mans life. If you come forward and
propose a certain thing your motives are
withhold your opinion you are regarded
as being opposed to the matter, so that
it is very hard to move one way Or the
other, so far as certain parties are con-
cerned, on all questions pertaining to the
interests Of the masses of the American
people, for in them is my hope and the
salvation of the country.
/ am with you citizens, soldiers and
sailors. Who has sacrificed Or periled
more than the humble individual who
addresses you? Has not my all been
put upon Tiny life, my property p
Everything sacred and dear to man have
been staked upon it, and could 1 now be
suspected of faltering at the close Of this
third ordeal of the nation?
Who is he, in public or private life,
who has sacrificed more, or who has de-
voted more of his time and energies to
the accomplishment of the great end,
than [? And have done it from the
promptings Of my own heart and con-
science. l believe was right, and with
your help and your countenance and
your encouragement, shall go through
on that line! Cheers and laughter. +
And when l come to talk about sailors
and soldiers, about this to be done and
that to be done, all L want is Tor you to
wait and see, so far as the future is con-
cerned. Wait and see if / do not stand
by you, although every other may falter
and fall Cheers. want to see mea-
sures of policy brought forward that will
advance the interests of the people-of
that portion Of the people who have con-
stituted the gallant and brave men who
in both branches Of the service, have up
held the national flag and sustained the
country in the recent struggle.
l thank you gentlemen, for the encour-
ment. I thank you for your counte-
nance on this occasion. 1t cheers me ON,
and gives me strength to perform the
work before me. If we are true to our
selves, five are true to the Constitution,
the day is not far distant when this Gov
eminent will be restored. Let us go on
and restore the Government. Let us en-
large the erea OF our commerce and trade.
Let us not only inspire confidence at
home, but respect abroad, by letting the
nation resume its career Of prosperity
and greatness. I know that some will
find fault with me, and say I am too
Tenant to kind land all that. If we were