The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1866-03-01

Let the American people get TO under
stand what is going on, and they Will soon
manifest their determination. Here. by
way Of explanation, let me say that 1 wo'd
10 God the whole American people could
be assembled here to-day as you are.
xish'there was vast amphitheatre here
spacious enough to contain the whole thlr-
tyr millions, and they could witness the
great Struggle that is going on to preserve
the Constitution of their fathers. They
woule sooasettle the question if they could
once see how things are, if they could the
kind of spirit that is manifested f:r the eff
fort to break up the real principles OF free
government-when they COME to under
stand who was for them and Who was
against them, who was for amefiorating
their condition and who for elevating tlSsn'
by preserving their Government. If the
combatants could stand before them and
there could be a regular set to between the
respective gladiators, i'm the first tilt that
might be made, you would find that the
enemies OF the country would be crushed,
and the people would sustain its friends.
~
tGreat cheering.] % .H' i.t 'H.a.".H
My feIlow-citizens, have detsincd you
much longer than intended. 200 on; go
on. But we are i'm Il great struggle and l
am your instrument, and | have thought
it best to express myself frankly. When
ask you have usurped authority? who
is ii i'll this country btat I have not toiled
and labored for! Where i the man or
woman, either in private life or public life
that has nos always received my attention
and my time? Sometimes it has been
said. pardon me for being a little egotisti-
cal, but we are engaged in II friendly and
familiar conversation, "That man John
son is "A lucky man. Laughter They
can never defeat him." [Laughter.l Now
will tell you what constitutes my luck.
1t is in doing right and doing for the peo
pie. [Great applause.] The people some
how or other, although their sagacity and
good judgment are very frequently under
rated, under estimated, generally get to
find out and understand who is for them
and who is against them. They do it by
instinct in 10 other w:sy. They know
their friends; they know i'm whom they can
contide. So far, thank God, can lay my
hand upon my bosom and state with
heartfelt satisfaction that al al positions
which have been laaced,-in many that
were as trying as any in which mortal
man has ever been placed have never
deserted them, nor do believe they will
desert me. No, 70, applause.] Whom
have l betrayed7 What principle have
violated? What sentiment have l swerv-
ed from? Can those who. assait me put
their fingers upon any one? tNo,' No
In all the speeches that have been made,
no one hss darest to put his finger" upon II
single principle ever asserted from
which 1 have deviated. Have you not
heard some Of them, mt som" time, attempt
to quote my predecessor, who fell mar
tyr to his country's cause? But they can
give no sentiment of his that is i'm OppOsi-
ton or in contradiction to anything that
have done. The very policy that I an
now pursuing was pursued by me under
his administration, having been appoint
ed by him in aparticular position for that
very purpose. Inscrutible providence
saw proper to remove him from this to /
trust n better world, anu came into his
place, and there is not Il principle of his i'm
reference to the restoration Of the Union
from which l have departed. None.
none.l Then the war is not simply upon
me, but it is upon my predecessor also. I
have tried to do my duty. I Know that
some are enyious, and jealous, and speak
of the Whine House as having attractions
for the President. Let me say 10 you, the
charms Of the White House have rs little
influence upon me rs upon any individual
in this country, and much less upon me
than those who are talking about ii. The
little That l eat and wear does not amount
to much, and the difference between what
is enough to sustain me and my little fam
ily-it is very small, for am not kin 10
many folks by consangninity, though by
affinity am kin to everybody--the differ
ence between the little that sufliccs for my
stomach and back, and more than enough
has no charms for NE. The p oud and
conscious satisfaction Ofhaving performed
my duty to my country, to my children,
aud to the inner man, is all the reward L
ask. lGreat applause.] In conclusion,
let he ask this vast concourse here to-day,
this sea Of upturned faces, to come with
me, or I will go with you, and stand
around the Constitution Of our country.
1t is again unfolded; the people are invit-
ell to read and understand to sustain, and
maintain its provisions. Let US stand by
the Constitution ofour fathers, tfaMgh the
heavens themselves should fall. Though
faction may rage, though taunts and jeers
may come, though abuse and vituperation
may be poured ont in the NEST violent
form, l mean TO be found standing Ivy the
constitution OF my country. Stand by the
Constitution as the chief ark of our safely,
ligious liberty. Yes, let US cling TO- il us
the mariner clings TO the last plank when
the night and the, tempest close around
him Accept my thanks, my countrymen
for the indulgence you have extended 10
me while Submitting To you extemporane-
ously, and perhaps incoherently, the re-
marks which / have now made. Let us
go away, forgetting the past, and looking
to future, resolved to endeavOr to restore
our Governaent to its pristine purity,
trusting in Him who is on high, but who
controls all here below, that ere long our
Union will be restored, and that We shall
have peace, not only with all the n tions
of the earth, but peace and good will
among all parts Of the people ofthe United
States. thank you for the respect you
have manifested to mo OH this. occasion,
and ifthe time shall come, during the pc
Rod of my existence, when the country is