The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-07-07
SPEEClE OF c. CMAUNCEY BURR
BEFORE THE ANTR-AROEI-
TEON STATE RIGHTS SOCIETY.
JEEFERSONsS RIRTH.DAY.

Sixth ToAsT-Andrew johnson. the
President of the United States-All
honor to him for his courage and patriot
ism; but let him remember that his only
sure foundation is the Jeffersonian De
mocracy.
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN -
Though have not the pleasure of per-
sonal acquaintance with President john
son, you could not have called mo up to
respond to toast that better suits the
convictions of nay judgment and the feel
| iings of my heart If ever public man
exhibited these great virtues Of courage
and patriotism, it must be confessed that
President johnson has done SO, in a pre-
eminent degree, in his steady opposition
to the malignant revolutionary majority
of Congress The nobleSt courage is not
confined to feats of arms lie who sinks
not beneath the frowns Of fortune. and
lsannot be intimidated by the threats Of
fierce and implscahle majorities, often
! displays a heroisln that eutshineS all the
glory of battles The valor of the battle
field is often only love of glory and re
venge, but the love of country, which is
the true patriotism. shines out transcend
iently iu the man who dares to face the
frowns alike of friends aud fees in de-
ifendiAg the Constitution and rights Of
the State. Such man President John
son has proved himself to be- He has
refused power, because he believed 1t to
be uneonstitutionally and corruptly be
lstowed He has resisted the cunning
arts of hypocrisy, and stood unmoved
under the public threats of revenge and
assassination, because he prefers even
death to a treachero6s or cowardly sur
render of the constitutional safeguards of
popular liberty. That, sir, is the picture
of man of the tEnest courage and loftiest
patriotism. prolonged applause.} l
know not on what page of history to hunt
for fn instance where public man allas
beeh confronted with a4eofe treacherous.
savage aud implaeable opposIssa than
that which President johnson has net.
levea II the hands Of his own party. And
I@here, in ancient or modern days, did a
man bear himself with better pluck and
determination His oft-repeated derlar-
atien-'.' can take no backward step
f=-comes from lips as Arla as those which
Insed 70 pronounce the tremendous No.
by the EteFnali' and plainly tells the
eonspirators Of Congress and all their
furious allies, that they have to deal with
a man who IS equai to whatever emergen-
ley their treason may bring upon the
Ieountry. Sir, | use the word frees5a.
imeaning 10 apply in its worst sense For
that they are aiming to destroy the Gov
lornment organized by our fathers is no
longer matter of doubt IN any circle of
ordinary intelligence The man who de-
nies It is wanting in either sense or truth.
i(Applause.) But, Mr. President. who
are the men now engaged in overthrow
ling this Government? What is their
character? What have been their ante
lcedeats? do not speak of the mass Of
the Republican members of Congress. for
they appear to have no public record
known among gentlemen they seem to
have been tract distributors, meslneric
LECTURERS, colporteurs or spiritual medi-
lunss. lLaughteF.} If they were even as
respectable as that. we are permitted to
lrejoice that they have not always been as
6. disreputable as they now are. But. sir,
the leaders are known. Their record
stands out as distinct and infamous as
that of Satan, who. if we may believe
Milton, got up a sedition in heaven not
laltoðer unlike the one these old NAL
contents are now waging against the Con-
stitstion ofour country. Who, then. arc
the leaders Of this Congressional sedition,
They are a tristsl giri of traitors Ike that
famous coalition Of three who conspired
lagainst the liberty OF Rome Our trt-
lI7n cfrt embraces Stevens, Wade and
Sumner, and as for the rest of the con-
ispirators. they appear to be the tools or
satellites of these. Now, sir, who are
these leaders of the Congressional war
upon the President, and upon the Con
lstitution of the United States Are they
linen of character and honor? Have they
been generally respected by the people OF
1.-The United? (Ne. no. Are they men
that should be naturally entrusted with
the honor of nation, and the liberties OF
the psople2 Let as draw a portrait of
these men singly, that We may the better
Judge of them in their associated charac-
! ter.
Who is Thad. Stevens? Has his char
acter been that of man Of honor, a
statesman and patriot? Sir, as a man,
we hate to speak of kim. A man who,
In the midst of a refined and intelligent
population of f'Pennsylvania, is not ashamed
to have shared, for years. his roof and his
heart with negro wench, is not to have
he e11a5,,+ oa,,,...l
lsioA, IN the company Of gentlemen.
/ 1lApplausc.) Socially, he is a worthy
!. companion of negroes, and not fit for the
company of white people. What is he as
a statesman 2 Who can name one act OF
his public life that is above the level of a
malignant demagogue The first time
we over saw his name In the public print,
was an account of his having Jumped
from two story window in Harrisburg.
to save himself from a beating, By the
eBraged populace, for some official I'll
4 lainy. That was good many years ago,
land if he has since performed any public
feat more worthy of the dignity and
4 character of aIstatesman, it has not reach
led tas public print. Then, sir, what has
been his character for patriotism Has
NOT his very name been synonymous with
THAT of aedition and tEesson Did he not
q few years ago exclaim on the floor Of
lIongress /. The Union as it was and the
Constitution Is It is-tfod forbid It =
did he not SAP, Whenever I hear q
krnaa begin to prate about the ponstitu
ltion. / know that I am Ia the presence
iof a rebeI. That. sir. IS the patriotism