The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-08-21

| ing to Gen. Grant, who stood at his right
while they have won laurels imperishabls,
| there are still greater and moro important du-
| ties to perform and, while we have had their
oo-ouorasion IN the field, We now need their
eappoft in ear efforts 70 perp6tuate peace.-
loud cheers.l So far as the executive de-
| partment Of ahe government - concerned, the
effort has BEEN made TO restofs the Union, %
heal the breach, to pour oil INTO the WOUNDS
which were consequent upon the struggle,
| aud, TO speak in common phrase, TO pfspare
as the learned and wise physician would, a
plaster, healing in character, oosxtensiVe
with the wound. Loud cheers. we thougnt,
and yet think, that we had partially succeed
cd, but, as the work progressed, as reconoih-
alton seemed to be taking place. ana the
| country becoming united we found disturb
ing and marring element opposing US:
In alluding to that element l shall 60 no
| further than did your convention, and the DIS
tinguished gentleman who dvhvsred 70 me
the report of its proceedings. shall MAKE
no reference to il that do not believe the
time and occasion justify. We have witness.
ed In one department OF the government.
every pos ible effort, as it were, to prevent
the restoration of peace and harmony in the
Union.
There Is on the verge of the govsrnment,s'
it were, body which assumed to be the con-
gre-s of the United States, but in fact con-
gress of only part of the states. We have
seen this congress assume, and pretend 10
be for the Union, when its every step and act
tended to psrpetuate disunion, and TO make q
disruption of the states inevitable instead OF
promoting reconciliation and harmony -
Its legislation has taken the form of retail
alton. This has been the course and policy
1 e Iaw. e
The humble individual rho Is now address
sing you, s,snes the repro tentative of Anoth-
err department of the government. The man
ner in which he was called upon to occupy
that position, / shall not sllude to now. SUI
fee to cay, he is here under the constitution,
and being here, by virtue of its provisions,
he takes his stand upon that charter of our
liberties, as the rampant of civil and religious
, liberty. Prolonged cheering. Having been
taught in my early lite to hold it sacred and
, having praetlcod upon it during my whole
public career, shall ever continue to rever-
ence that constitution tho constitution OF
the fathers of our country,-and to make 1t
} our guide. Enthusiastic cheers. 1 know
, it has been said, and must be permitted tc
indulge in the remark, that the executive de
, PAL tment of the government has been "tyran
: ical." Let mo ask this audience of dlstin
guished gentlemen around me here to-day, te
: point to vote ever gave. to speech ever
made, to Il single act OF my whole public lite
that has net been against tyranny and des
: potism.
0 As to myself the elements Of my nature,
and the pursuits of my life, have not made
e ne either in my feelings or in my practice
C aggressive,-my nature on the contrary II
rather defensive In it1 character, but i vii
f say that, having taken my stand upon tn,
4 broad principles of liberty and the constita
, ton, there lie not power enough On eartl
g to drive me from ID. Prolonged cheering.
i Having placed myself upon that brosc
t platform, have not been awsd, dismayec
D intimidated by either threats or encrosch
9 ments, but have stood there in conjunction
It with patriotic spirits, sounding the tocsin o
# alarm whenever 1 deemed the citadel of lib
9 erty in danger. Great applause. sai,
& on previous occasion, and repeat now. tina
!, all that was Decessr ~ in the great struggl
against tyranny and despotism, Was that tn
b struggle should be sufficiently audible 70
J. the American people to hear, and prOperl,
d understand. They did hear, and looking OF
o and seeing who the contestants were, an
what the struggle was about, they determin
e ed that they would settle this question on tn
i eide Of the constitution and Of princrple.-
9 Cries of that's so and applause.
u | proclaim here to-day, as have on othe
e occs sions, that my faith is abiding in III
t great mass of the people. In the darkes
r moment of the struggle, when clouds seen
n ed be most lowering, my faith instead of Civ
y log away. looked mp through the dark cloud
n far beyond | saw all would be safe in tn
s. end Chssrs.
Y My eountrymen, we all know that in tn
: language of Thomas Jefersan, tyranny an
}. despotism even can be exercised and exer,e
i more effectually by the many than the ONT
n We have seen a congress gradually encroscf
: step by step, upon constitutional rights, an
violate day after day and month after month
" the fundamental principles Of the govermen
), We have seen congress that seemed to for
e get that there was a constitution, and tbs
n there was limit to the sphere and scope o
y legislation. Renewed cries OF chats So"
!. We have seen a congress in a mnorit
IF assume to exercise powers, which if Above
l. to be carried out would result in despotisl
D. or monarchy itself. Cries of that's So,
: and enthusiastic cheers given for the pres
It dent.
= This is truth, and because others as we
n as myself have seen proper to appeal to th
i. patriotism and republican feeling OF the cour
try, we have been denounced in the mo,
t. severe terms.
n SANDER upon SANDER, vituperation upo
II vitu operation, of the most villainous chara
a teTs las uaoe its way through the puDl
d press. What. gentlemen, has been your an
II my sin? What has been the cause of on
ii offending? l will tell you. Daring to stan
Is by the constitution of our fathers. =
d Cheers.
i" The president here approached the spC
g where Senator johnson was standing, an
y said:
/ consider the proceedings of the CONVEX
:, ton, Sir, as more important than those of an
- convention that ever assembled in the Unite
~ Slater. Great applause. When / loo
with my minds eye upon that collection
citizens, coming together Voluntarily and eli
ting in council, with ideas, with principl,
, and vievH, commensurate with all the state
l. and coextensiye with the whole people, an
a. contrast 10 with the collection of gentlems
a who are trying to destroy the country, / r
gard it as more important than any CONVEX
ton that has sat at least since 1857. Lou
* ohsers.) think may soy also, that 81
= declarations that were there made are ecu,
J to the declaration of independence itself, au
here today pronounce 1t q second declar,
y ton of Independence. Cries of glorious,
and most enthusiastic and prolonged al
y plause. Your address and declarations al
- nothing more nor less than q reaf6rmatiot, ,