The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-03-03
PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S MON
UMENTAL SPEECH.

AT the National Monument meeting
held in Washington on the ,22d ult,
President johnson presided, and made
few remarks, alluding to Washing
tons farewell address as containing
the principles by which he sought to
be guided, and expressing the hope
that all the States would continue their
contributions to the structure, to be
completed, as an enduring memorial to
the restoration of all the States to their
proper relations to the Government.
The President said: ,,,,,,,.
1 say, that when these States comply
with the Constitution, when they have
given sufficient evidence Of their loyal
tv, and that they can be trusted when
they Weld obedience to the law, II say,
extend to them the right, hand of fel-
lowship, and let peace and union be
restored. I'll have fought traitors and
treason in the South; l opposed the
Davis and Toombs, and the Slidells and
long list of others whose names l
need not repeat, and find when turn
round at the other end of the line, l
care not by what name you call them,
IA voice, Call them traitors, who still
stand opposed to the restoration OF the
union of these States, and / am free to
say to you that am still for the pres
eryation of this compact. l am still
for the restoration of this Union; lam
still in favor of this great Government
of ours, living and following out it's
destiny-(avoice, Give us the names,
A gentleman calls for their names. Well
suppose l shall give them. "a voice,
We knot them. I!look upon them, /
repeat it, as President or citizen, as
much opposed to the fundamental
principles of this Government, and be,
iieye they are as much laboring to des-
troy them as were the men who fought
against them-(a voice, What are their
names,) l say; Thaddcus Stevens, Of
Pennsylvania, Tremendous applause.
/ say Charles Sumner, Great ap-
plause. say Wendell Phillips, and
others Of the same stripe amongst
them. "a voice, Give it to Forney.
Some gentleman in the crowd says give
it to Forney. I have only just to say
that do not waste my ammunition on
dead ducks. Laughter and applause, ]
l stand for my country. I stand for
the Constitution, where placed my
feet from entrance, into public life,
They may traduce me, they may SLAM
der, they may vituperate, but let me
say to you, that it has NO effect upon
me, Cheers.] Let me say, in sddi.
; tion, that do not intend to be bulled
by enemies. Applause, and a cry, The
people will sustain you. ! know my
countrymeii it has been insinuated, but
not said directly--thc intimation has
been given in high places, that if such
usurpation of power had been exer.
cised two hundred years ago, in a par.
ticular religion, it would have cost
certain individual his head. What
usurpation has Andrew johnson been
guilty of? None, none. The only
usurpation have been guilty of vas
standing between the people and en-
crOachment of power, and because
dared 10 say in a conversation with q
fcllow-citizcn and Senator, that ]
thought amendments to the Cohstitu-
ton ought not to be too frequently
made, that it would lose all its dignity,
and that thc instrument would be lost
sight 0fin short time; becauSe I hap.
penedlto say II it was amended and
such amendments should be adopted,