, 1866-02-24

seems that Governments may be 1evoiutIon-
lied, governments At least may BE- chanred
WITHOUT going through lhe strife Of ba1tle.
sometimes revolutions most disastrous to tho
people are effected without tho shedding Of
blood. The substance OF your government
may be taken away, while the form aud tho
shadow remain to you. What Is now being
proposed: We find that IN point OF fact near
ly MI the powers Of the Government arc as
sumed by an irresponsible Central Directory,
which does not even consult the legislative OF
| the executive departments Of the Govern
ment. By resolutions reported from conf
mittee, In whom It seems that. practically. the
vested, that great principle Of the Constitu-
ton which authorizes and empowers cach
brunch Of the legislative departments Of the
Senate and the House Of Representatives to
judge for Itself OF the election returns, and
Qualifications of Its own members has been
virtually taken away from the two branches
OF the legislative department of the Govern
ment, and conferred upon committee who
must report before either House can act un-
der the Constitution As to accepting the mem
bess who are to take their seats as component
parts Of the respective bodies. BY this rule
It is assumed that there must be laws passed
recognizing State as in the Union, or its
before the respective Houses under the Con-
stitutfon can Judge Of the election retnruss
and qualifications of its own members. What
position is thatf You struggled lor four
Years 10 put down a rebellion. Ton denied
in the beginning Of the struggle that any
State could 90 out of the Union. You said
that ii had neither the right nor the power
to do 50. The issue WAS made, and It haa
been settled that the States had neither the
right nor the power to go out Of the Union.
With what consistency, after 1t has been set
tied by the military arm of the Gov
ernment, and BY the public indg-
ment, that the States had no right
now surn tonnd and assume that thay arc out,
that they shall not come tne am tree to say
to you, as your Executive, that am not pre-
pared to take any such position. Great ap-
plause.l said In the Senate, In the very In.
ceptloD OF this rebellion, THAI the States had
had no power to 60 out. That question has
been settled, and 1t being settled, cannot
turn around now and give Tho lie direct to al
that have professed, and all that have done
for tho last 1--WE years. [Applausc.l Even
those who re6elled comply with the Constt-
loyalty. When they show that they can be
trusted, when they yield obedience to the law
that you and acknowledge obedience to, I
l say extend to them tho right hand OF fellow
ship, md let peace and Union be restored
and treason In the south opposed the d.
vises, the Toombs, the Sideils, and . long list
| OF Others which you can readily ill without
my repeating the names. Now when I
turn round, aud as the other cud Of the line
find men, 1 care not BY what name Jou call
them, Who still stand opposed to the restora-
1 to say to you that am still In The field
lGreat arp1ause.] I am sill for the prcserva-
ticn of the Union. am still In favor Of this
great Government Of ours Going on and hntng
out Its destiny. tGreat applause. Voices,
"Givc three names at the other end" The
other end Of the ine.] am talking to my
f,ilnds and fellow citizens who are interested
with me In this Government, md presume
am hee to mention to you the names Of those
whom look upon as being opposed to thu
fundamental principles Of this Government,
stfoy 1t.
Voices" Eamc them. Who arc thcy?'
The PREs1DEST-You ask. me who they
arc. I say Thaddeus Stevens, of Pcnnsyl-
yania, Il one I say Mr.. Sumner, OF the Sen
ate, Ii another, and Wendell Phillips Is anoth-
er. Long continued applause-l
Voices" Give It to Fozuey."
The FREslnEST-1n reply to that, viii
simply eay l do not waste my ammunition
upon dca1 ducks. Great laughter aud ap-
plau1e.l stand for my country, stand for
the Constitution. There | have placed my
AECL AO4O AASCat 4@lp fANAAA AAIs 4A0y
may traduce, they may slander, or they may
vitupersse me, but let me- soy to you all,
this has no Influence upon nc. [Great up
ptause.] Let me say further that I do not
intend to ha overawed BY real or pretended
friends, nor do I mean to be bullled BY my
conviction T. my courage, the Constitution IS
my guide. know, my countrymen, that It
/ has been insnuated-no, not fnsinuated, 1t
has been said directly, In high circles, that u
snch q usurpatf0n OF power as am charged
with had been exercised some two hundred
have cost an individual his lead. [Greas
laugbter-] Ofwhat usnrpation has Andrew
johnson been guilty? C"None, none."l Is
It usurpatfon that l stand between the
people and the encroachnents Of power
Because, in q conversation with fellow
that I thought amendmentmcnts to the
Constitution ought not to DO so frequent,
that 1t it IVES eterua1ly tinkercd with 1t
would have lost all its prestige and dignity;
that the old instrument would be lost sight Of
altogether in q short time! Because in the
were amended Mt all snch an amendment
ought not to be ladopted, 1t IVES charged
that was guilty Of usurpatfon
Of q power that would cost king his head in
certain period of English history. Great
lauehter.l From the same source the excla-
Nat4CA AA9 E0t4V 4u' ~ l4AAs kAIy HC4E III k4C
miLst Of earthquakes; that they were trem-
bling und could not yield. [Lau:hter.l Yes,
| fellow -cilizens, there Is IN earthquake com-
| ing there Is grand swelling of ofpopular iudS-
| ment and indignation. [Great .pplanse.1 The
American people viii speak, md By their In
are their enemies, have endeavo1ed to be
true to the people In all the positions which 1
have occupied, and there is hardly position
IN this Government which have not at SONG
time filed. l suppose 1t will be sald thnt this
is vanity, [laughier] hut may say that have
| branches the Slate Legislature.
A Folce-Yon commenced q tailor.
The Ptestdent-A gentleman behind me
says began asa tailor [applausel and that
suggestion does not discomdt me "a the least,
for when was tailor, had the reputation
[laughter1, and was always punctual to my
!, customers. and did good work. (Applausc. I
voices-Wc viii patch up the Union yet.
The President-No, do not wanr my patch
work of 1t; I want original articles restored.
[Great applanse.] But enough Of this face
tiousness. know 1t may be said, "You arc
President and you must not talk about these
things" but. my fef1ow-citizens, I intend to
talk the truth, and when principle Is involved,
when the existence Of my country Is
u peril, I bold it TO be my duty
to speak what think, and what feel, as L
Applause.I hive said that Il bas been Jss d.
clafed elsewhere that I vas guilty Of usnrna-
lion which would have cost : King his head.
and In another pIace have been denouncei
for whitewashfng. When and where did I
ever whiteWash anything or anybodye /
in both branches Of the Lenfsintnre of NV
State; have been in both Uonses Of the "a.
tional Congress have been al the henil of
the Executive Department Of mY sfnta /
have been Vice President Of tho United States
and am now in the position which occupy
before Won and during all this career. whsr1,
is the man and What portion Of lie people Il
there who can saw that Andrew johnson ever
made pledge that he did not redeem, OF
that he ever made promise which he viola
ed? None, none. Point to the man who
can say that Andrew johnson ever acted with
IGreat app1ause.l Men may talk about be
heading and ahnut nsnrDation: Int