The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-08-20

| but here in a Conversational manner
while formsily receiving theproceedings
of this Convention, may be permitted
again to ask what have | to gain, con
sulting human ambition, more than ]
have gained, except in one thing2 MS
race is nearly run!l have been placed
in the high oitiGe which | occupy under
the Constitution of the country, and j
may say that | have held from lowest
to highest almost every position to
which nan may attain in our Govern
ment. have passed through every po-
sition from Alderman Of village to the
Presidency of the United States And
surely, gentlemen, this should be enough
to gratify reasonable ambition.
III wanted authority, or if | wished
TO perpetuate my own power, how easy
it would have been to hold and WELD
that which was placed in my hands by
the FreedmGn's Bureau Bill. Laughter
and applause With an army which it
placed at my discretion | could have
remained at the Capital of the Nation,
and with tft, or sixty millions ofapprO-
priations at my disposal, with the
machinery TO be worked by my satraps
and dependents in every town and
village anh thea with the Civil Rights
bill fultuNi0g insauxiliary, Laughter,
in connection with all the other appli-
ances of r',s Government, could have
proclaimed myself dictator. ["Thats
true" anu applause.
Is But, gci.iIemeD, my pride and NY an
bition lave been to occupy that
position, which retains all power in
the hand, al th.'peOple. Great cheer
ing. IT, Is rpDn thatI have always re-
lied it i, @pnn that l rely now, A
voice-"A"d the people will not dis
appoint yon;" aud repeat that either
the taunLs lr'n jeers of Congress, nor of a
subsidized calumniating press, can drive
me from my purpose. Great applause. ]
acknow ge no superior, except my
God, the author Of my existence, and
the people Sf the United States Pro-
longed and enthusiastic cheering For
the one, try to obey all His commands
as best can. compatible with my poor
humanity. For the other, in political
and representative sense, the high be-
hests of the people have always been
respected and observed by me. Zap
plause
Mr. Chairman, have said more than
had intended 20 say For the kind allu.
sion to myself, contained in your address
and in the resolutions adopted by the
Convention. let me remark that in this
crisis, and at the present period of my
public life, | hold above all price, and
shall ever recur with feelings Of pro-
found qualification to the last resolution,
containing the endorsement of Con-
vention emanating spontaneously from
the great mass of the people | trust
and hope that my future action may be
such that you and the Convention you
represent may not regret the assurance
Of confidence you bavr expressed I'VE
are sure of it,"
Before separating, my friends, one and
all, please except my sincere thanks Tor
the kind manifestations OF regard and
respect you have exhibited on this oCca-
sion rcngat that L shall always con
tinue to be guided by conscientious
conviction Of duty-(and that always
gains one courage) e)-under the CoDstitu-
ton, which have made my guide.
At the conclusion-sof the President s
remarks, three enthusiastic cheers were
given for Andrew Johnson and three
more for General Grant
The President then took position
near the door opening into the hall, witq
General Grant by his side, where, as the
gentlemen Of the committee and mem-
bers of the Convention passed ont, he
grasped each b The hand, had smile or
a cheering word for all; after which they
passed o1 to take General Grant by the
hand.