Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-03-06
sTAUNTON, VA, TUESDAY, MARCH 6. 1866.

L
>shedding of blood. This is the substance of
your Government may be taken away while
there IS held out to you the form and the shad
0W. And now, what are the attempts and what
| is being proposed? We find that bv an ire
sponsible central directory nearly all the powers
OF Congress are assumed without even consult
ing the Legislative and executive departments of
the Government. By resolution reported by
a committee upon whom and in whom the le-
gislatlve power OF the Government has been
lodged, that great principle in the Constitution
which authorizes and empowers the legislative
department, the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatlves, to be the judges Of elections, returns
and qualifications OF Its own members, has been
virtually taken away from the two respective
branches OF the National Legislature, and con-
ferTed upon a committee, who must report be-
fore the body can act On the question of the ad-
mission OF members to theirseats. By this rule
they assume State is out of the Union and to
have its practical relations restored by that rule,
before the House can judge of the qualifications
of It's own members. What position is that p
You have been struggling for four years to put
down rebellion You contended at the begin
mng of that struggle that State had not a
right to go out. You said it had neither the
right nor the power, and it has been settled
that the States had neither the right nor the
power to go out of the Union. And when you
determine by the executive, by the military,
and by the public judgment, that these States
cannot have any right to go out, this committee
turns around and assumes that they are out
and that they shall not come in.
| am free to say to you as your executive,
that am not prepared to take any such posi-
ton. Great cheering. [ said in the Senate,
in the very inception of this rebellion, that the
States had no right to secede That question
has been settled. Thus determined, [ cannot
turn round and give the lie direct to all that [
profess to have done during the last four years
[ say that when the States that attempted to
secede comply with the Constitution and give
sufficient evidence Of loyalty, shall extend to
them the right hand of fellowship, and let peace
and union be restored [ am opposed to the
Davises, the Tonbses, the Sidells, and the long
list of such But when perceive, on the other
hand, men A voice., ''CaIl them off, ~ I care
not by what name you call them-still opposed
to the Union, | am free to say to you that am
still with the people I am still for the preser-
vation Of these States the preservation Of
this Union, and in favor Of this great Govern
ment accomplishing its destiny
Here the President was called upon to give
the names Of three of the members of Congress
to whom he had alluded as being opposed to
the Union.
The gentleman calls for three names. [ am
talking to my friends and fellow-citizens here
Cheers Suppose [ should name to you those
whom [ look upon as being opposed to the fun
damental principles Of this Government, and as
now laboring to destroy them. [ say Thaddeus
Stevens, Of Pennsylvania; [ say Charles Sum-
ner, of Massachusetts; [ say Wendell Phillips,
of Massachusetts,. Great cheering and a voice,
S'Forney!'
I do not waste my fire on dead ducks
Laughter. [ stand for the country, and
though my enemies may traduce, SANDER and
yituperate, L may say, that has no force
In addition to this, | do not intend to be gov
erned by real Or pretended friends, nor do | in
tend to be bullied by my enemies. Cheers. |
An honest conviction is my slstenance, the
Constitution my guide. I know, my country
men, that it has been insinuated-nay, said di-
rectly, in high places-that If such usurpation
of power had been exercised two hundred years
ago in particular reigns, it would have cost an
drew johnson been guilty of? [Cheers, and
cries Of ''None' My only usurpation has
been committed by standing between the peo-
pie and the encroachments Of power. And be-
cause [ dared say, in conversation with a fell
ow-citiZen, and a Senator, too, that [ thought
amendments to the Constitution ought not to
be so frequent, lest the instrument lose all it's
sanctity and dignity, and be wholly lost sight of
in short time and because [ happened to
say in conversation, that [ thought such and
such an amendment was all that ought to be
adopted, it was said, that [ had suggested such
a usurpation of power as would have cost king
his head in a certain period In connection
with this subject, one has exclaimed that we
are in the midst Of earthquakes and he trem-
bled Yes, there as an earthquake approach
ing, there Is @ gaOundsaueU coming Of popular
Judgment and indignation The American
people viii speak, and by their instinct, if in no
other way, know who are their friends, when
and where and in whatever position | stand
and | have occupied many positions in the Gov
ernment, going through both branches of the
says ''and was tailor" Laughter. Now,
that don't affect me in the least. When I was
a tailor [ always made a close fit, and was al
ways punctual to my customers, and did good
work.
A voice-No patchwork.
The President-No, [ did not want any patch
work. But we pass by this DEPRESSION Init
nations have been thrown out-and when prin-
ciples are involved and the existence Of my
country imperilled, will, as on former occa-
sons, speak what [ think. Yes. Cost him
have [ been guilty of this? Where is the man,
in all the positions have occupied, from that
of alderman to the vice presidency, who can say
that Andrew johnson ever made a pledge that
he did not redeem, OR ever made promise that
he violated, or that he acted with falsity to the
people?
They may talk about beheading, but when I
am beheaded [ want the American people to be
the witness Cheers [ do not want by
inuendoes of an indirect character in high
places, to have one say to a man who has as
sassination broiling in his heart, ''there is fit
subject" and also excaim that the ''Presiden-
tial obstacle must be got out Of the way, when,
possibly, the intention was to institute assassi-
nation Are those who want to destroy our in
stitutions and change the character Of the Gov
elnment not satisfied with the blood that has
been shed? Are they not satisfied with one
martyr? Does not the blood Of Lincoln ap-
pease the vengeance and wrath Of the oppo=
nents of this Government? Is their thirst still
unslaked? Do they want more blood? Have
they not honor and courage enough to effect the
removal of the Presidential obstacle otherwise
than through the hands Of the assassin? [ am
not afraid of assassins; but if it must be,
Mould wish to be encountered where one brave