Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-04-27

, While have been contending against trait
/ ors and TREASON, and secession and the dissolu-
tton OF the Union, have been cOntending at
! the same time against the consolidation Of pow
er here. (Cries of good | think the con-
solidation oi power here is equally dangerous
with the separation Of the States. (Cheers.) The
one would totter Us and might run into anarchy
while the other would concentrate and eventu-
ate in monarchy. (Cheers and cries Of "Can Z
do it.'') Oh, but there is an idea abroad that
one man can be a usurper. bot that a hundred
or two hundred men cannot. Mr.. Jefferson, the
apostle Of liberty, tells US. and so does common
sense, that tyranny and despotism can be exer-
cised by many more vigorously, more vigorously
and more tyrannically than by one. What pow
er has your President to be a tyrant What
can he DO What can he originate , Why,
they say he exercises the veto power Laughter)
What is the veto power a yoice-''Io put
down the niger Laughter.) Who is your
President, (Several voices-''Andy johnson. y
Is he not elected by the people through the elec-
tOral college The President is nothing more
than the tribune of the people. thank God |
am, and intend to assert the power which the
people have placed in me. Cheers Your Presi-
dent, standing here day after day and discharg-
ing his duty, l. like u horse on a tTead-Wheel;
and because be dar6s differ in opinion in regard
TO public measures he must be denounced as a
usurper and a tyrant. Can be originate any
thing under the veto power | think the veto
power il conservative IN it, character and aftr-
native. All that can be done BY the veto pow
er is 70 SAY, when legislation Is improper hasty,
unwise. unconstitutional, "stOp action. Wait
till this can be submitted to the people, and let
them consider whether it Is right or wrong
(Applause) That is all there is in IL; hence,
say that tyranny and power can be exercised
somewhere else than by the Executive. He is
powerless All that he can D. Is 90 check legis-
lation. 20 hold it IN a state 0' gtryaucC till the
people can consider aud understand what + be-
ing done. Then, wh- las been Ic have
done what believed the constitution required
me 20 DO. (ApTlause.l have done Nhat be
lieyed duty and conscience required me 10 do
(Che,rs) - believing, intend o. stick to my
position. relying on the Judgment. the integrity
and the intelligence Of the m1>ses of the Ameri-
can people. the soldiers and sailor. expressly
(Cheers)
Who has ,acrihc,l Oh periilel more than the
humble iui.yiiual who addresses y.u iias not
nv al been put on tiny life. my rr, lerty -
Everything sacred ami iear 20 lau has been
s,akei upon it. Aud can Eow he suspected oi
altering at the close cf this third ordeal of the
nation Where is hc, in public or private lite,
who has sacrificed more, OF who has devoted
more Of his time and energies 90 The accomplish
ment Of the great end, than AMI have done
it from the pr omptiug, % my Own heart and
conscience. | believe it was right AMI with
your hearts. and your couuteuaucc, and your
announcement shall 90 through 900 that line.
CHEERS and lauehter.)
Ii must strike all as unfortunate that the
President cf the United States should deem
it necessary, IN addressing pl'iy Of sol-
diers and sailors who called to pay him
compliment. to 90 so olabora'ely into biz
own defence. to spend so much breath in
making himself ont 90 he Ter-ccu',l man
to announce with such earnest and abundant
iteration that be- docs not notice 5r heed the
o. calumuiators" 10 whom be giyo- 50 much
attention; and TO proclaim the " sacrifices '
he ha, had TO undergo IN steady advance
mont from the bottom 60 the top OF the
political ladder. IN general It Is unfortunate
that the President should talk - much
about hins.t, and If that must be- the subject
Of his speeches, it is very unfortunate for
him that be has not some friend, influential
enough to induce him to rcfnm from public
Speaking.