Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-08-21


struggle against tyranny and despotism was
that the struggle should be sufficiently audi
bic for the American people to hear and
properly understand. They did hear and,
looking on and seeing who the contestants
were, and what the struggle was about they
determined that they would settle this ques-
ton on the side Of the Constitution and of
principle.
l proclaim here to-day, as / have on other
occasions that my faith is not abating, and
in the darkest hour of the struggle, when
clouds were lowering, my faith, instead of
giving way, up through the DIX cloud, far
beyond, l saw that all would be safe in the
end. Cheers. My countrymen, we all
know that in the language Of THOMAS JET
Person, Tyranny and despotism can be
exercised and exerted more effectuaily by
the many than the one" We have seen a
Congress gradually encroach, step by step,
upon constitutional rights and violate day
after day and month after month the funda-
mental principles of the Government. We
have seen a Congress that seemed to forget
that there was a Constitution, and that there
was limit and scope to the power Of legisla-
ton. Renewed cries of That's sc" We
have seen a Congress assume to exercise pow
ers which, if allowed to be carried ont, would
result in despOtism or anarchy itself Cries
of THAT'S So" and enthusiastic cheers given
for the President. This is truth, and be-
cause others, as we'll as myself, have seen
proper to appeal TO patriotism and the re-
publican feeling of the country we have
been denounced in the most severe terms.
SANDER upon SANDER, vituperation upon
vituperation of the most villainous charac-
ter has made its way through the public
press.
What, gentlemen, has been your and my
sin? What has been the curse of our offend
ing? l will tell you: Daring to stand by
the Constitution of our fathers THE Presi-
dent here approached the spot where Sena-
tor JOHNSON was standing, and said: l con-
slider the proceedings Of this Convention,
sir, as more important than those Of any
Convention than ever assembled in the
United States.) Great applause. When l
look with my minds eye upon that c0llec-
ton of citizens coming together, voluntarily,
and sitting in council, with ideas with prin-
ciples and views commensurate with all the
States and coextensive with the whole
people, and contrast it with the collection of
gentlemen who are trying to destroy the
country, | regard it as more important than
any Convention that has sat at least since
1877. Loud cheers.l l may say also that
the declarations that were made are equal
with the Declaration of independence itself;
and here to-day pronounce them a second
declaration of independence. Cheers Of gen
erous and most enthusiastic prolonged APP
plause. Your address and declaration are
nothing more nor less than a reafirmation
of the Constitution of the United States.
[Cries of good and cheers.
Yes, 1 will go further, and say that the
declaration you have made; that the prin-
ciples you have enunciated in your address,
are a second proclamation of emancipation
of the United States. Renewed applause
For in proclaiming and reproclaiming these
great truths, you have laid down a constitu-
tional platform, upon which all can make
common cause, and stand together for the
restoration of the States and the preserva-
ton ofthe Government, without reference to
party question, and only for the salvation of
the country, for our country rises above all
party considerations or influences. Cries
of good, and cheers. How many are there
in the United States that now require to be
free, that have the shackles upon their
limbs and are bound as rigidly as though
they were in fact in slavery. | repeat, then,
that your declaration is the second procla-
nation of emancipation to the people of the
United States, and offers a common ground
upon which all patriots can stand. Mr..
Chairman, and gentlemen let me, in this
connection ask you, what have l to gain
more than the advancement of the public
welfare? l am as much opposed to the in
diligence of egOtism as any one, but here in
a conversational manner, while formally re-
ceiving the proceedings of this Convention,
l may be permitted to do so. | again ask,
what l have to gain, consulting human am
bition more than l have gained except in
one thing. My race is nearly run.
1 have been placed in the high office
which | occupy under the Constitution of
the country, and, l may say, have held from
the lowest to the highest, almost every po-
sition to which a man may attain in our
Government. l have passed through every
position, from Alderman of a village to the |
Presidency, and surely, gentlemen, this |
should be enough to CRAFTY a reasonable |
ambition. If wanted authority, or if l |
wanted to perpetuate my own power how |
easy it would have been to hold and WELD |
that which was placed in my hands, by mea- |
sures called Freedmens Bureau Bills. APP |
plause. With an army, which it placed at |
my discretion, l could have remained at the |
capital of the United States, and with its |
fifty or sixty millions of appropriations at |
my disposal, with the machinery to be |
worked by my hands, with my satraps and |
defenders in every town and village And |
then, with the Civil Rights Bill following as |
an auxiliary, laughter in connection with /
all the other appliances of Government, |
could have proclaimed myself Dictator. |
LCries of that's so, and three cheers for the |
President But, gentlemen, my pride and
81. Ir,-y -, Al
sitiOn which retains all power in the hands
Of the people. [Great cheering.l
1t is upon that have always relied it is
upon that rely now. A voice, "And the
people will not disappoint you And
repeat that neither the taunts nor ieers of
Congress, nor of eliminating press, can
drive me from my purpose. Great APP
plause.l | acknowledge no superior except
my God, the author of my existence, and
the people of the United States. Prolonged
and enthusiastic cheers.] l try to obey all
his commands as best | can compatible with
my poor humanity; for the other, in a poll
teal and representative sense, the high be-
and obeyed by me. loud
cheers Mr. Chairman, have said more
than l intended. For the kind alusion to
myself contained in your address, and in the
adopted by the Convention; let
me remark that in this crisis and at this
period of my public life, hold them above
all price, and shall ever recur with feelings Of
profound qualification to the last resolution,
the endorsement Of the Conven-
lion, emanating from the great masses of the
people. Loud cheers. trust and hope
hat my future action may be such that you
and the Convention may not regret the as
,urance and confidence you have expressed
n me. Cries Of eve are sure of it"1 Be ;
ore separating, my friends, one and all, ,
committee and strangers, please accept my
incere thanks for the kind manifestations
If regard and respect you have exhibited
N this occasion. | repeat that l shall con-
inue to be guided by conscientious con- I
fiction Of duty, and that always gives one
outrage under the Constitution, which make
ny guide.
COULDN'T STAND THAT?-The New Or '
cans Crescent relates the following incident, t
'hich occurred at the incendiary meeting !
the Friday evening preceding the Con- i
ention Riot of the Both nit q