Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1866-03-15

a committee, in whom it seems that prac-
/ tically the legislative power of the Gov
ernment is now vested; the great princi-
pie Of the Constitution which authorizes
and empowers each branch of the Legisla-
tive Department of the Senate and the
Houss of Representatives to judge for
itself of the election returns and qualifca-
/ tiens of its own members has been virtu-
| ally taken away from the two branches of
the Legislative Department of the Gov
ernment, and conferred upon committee
who must report, before either House can
act under the Constitution as to accepting
the members who are to take their seats
as component parts of the respective bodies.
BY this rule it is assumed that there
must be laws passed recognizing State as
in the Union, or its practical relations to
! the Union as restored, before the respec-
! tive Houses, under the Constitution. can
judge of the election returns and qualiica-
! tions of their own members. What po-
sition is that7 You struggled for four
years to put down rebellion you denied
/ in the beginning of the struggle that any
State could 90 out of the Union; you said
/
er to do SO. The issue was made, and it
/ has been settled that the State had neither
/ the right nor the power 10 90 out of the
! Union with what consistency, after it
/ has been settled by the military arm of
! the Government, and by the public judg-
ment, that the States had no right TO 90
/ out of the Union, can any one now turn
round and assume that they are out, that
! they shall not come in. | am free to say
to you, as your Executive, that [ am not
prepared to take any such position
| Great applause) l said in the Senate,
at the very inception of this Rebellion,
| that the States had no right to 90 out; |
asserted too that they had no power TO 90
out that question has been settled, and
it being settled, | cannot turn around now
and give the lie direct to all l have pro-
fessed, and all | have done for the last
five years. (Applause.) When those who
rebelled comply with the Constitution !;
when they give sufficient evidence of their
! loyalty; when they show that they can
be trusted when they yield obedience to
the law that you and | acknowledge obe-
dience 10, | say extend 10 them the right
hand of fellowship, and let peace and un
ion be restored. Tremendous applause. }
STILL IN THE FIELD
[ fought traitors and treason in the
South. | opposed the Davises, the
Toombs, the Slidells, and a long list of
others, which you can readily fill without
my repeating the names. Now, when /
turn round and at the other end of the line
find men, | care not by what name you
call them, who still stand opposed to the
restoration of the Union Of these States,
| am free to say TO you that l am still in
the field. Great applause. l am still
, for the preservation of the Union. l am
still in favor of this great Government of
! ours going on and on, and filling out its
destiny. [Great applause. Voices
Give us three names at the other end
! THE NAMES AT THE OTHER END.
/ The PRESIDENT am called upon to
! name three at the other end of the line.
/ I am talking to my friends and tellow-clt-
/ izcns, who are interested with me in this
/ Government, and | presume | am free TO
mention to you the names of those whom
| look upon as being opposed to the fun
! damentaI principles Of this Government.
| and who are laboring to pervert and des-
/ troy it. Voices, ''Name them," ''Who
are they ~ The Presidency on ask me
who they are. say Thadd'eus Sterens, of
Pennsylvania, is one | say, -H'. Sumner,
/ of the Senate, is another, and Wendell
PhiLios is another. Long continued APP
/ plause. Voices, s'Give it to Forney !')
| The President-In reply to that~1 will
simply say 1 do not ,raste hig ammunition
,,pon dead ducks. Great laughter and
applause. I stand for my country; L
! stand for the Constitution. There [ have
always placed my feet from my advent to
public life, They may traduce me, they
may slander, they may vituperate me,
but let me say to you, all this has no IN
fuence upon me. Great applause.
NOT TO BE BULIIED.
Let me say further, that do not intend
to be overawed by real or pretended trends,
nor do mean TO be bullied by my enc
mics. Tremendous applause Honest
! conviction is my courage, the Constltu-
ton is my guide. / know my country
men that it has been insinuated, no, not
insinuated, it has been said directly IN
high places that if such a usurpatlon OF
| power as am charged with had been eX-
ercised some two hundred years ago in
particular reign, it would have cost an IN
| dividuaI his head. Great laughter Ot
what usurpation has Andrew johnson
| been guilty? None. None.