Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-08-20

,elf upon that broad platform, l have not
been awed, dismayed, or intimidated by
either threats or encroacbments but have
stood there in conjunction with patriotic
spirits, sounding the tocsin Of alarm when
ever I deemed the citadel Of liberty in
I said on a previous occasion,
and repeat now, that all that was neces-
sary in that great struggle against tyranny
and despotism was that the struggle
be sufficiently audible for the
American people to hear and properly un.
derstand. They did hear, and looking on
and seeing who the contestants were and
what that struggle was about, they deter
mined they would settle this question on
the side Of the Constitution and Of princi-
pie. TCries Of That's So" and applause.
/ proclaim here to-day, as l have on
other occasions, that my faith is abiding
in the great mass Of the people. In the
darkest hour of the struggle, when the
clouds seemed most lowering, my faith, in
stead of giving way. looked up through
the darkness and far beyond, and saw
that all would be safe in the end.
Ny cuuntrymen, We all know that, in
the language of Thomas Jefferson, tyran.
nv and despotism even can be used and
exerted more effectually by the many than
the one. We have seen a Congress grad
ually encroach, step by step, upon Constr.
tutional right and violate daily, and month
after month, the fundamental principles OF
Government; we have seen a Congress
that seemed to forget there was q Consti-
tuition, and that there was a limit to the
power and scope of legislation. We have
seen a Congress in a minority, assume to
exercise the powers which, il allowed to
be carried out would result in ~despotism
| or anarchy itself. [Cries Of that's so, and
| enthusiastic cheers. This is the truth.
Others as well as myself have seen proper
to appeal to the patriotism and republican
| feelings Of thu Country. We have been de-
| nounced in most severe terms. SANDER upon
SANDER, yituperation upon yituperation OF the
| most yillainous character has made its way
| through the public press. What, gentlemen,
| has been your and my sin What has been
the cause Of your offending? l will tell
| you daring to stand by the Constitution OF
our Fathers.
The President here approached the spot
where Senator johnson was standing, and
said -
consider the proceedings Of this Conyen-
ton, sir, as more important than those OF
any Convention that ever assembled in the
United States. When l look with my minds
eve upon that collection Of citizens, coming
together Voluntarily and sitting in council,
with ideas, with principles and with views
commensurate with all the States and CO.
extensive with the whole people, and contrast
| I. .-..h She nollaotiNn pf Uentlpmnn who are
trying to destroy the Country, l regard it as
| more important than any Convention that
has sat, at least since l776. lChees.l Think
I NAV saw that the declaration made there is
| equal to the Declaration Of Independence.
As / stand here, to-day, l pronounce it a
| second Declaration Of Independence. Your
| platforms and declarations are nothing more
nor less than a e~.afhrmation Of the CQnsti-
tuition Of the United States. Yes, l will go
farther, and say that the declaration you have
made, that the principles you have enuncia-
ted in your address, are q second proclama-
ton Of Emancipation to the people Of the
United States; renewed applausel for in
proclaiming and expressing these great
truths, you have laid down q Constitutional
platform upon which all can make common
cause and stand together for the restoration
Of the States and the preservation Of the
Government, without reference to party.
The question only is the salvation OF the
Country; for our Country rises above all
party considerations or influence. How many
are there in the United States that now re-
ouire to be free, that bear the shackles upon
their limbs and are bound as rlgidly as though
they were in fact in slavery? l repeat then,
that your declaration is the second procla-
nation OF Emancipation to the people Of the
United States, and offers common ground
,nop which all ~natriOts can stand,
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen: Let me in
this connection ask you who has done more
for the advancement OF the public welfare
than l? l am as much opposed to the in
diligence Of egotism rs any one; but here,
in a conversational manner, while formally
reviewing the proceedings OF this Convention,
I may be permitted to ask, what have l to
gain OF human ambition more than l have
gained? Myrace is nearly run. / have been
placed in the highest Office which l can occupy
under the Constitution, and / may say l
have held almost every position, from the
lowest to the highest, which man can attain
in our Government. l have passed through
every position, from the Alderman Of a vii
lase to the Presidency. And, surely, gentle
men, this should be enough to satisfy n rea-
sonable ambition. II I wanted office or
wished to perpetuate my own power, how
easy il would have been to hold and WELD
that which was placed in my hands by the
measure called the Freedman's Bureau?
laughter and applausel. With the army
which it placed at my disposal, l could have
remained at the capital OF the United States
and with the fifty or sixty million dollars Of
appropriation at my disposal, with the ma
chinery to be worked by my own hands. with
satraps and dependents i'll every o and
village, and with the Civil Rights bill follow
ing as an auxiliary, and in connection with
all the other appliances Of Government, l
| could have proclaimed myself dictator.
TCries Of That's so !" and three cheers for
the President].
But, gentlemen my pride and my ambi-
| ton have been to occupy that position which
retains all power in the hands Of the
people. Il is upon that | have al
ways relied. It 10 upon that l rely now,
"a voice-"and the people will not disappoint
you," and l repeat that neither the threats
nor the jeers Of Congress, nor Of n calumni-
ating press can drive me from my purpose.
I acknowledge n superior except my God,
the author OF my existence, and the people of
the United States. Fur the one, l try to obey
all His commands as best I can compatibly
with my poor humanity; for the other. in a
political and representative sense, the high
behests Of the people have always been res
pected and obeyed BY me. i
Mr.. Chairman, I have said more than l
intended; for the kind illusions to myself,
contained in your address and the resolutions
adopted by the Convention, let me remark,
in this crisis and at this period Of my public
life, I hold above all price; and I shall ever
recur with feelings Of profound qualification
to the last resolution, containing the indorse-
ment OF u Convention emanating spontane.
ously from the great mass Of the people. l
hope that my future action may be such that
you and the Convention may not regret tho
opinions you have expressed Of me.
Before parting, my friends, one and all,
Committee and stranger, please accept my
thanks for the kind manifestations Of regard
and respect you have exhibited on this occa-
sion; I hope / shall always continue to be
guided BY firm and conscientious convictions
Of duty; and that always gives courage I'M
der the Constitution, which l make my
guide.
At the conclusion Of the Presidents re-
marks, cheers were given for Andrew john
son, and three more for General Grant.
The President and Generol Grant then re-
tired arm in arm, and the Committee and
audience commenced to disperse.
London Markets.
LONDON, August T-Noon.-Consols 81
for money; sos, $50. There is nothing