New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-08-23
NUMBER s,

public press. What, gentlemen, has been your ano
| nay SIN What has been the cause of our offend
ing! will tell you. Daring to stand by
the Constitution Of our fathers CHEERS 1
The President here approached the spot where
senator johnson was standing, and said 80 CON
slider the proceedings of this convention sir as
more important than those Of any convention that
ever assembled in the United States (CIreat an.
pause.) When look with nv mind s eve upon that
collection Of citizens, coming together voluntarily
and sitting in counsel with IDEAS with prfncpes and
views commensurate with all the States and cock
te1sive with the whole people and contrast them
with the collection of gentlemen who are trying to
destroy the country, regard it as more important
man any convention that sat- at least since I7S7
Loud cheers.) think i may say, also, that the
declarations that were there made are equal to
the Declaration of Independence itself. And
mere 10 day pronounce it g a second declaration
OF Independence" (Cries of glorious and the
most enthusiastic and prolonged applause.)
Your address and declarations are nothing
more nor less than reafirmation of the Coustitl-
ton Of the United Staes. (Cries of good"
and cheers) Yes, / will go further and say
that theldecarations you have enanciated in
Your address are second proclamation Of eman-
cipaton to the people Of the United States. (Re-
newed applause) For, in procaiming and repro
claiming these great truths, you have laid down a
constitutional platform upon which all can make
common cause, and stand together, for the
restoration of the States and the pre-
seryation of the government, without any
reference TO party questions, which only
is the salvation of the country; for our couIi-
try rises above all party considerations or nfu-
ences (Cries of Good" and cheers.) How many
are in the United States that now require to be
free that have the shackles upon their llmbs and
are bound as rgidly as though they were in fact
IN slavery lrepeat, then your declaration is the
second proclamation Of emancipation to the peo-
pie of the United States, and offers common
ground upon which all patriots can stand.
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen, let me, in this
| connection, ask you what have / to gain more
] HgTl flan nlr1r0
am as much opposed to the indulgence of egotism
| as any one. But here 10 a conversational manner
while formally reviewing the proceedings Of this
| convention, may be permitted again to ask what
| have to gam, consulting human ambition, more
than have gained. Except in one thing my race
| is nearly run. | have been placed in the high
| office which occupy under the Constitution of
the country, and may say have held from low
| est to highest-almost every position to which a
| man may attain in our government; have passed
through every position from an alderman Of viii
lage to the presidency, and surely, gentlemen this
should be enough to crafty reasonable ambition.
If wanted authority or if l wished to perpetuate
my own power, how easy it would have been to
hold and WELD that which was placed in my
hands by measures called freedmens bureau bills
daughter and applause.) With an army which ii
placed at my discretion could have remained al
the capital of the United States and with its So
or go 600, 600 of appropriations at my disposal
with the machinery to be worked with my OWE
hands, with satraps and dependents in every
tONu anu fllldBE, duu lue1. Win Lne CIVIL fiE0tS
bill following as an auxiliary (Laughter) in CON
| nection with all the other appliances Of tie
| government, could have proclaimed myself dicta
tator (cres of that's true, and three cheers for
| the Presdent.)
But gentlemen, my pride and my ambition have
| been to occupy that position which retains all
| power in the hands of the people. (Great cheer
ingD 1t is upon that have always relied. 1t !:
upon that rely now. "a voice, and the people
will mot disappoint you.'i) And I repeat that
neither the taunts, nor ieers of Congress- nor Of
calumnlating press can drive me from my pur
pose. (Great applause.l l acknowledge nc
superior, except my God and the author of my
existence, the people of the.United States (Pro
ionged and enthusiastic cheers.) For the one
try to obey all his commands as best as l car
compatible with my poor humanity. For tn,
other in political and representative sense tn,
high behests of the people have always been re
spected and obeyed by me. cloud cheers.)
Mr.. Chairman, have said more than INTENDED
For kind illusions to myself contained in your ad
dress and in resolutions adopted by the conven
ton, let me remark that in this crisis and at thi
period of my public life, hold above all pric
and shall ever reeur with feelings of profount
qualification to the last resolution containing thu
Endorsement of the convention, emanating spon
: taneously from the great mass Of the people
cloud cheers) trust and hope that my future
action may be such that you and the convention
may not regret the assurance of confidence yol
have expressed to me. (Cries of 60 We are sur
! of it")
Before separating, my friends, one and all, com
mittee and strangers, please accept my sincer
thanks for the kind manifestations of regard AM
respect you have exhibited on this occasion.
repeat, shall always continue to be governed b,
3 firm and conscientious conviction of duty TAM
that always gives one couragel under the Consti
4 teton, which make my guide.
$ At the conclusion of the Presidents remarks
three cheers were enthusiastically given for An
drew johnson, and three more for Gen. GRAM
The President and Gen. Grant then retired arm i
arm, and the committee and the audience con
menced to disperse.