The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1866-08-23

Q cupy that position | shall not allude Ia o
q this occasion: suffice il to say that he
e hereunder the Constitution OF the country
!. aud being hera by virtue of its pro
1 visions. he takes his stand upon the charte
b ofOur liberties as the great rampant o
= civil and religious liberty. Prolonged
! ceering. Having been taught IN my
early life to hold ii sacred, and having
practised upon ii during my whole pub
: lie career, | shall ever continue 70 rever-
ence the Constitution of my fathers and "a
make it my guide. Hearty applausel
know il has been said, aud must be per-
mitted to indulge in this remark, that the
Executive Department of the Government
has been despotic and tyrannical. Let me
ask this audience of distinguished men
around me to-day, to point 10 avote | ever
gave, to a speech | ever made, or any act
of my whole public life, that has not been
against tyranny and de>pO;ism. What
| position have | ever occupied. what
| grounds have | ever assumed. where ii
can be truthfully charged that ! failed to
advocate the amelioration and elevation
OF the great masses Of my countrymen?
Ecries of never and great applause. SO
car as charges of that kind are concerned,
! will say chat they are simply intended to
deceive and delude the public mind sinto
the belief that there is some one in power
who is usurping and tramplng Epon the
rights of the Constitution. 1t is done by
those who makes such charges for the
purpose ofcoyering their ownacts. That's
so and applause.l | have felt it my duty. |
in vindication of the principles of the |
Constitution of my country, 10 call the at |
tentiOn of cOuntrymen TO these proceed |
ings, and when we come to examine who |
has been playing the tyrant, by whom do |
We find despotism eXerclsedy As to my |
self the elements of my nature, the pur
suits of my liie, have not made me, either
in my feelings or in my practice, opprcs-
sive. My nature, on the contrary. is rath-
er defensive in its character; but will say
that having taken my stand upon the
broad principle ofliberty and the Consti-
tuition. there is not power enough on
earth TO drive me from it, Loud and
prolonged applause. Haviug placed my
self upon that broad platform, l have not
been awed. or dismayed. or intimdated
by either threats or encrOachments, but
have stood there in conjunction with pat
riotic spirits sounding the tocsin OF alarm
when l deemed the citadel of liberty en-
dangered. TGreat applause.
said on previous occasion, and re-
peat now that all that was necessary in
the great struggle against tyranny and If
despotism, was that the struggle should
be sufficiently audible for the American
people to hear and properly understand.
They did hear, and looking on and seeing
who the contestants were and what the
was about, determined that they
would settle the question on the side of
the Constitution and OF principle. [Crles
of that's so,n and applause. proclaim
here to-day, as have on previous occas-
ions, that my faith was in the great massofl
the people in the darkest moment of this
struggle. When clouds seemed to be most
lowering, my faith, instead of giving way !
loomed up through the cloud. beyond
which j saw that all would be well in the !
end. My countrymen. we all know that I
tyranny, and despotism, in the language ]
Of Thomas jefferson, can De exercised and
eXerted more eff'ectually by the many
than the one. We have seen a Congress +,
gradually encroach step by step, and
violate day after day, month after month.
rights and the fundamental T
principles of the Government. That's so, q
and applause.l We have seen Congress
that seemed TO forget that there was a
limit to the sphere and scope of legislation. 2
We have seen Congress in the minority 0
assume to exercise powers which, If al a
owed to be carried out, would result in :,
lespotism or ormonarchy itself Enthusias-
.ic applause.l This is truth, and lecause c
)thers as veil as myself have seen proper &
o appeal TO the patriotism and republican g
ceiling off the country, we have been de-
iOuced in the seyerest terms, slanderupon
lander. vituperation upon yituperatiOn,
If the most villainOus character has made Il
Is way through the press. What. gentle n
men, has been your and my sing What l,
las been the cause of our offending?
will tell you. Daring TO stand by the COnsti- s
ution of our fathers. Approaching Sena- C
or Johnson-I consider the proceedings I,
# this Convention, sir, as more important ii
han those of any convention that ever as "
embed In the United States. tGreat ap- Il
Dlause. When | look with my minds e.
we upon that collection of citizens. COM n
NO together voluntarily and sitting i'm 4
ouncil, with ideas. with principles. and y
Jews commensurate with all the States Il
nd cO-extensive with the whole people, Il
nd contrast it with the collection of gem II
lemen who are trying TO destroy the
ountry, ! regard IL as more important
han any Convention that has set at least s.
inec 1887. Renewed applause.l / think f
NAV also say that the declarations that r.
we're then made are equal to the Dcclara :.
ion of independence itself, and have to- ',
ay pronounced them a second Declara- y
ion of Independence. Cries of glorious. r;
nd most enthusiastic and prolonged 9,
heering. Your address and declaration are
othing more nor less than reaflrmatIon
{ the Constitution of the United States. a
Cries. good aud applause.l Yes will 90 d
arther. and say that the declarations yOn X
ave made. that the principles you have :,
in your address. are second "
Of emancipation to the peO- 81
lie Of the United States. Renewed ap-
,lause.l For in proclaiming and repro r,
laiming these great truths. YOU have laid =
Own a constitution aud platform upon Il
which all can make common cause. and G.
tand united together for the restoration n
II the states and the preservation Of the p
government. without reference 10 party. :,
The question only is the salvatson Of the y
0untry. for our country rises above all a
lartv consideration or i1fluences. (Cries .
4 glorious aud applause How many are e,
here la the United States that now re-
uire to be free! They have their shackles y
non their limbs and bound as rigidly as X
hough they were in fact IN slavery. ]
epeat then. that your declaration is the Il
ecOnd proclamation 70 the people OF the =
-nited states. and offers a common -
round upon which all patriots can stand. q
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen. let me In 1
his connection. ask what have 70 gain i
more than the advancement Of public vel y
areg ] am a. much opposed 70 the indul- y
.ence Of egotism - any one. but here. in r..
conversational manner. while formally =
eceiying the proceedings Of the ConFen-
ion may Be permitted again % ask.
what have I 70 gain in consulting human 4
mbition more than have gained. except b
n one thinEs Ny race j. nearly run. ] r
ave been placed in the high Office which :.