The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-03-07
The Presidents Speech.

white house, to congratulate the presiuen' oN MS
in vetoing the freedmen's bureau bill. The following
is the presidents response:
Fellow citizens for presume have the rghs 10
address you SUCH the committee who nave organ
sed and conducted this meeting far have to tender
nv sincere thanks for the confidence and appreciation
they have manifested in their personal address 10 my
self and in the resolutions they have adopted. aii
free to say to you this occasion, that 1t is extremely
gratifying to me to know that large portlon OIL F
fellow citizens approve and indorse the policy tha haS
been adopted and is intended to restore the glorious
Union of these States and their original relations 10 Tue
government of the United States
This seems to be a day peculiarly appropriate Tor
such manifestaton-the day that gave birth to him
who founded this goyernmenthe father of his coun-
try, who stood at the head of this government when
all these States entered into this Unonthis day, say
is peculiarly appropriate indorse the restoration OF
the Union of these States founded by the father OF bis
country, Washington.
Washington whose name this city bears, is embodied
in the hearts of all who love free government. Wash
ingon in the name of the eulogst, first in war,
first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen
No people can claim him; country can appropriate
him. his reputation and life the common inheritance
/ of all who love free government.
to-day had the pleasure of attending the national
Washington monument association which is directing
its efforts to complete the monument erected to his
memory. l was glad TO meet them, and, SO far as |
could to give them my humble influence. a monu
ment is being erected him within stones throw OF
the spot from which address you. Lett be completed
Let the pledges which all these States associations and
corporations have placed in that monument OF tnelr
faith and love for the Unon be preserved Let 1t be
completed and in this connection let refer to the
motto upoI. the stone sent from my own State, Nuoa
bless State which has struggled for the preservation
of the Union in the field, and in the councils of the
nation"
| monument is inscribed on that stone II stand By
that sentiment and she is willing to stand by it." 1t
was the sentiment enuncated by the immortal and real
Jackson "rhe federal Union-it must be preserved
Mr. johnson then referred briefly to the conduct of
Gen Jackson in 1885, denounced traitors those who
attempted to destroy country and reiterated his
determination stand by the country and the constu
ton. He thought in considering the question OF re-
construction, we should not deal with whole people
in spirit of revenge.
The south had acknowledged its allegiance to the
and he ready to open the doors OF the
| Union and restore them to their former relations
He said there is none who has labored harder than
to have the principal conspicuous and intelligent trail
tors brought ustce-to have the law indicated and
the great fact yindicated that treason is crime. Yet
while conscious and intelligent traitors to be pun
ished should whole State communities and the people
be made submit to and bear the penalty of the oahf
Let them become loyal and willing supporters and de-
tenders of our glorious strpes-et the leaders, the
conscious and intelligent traitors, suffer the penalty of
the law But for the great mass who have been forced
into the rebellion and mised by their leaders, say,
/ lenity, kindness, trust and confidence.
The rebellion is put down by the strong of the
government but we are scarcely out OF one rebellion
before almost in the midst of another rebellion,
There is attempt to concentrate the power of the
government in the hands of a few, and thereby to
bring about consolidation which is equally dangerous
and Objectionable with separation. Sometimes reVou-
tions most disastrous to the people are effected without
shedding blood. The substance of our government
may be taken away leaving only the formidable shadow.
We find that, in fact, by an irresponsible central
directory, nearly all powers of the government are
assumed without even consulting the legislative or
executive department Of the government by the
lutions reported BY the committee upon whom all the
legislative power OF the has been conferred
The principle in the constitution which authorizes and
empowers each branch of the legislative departments to
be the judges of the election and qualifications ofs
members has been virtually taken away from these
departments and conferred upon committee who must
report before they act under the constitution, and
allow the members duly elected to take their seats.
By this rule they assume that there must be laws
passed. that there must be recognition in respect to
States in the Union, with all its prohibited relations
stored before the respective houses of congress- under
the constitution, shall judge of the election and quaf
cations Of its own members. 81
You have been struggling for four years put down
the rebellion You denied in the beginning that any
State had any right to 60 out of the Union. 1t has
been settled that State has neither the right the
power to go out of the Unon and when you have set
tied that by the executive aud military power of the
government and by the public judgment, you turn
around and assume that they out and shall not
come in. am free to say to you your executive,
that am not prepared to take any such position.
cannot turn around and give a direct lie to all
profess to have done in the last five years
| say that when these States comply with the consti
tution when they have given sufficient evidence of their
loyalty and that they be trusted when they yield
obedience to the laws l say extend to them the right
hand of fellowship, and let peace and the Union be
stored have fought traitors and treason in the south
| opposed the Davises and the Tombses and the
Sdels, and long list of others, whose names need
not repeat and now when turn around at the other
end of the line find men, cannot by name call them
Ia voice-ca them traitors who still stand opposed to
the restoration of the Union OF these States and am
free to say to you that still for the preservation
of this compact still for the restoration of this
Union am still in favor of this great government of
ours living and following out its destiny voice
give US the names gentleman calls for their names.
Well, suppose should give them. A roice-we
know them.
look upon them, I repeat it, president or citizen,
much opposed to the fundamental principles of this
government and believe they much laboring to
prevent destroy them the who fought against
u.s. A voce-what their names?l l say, Thad,
Stevens, of Pennsylvania, tremendous applausel l
say, Charles Sumner [great applausel ! say, WendaI
Phillips, and others of the stripe-all amongst
them roice-gtveit to Forney some gentleman in
the crowd says, give il to Forney l have only to say
laughter and applause
stood for my country; stand for the constitution,
wherein placed my footfrom my entrance into public
life. They may traducc me- they may SANDER; they
may ytuperae, but let say to you that it has no
effect upon me. Cheers.
Let me say, in addition, that do not intend to be
bullied by enemies Applause and cry, THE people
will support you" know my countrymen, that has
been nsnuated, not only insnuated, but said directly
the intmation has been given in high places-that if
such a usurpation of power had been exercised two
hundred years ago. ina particular region would have
cost certain individual his head. What usurpation
has Andrew johnson been guilty of? None, none.
The only usurpation have been guilty OF was between
the people and encroachment Of power and because
dared to say in conversation with feowcitizen and
senator, that thought amendments to the constitu-
ton ought not to be frequently made; that would
lose all its dignity, and that the old instrument would
be lost sight of in short timebecause happened to
say, if it was amended, such and such amendments
should be adopted it usurpation of power that
would have cost king his head at a certain time
Laughter and applause.
In connection with this subject it was maintained by
the same gentleman that were in the midst of an
earthquake, that he trembied and could not yield
I 10