Glasgow weekly times., 1866-08-24
A Noble Speech by the President.

The Philadelphia Convention appointed COM
mittee, with Hon. Reverdv Johnson as chairman,
TO present, in person, the proceedings OF the con-
vention. The committee accordingly waited on
President johnson on the 18th inst The presen-
tation speech was made by the chairman Of the
delegation, 10 which the President responded as
follows:
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen of the Convention /:
Language Is inadequate 10 express the emoti ons
and feelings produced by this occasion. Perhaps
| could express more by permitting silence 10
| speak, and you 20 infer what ought to say.
confess that notwithstanding the experience have
had in public life, the words you have addressed
| to me on this occasion, and this assemblage, are
well calculated TO, and do, vc'whelm me. As I
have said, have not language TO convey adequate
| ly my present feelings and emotions. In listen
ing to The address which your eloquent and dis
tingushed chairman has just delivered, the pro-
ceedngs of the convention as they transpired were
recalled to my mind and partook of the inspiration
that prevailed in the convention. When / read
dispatch by two of its distinguished members,
conveying in terms the scene which has lust been
described of South Carolina and Massachusetts,
arm in arm, marching into that vast assemblage,
thus giving evidence that The extfemes had come
together and that for the future they united,
as they had been in the pist, for the preservation
Of the Union when the dispatch Informed me
that in that vast body Of men, distinguished alike
for intellect and wisdom, every eye was sulflsed
with tears on beholding the scene / could not fin
ish reading the dispatch to one associated with me
in the Office, for my feelings overcame me. think
| we may Justly conclude that we are moving under
proper inspiration, and that we need not be mis-
taken and that the favor of an overruling and un
erring Providence is in this matter. We have just
passed through mighty, bloody and momentous
ordeal, yet we do not find ourselves free from the
difficulties and dangers that first surrounded us.
| While our brave men have performed their duties,
| hnth H,ca nd (turnipo tn Can Cran xuha
| stood at his right,) while they have won lnurels
imperishabe, there are still greater and more i'm
portant duties TO perform, and while we have had
their cooperation in the field, we now need their
| support in efforts to preserve peace. Loud
| cheers.) So far as the Executive Department Of
the Government is concerned, the effort has been
made TO restore the Union, tc heal the breach, to
pour oil into the wounds which were consequent
upon the struggle, and. to speak in common phrase,
to prepare, as the learned physician would, plas-
ter, healing in character and co-extenslve with the
wound Cloud cheers.) We thought, and yet
think, that we had partially succeeded. But as
the work progressed. as reconciliation seemed TO
be taking place, and the country becoming united,
we found disturbing and warning element OPP
posed to u.s. In alluding to that element, she'll
60 no further than did your convention, and the
distinguished gentleman who has delivered TO me a
copy OF its proceedings. | sha make no refer
ence to il that do not believe the time and the
occasion Justify. We have witnessed in de-
partment Of the Government every effort, as it
were, TO prevent the restoration of peace and har-
mony in the Union. We have seen hanging upon
the verge of the Government, as il were, body
called, or which assumed to be, the Congress of
the United States, and in fact Congress Of only
part of the States. We have seen this Congress
assume and pretend TO be for the Union, when its
every step and aci tended to perpetuate disunion,
and make disruption of the States inevitable. In
Stead Of promoting reconstruction and harmony,
its legislation has partaken of the character of
penalties, retaliation and revenge. This has been
| the curse and policy Of one department OF our
Government. The humble individual who is now
addressing you, stands the representative OF anoth-
er department of the Government. The manner
| in which he was called upon 10 occupy that posi-
| ton, shall not allude to on this occasion. Suffice
It to say that he is here under the Constitution Of
the country, and being here by virtue of its pro-
Visions he takes his stand upon the charter of
liberties. (prolonged cheering.) Having been
taugh, in nv early life 10 hold it sacred, and hav-
ing practiced upon it during my whole public ca
reer, shall ever continue TO reverence that Con-
stiution-the Constitution of the fathers of our
country, AMI TO make il my guide. Enthusiastic
cheers.) know il has been said. (und must be
permitted 10 indulge in the remark, } that the Ex-
ecu'ive Department Of The Government has been
tyrannical. Let me ask this audience of distn-
| guisbed gentlemen around me here to-day, to
point 10 vote ever gave or to speech / ever
made-to single act in my public life-that has
not been against tue tyranny and despotsm that
has been exercised. AS TO myself, the elements
of my nature, or the pursuits of my life, have not
made Inc, either in my feelings or practice, ag-
gressive. My nature, on the contrary, is rather
defensive in its character. But will say that
having taken my stand upon the broad principles
of liberty and the Constitution, there is not power
5 enough on earth to drive me from it prolonged
cheering Having pledged myself OH that broad
: platform, have not been awed, dismayed or in
tlmldated by either threats or encroachments, but
have stood there, in conjunction with other patri-
otto spirits, sounding the tocsin of alarm whenever
a. nAA tl,A .t.,lol olnNI =.
y applause said on previous occasion, and re
peat now, that all that was necessary in the grea
struggle against tyranny and oppression was tina
the struggle sho,ld be sufficiently audible for the
. American people 10 hear and understand. They
e did hear, and, looking on and seeing who the con
testdnts were and what the struggle was about
d they determined that ihay would Sc Tile this ques
ton on the side of the Constitution and of prn.
n cipDe. Iprocaim here to-day--as .hcve on Other
= occaslons--that my faith is abiding in the great
: the great struggle, when clouds seemed 10 be most
lowering, my faith, instend of giving way, looked
up through the dark clouds. Far beyond, | saw
all would be safe in the end. (Cheers.)
My countrymen, we all know that, in the Ian
guage of Thomas Jefferson, tyranny and despoi-
S ism can be exercised more efectually by many
than one. We have seen a Congress gradually
4 encroach, step by step, upon constitutional rights
and violate, day after day and month after month,
The fundamental principles of the government.
| VIC b"'c Sech a SoHS'css 'ual sttHntu 10 IOTBel
that there Constitution and that there was :,
limit TO the sphere and scope of legislation. We
have seen Congress in minority assume 10 ex-
J ercise powers which, If allowed to be carried out
) would result in despotism monarchy itself.
(Cres of " That's so !" and enthusiastic cheers
for the President) This is truth and because
others and myself have seen proper 10 appeal to the
; patriotism and republican feeling Of the country,
) we have been denounced in the most severe terms
SANDER uEoa Sander, yituperaion upon vltupera-
ton, of the most viainous character has made its
way through the public press. What, gentlemen
has been your and my sin ? will tell you. Oar.
ing 10 stand by the Constitution of our fathers.
The President here approached the spot where
Senator johnson was standing, and said: 81 con-
a slider the proceedings of this Convention, SIR a.
- more important than those Of any convention tba
has ever assembled in the United States. Grea
d appause.) When | look with nv minds ey,
l. upon that collection of citizens, coming togethe
N voluntarily, and sitting in council with IDEAS will
principles and with views commensurate with al
Al the States ard coextenSive with the whole people
:, and contrast them with the collection of gentle
~ men who are trying to destroy the country, re
+ gard il as more important than any Convention
that hes sat, at least since 1887. cloud cheers.
/ think may say, also, that the declarations Their
N made are equal with The Declaration Of Indepen
is dence itself and here to-day pronounce it sec
IN ond declaration Of independence. (Cres of "glo
rious ~ and the most enthusiastic and proonee,
0i applause.) Your Address and Declaration ar
ut nothing more nor less than reaf!rmation of tn
" Constitution of the United States. For in pro
no claiming and reprocaiming these great truths, yo