Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-04-26
NO. 80.

the great principles laid down by our fathers,
; and which fired their hearts, WAS that there
. should be no taxation without representation.
: How then does the matter stand ! ho has
been usurpiug power? Who has been defeat
ing the operation Of the Constitution. and what
now remains o. he done 10 complete the resto-
. ration Of these States 10 all their former rels-
tons under the Federal Government, and to IL
nish the great ordeal through which we have
been passing? II is 10 admit representation.
! 1Cheers. And when We say admit rerreSen-
ta,;on. what do we mean? We mean repre-
sentaton in the constitutional and law-sbding
sense. as wa, intended at the beginning OF ths
Government
! And where does that power lie The Con-
stitution declares in EXPRESS terms that each
House. the Senate and House of Representa-
tives, each acting for itself, shall be the Judge
Of the returns OF election and qualifications oi
its own members. il is for each House TO SET
tie that question under the Constitution, AMI
under the solemn sanction of an oath; and can
we believe that either House would admit any
member into its body 10 participate m the lc-
| gisation Of the country who was not qualified
and ct to sit in that body and participate N its
proceeding? They have the power-not tho
two Houses, but each House for itself. The
Constitution further declares that no State shall
be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate
! of the United States without its consent. Then
where do we stand? All that is needed to I'm
ish this great work of restoration is for the two
| Houses respectively 10 determine these quos-
tions. "0h." but some will say, "a traitor
might come in" The answer to that is: Each
House must be the ju lgc, and if a traitor pre-
sents himself cannot either House know that
be is traitor [applause,] and il he isa traitor
can they not kick him out Of the door, aud
send him back, saying 10 the people who sent
him, "You must send us loyal man" Cheers,
and voice, That's the logic.''] Is there any
difficulty about that !? [Cries Of No, no. j
| If a traitor presents himself to either House,
cannot that House say to him No, you can
not be admitted into this body. Go back
we will not deny your people the right OF rep
resentation, but they must send loyal repre-
sentative" (Cheers.] And when the States
do send loyal representatives, can You have any
better evidence of their fidelity to the Consti-
tuition and laws2 There is no one learned in
constitutional law who will say that il traitor
happens to get into Congress, that body cannot
expel him after he gets in. That makes assu-
rance doubly sure, and conforms the action Of
the Government to the Constitution Of our ia
theirs. Hence | say, let us stand by that Con-
stitution, and in standing by it our covenant
will he preserved.
While have been contcnding against trai-
tors, and treason, and secession, and the disso-
RGa e ad e the hS HaSR @ he's RsaSa 81 S
er here ECries of ".good."] think tho con-
solidation Of power here is equally dangerous
with the separation OF the States. lCheersJ
The one would weaken us and might run into
anarchy, while the other would concentrate and
run into monarchy. [Checrs and cries of cant
do it.'1 Oh, but there is an idea abroad that
one man can be a despot-that one man can
be a usurper-but that hundred or twohun-
dred men cannot. Mr.. Jefferson, the apostleof
liberty, tells u.s. so does common sense, that ty-
ranny and despotsm can be exercised by many
more vigorously and more tyranically than by
one What power has your President TO be
tyrant? What can he do? What can he O.
riginate? Why they say he exercises the veto
power. Laughter What is the veto pow
er? Who is your President2 [Several voices,
ANDY johnson. Is he not elected by the peo-
ple through the electoral colleges? The Prcsi-
dent is nothing more than tribune of the peo-
pie. His Office is tribunal in its character. In
oldcn tines, when tribuncs were first elected in
the Roman Republic, they stood at the door OF
the Roman Senate, which was then encroach-
ing on the popular rights and putting the heel
of power on the necks Of the people. The peo-
ple chose tribune, and placed him at tho
door of the Senate, so that when that body ven
tured on oppressive acts, he was clothed with
power 10 saw "veto"-I forbid. Your Pres-
dent is now the tribune Of the people, and.
thank God, am, and intend to assert ih"
power which the people have placed IN me-
[Checrs.]
Your President standing here day after day.
and discharging bis duty, is like horse on tho
tread-wheel, and because he dare diiferin opin-
ion in regard to public measures, he must DO
denounced as a usurper and tyrant. Can ho
originate anything under the veto power? /
think the veto power is conservative IN It's
character. All that can be done by the veto
power is 10 say-when legislation is improper,
hasty. unwise. unconstitutional" Stay, stop
action; wait till this can be submitted to the
people, and let them consider whether 1t is
right or wrong" [Applausc.] That is all
there is int. Hence, say, that tyranny and
power can be exercised somewhere else than
by the Executive. He is powerlcss. All that
he eau do is TO check legislation--to hold 1t ir
a state Of abeyance till the people can consider
and understand what is being done. Inon
what has been done? have done what be-
lieyed the Constitution required me to do
TApplause.T | have done what believed d,i-
tv and consciencereauired nc TO do. CChccrs.J
So believing, intend to stick TO my position.
relying on the judgment, the integrity and the
intelligence Of the masses OF the American peo-
plc. the soldiers and sailors expressly.
Then, for my life, ] cannot see where there
is any tyranny. 1t il very easy to inpugn
motives and suspect the purity Of the best acts
Of mans life. If you come forward and pro
p0se certain thing your motives arc suspect
Cd and condemned, and If YOU withhold your
opinion YOU are regardetl-as being opposed to
the matter, 50 that it Is very hard to move ono
way OF the other. 30 FAR as certain parties are
concerned, on all questions pertaining to th"
iitelesis Oft great ma ses Of tho American
people, for in them is my hope and the salvation
Of the country.
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