The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-05-01
} FOURTEENTH voLUME--NUMBER rs.

son aud laws! There is no one learned In con.
stit utional law who will say that if traitor han
pens to get into Congress the body cannot ex-.
pei him after he gets in. That makes assurances
doubly sure, aud conforms the action OF the
government to the Constitution of our fathers.
Hence say let US stand by that Constitution,
and in standing BY it the covenant will be pro-
served.
While have been contending against trait
ors and treason and secession, aud the dissolu.
rion oi the Union, have been conteudiug at
the same time against the consolidation OF pow
er here. Cries of good / think the consoli-
dation O. power here is equally dsagerous with
the separation Of the States. [Cheersl The
one would weaken US and might run into anar-
chy, while the other would concentrate and run
into monarchy. Cheers and cries of "Can't do
it"1 o, bot there is an idea abroad that one
man can be despos; that one man can DO
usurper, but that hundred or t~e hundred
men caDnoe.
Mr. Jefferson, the apostle of liberty, tells rs,
SO does common sense, that tyranny aud despot-
ism can be exercised by many more vigorously
aud more tyranuically than by one. What
power has your President to be tyrant? What
can be do? What can he originate? Why.
they say, he exercises the veto power! Laugh
ter What is the veto power1 ca voice
"To put down the nigger." Laughter
Who's your President? Several voices
candy Johnson!"] Is he not elected by the
people through the electoral colleges? The
President is nothing more than the tribune Of
the people. His Office is tribunal 10 its charao.
In olden times, when tribunes were first eleG-
ted in tie Roman Republic, they stood at the
door Of the Roman Senate, which was then
overreaching on the popular rights aud putting
the heel Of power on the neeks of the people.
The people chose tribune aod placed hin at
the door OF the Senate, SO that VIXEN that body
ventured an oppressive act he was clothed with
power to say ''veto"-I forbid Your Presi-
dent is now the tribune of the people, aud,
thank God, am, and intend to assert the
power which the people have placed in me-
Cheers.
Your President, standing here day after day.
and discharging bis duty, is like horse on the
tread wheel; and because he dsres to differ in
opinion in regard to public measures, he must
be denounced as a usurper and tyrant Can he
originate anything under the veto power?
think the veto power is conservative in its char
acter All that can be done by the veto power
is to say, when legislation is improper, hasty,
unwse, unconstitutional, "stay, stop action.
Wait tiil this can be submitted to the people,
and let them consider whether it is right or
wrong" Applause.
That is all there is in it. Hence say that
tyranny and power can be exercised some where
else than by the Executive He is powerless.
All that he can do is 10 check legislation-to
hold i, in state of allegiance ill the people
can consider and understand what is being
done. Then, what has been done? | have
done what believed the Constitution required
mo m IN lAppI.nea I I hava dnno wh hat 4
believed duty aud conscience required me to
do. [Cheers.] So believing, intend to stick
to my position, relying on the Judgment, the
integrity and the intelligence of the masses OF
the American people-the soldiers and sailors
expressly. ECheels
Then, for my life l cannot see where there 10
any tyranny. 1t is very easy to impugn mo-
tives and suspect the purity of the best acts Of
a mans lite If you come forward and propose
a certain thing, your motives suspected and
condemned; and if you withhold your opinion
you are regarded as being opposed to the mat
ter, so that it is very hard to move one way or
the other SO far as certain perseos are concern
ed, in ali questions pertaining to the interest Of
the great masses of the American people, for in
them is my hope and the salvation Of tho conn
try.
am with you citizens, soldiers and sailors
Who has sacrificed or imperied more than the
humble individual who addresses your Has
not my all been put upon it? Ny life, my pro-
perty-everything sacred and dear to man
have been staked upon it, and can [ now be
suspected of falteriDg at the close of this third
ordeal of the nation?
Who is he, in public or private life who has
| sacrificed more, or who has devoted more OF bis
time and energies to the accomplishment Of the
great end TRAN |? And have done it from
the promptings of my own heart and conscience.
l believe l right, and with your help sua
your countenance and your encouragement,
shall 60 through on that line. CCheers and
laughter
And when come to talk about sailors and
soldiers; about this to be done and that TO bs
done, all want is for you to wait aud see, 90
far as the future is concerned. Wait and see II
l do not stand by you, although every other
may falter and fail. GCheers want to sas
measures Of policy brought forward that will
advance the interests of the people. of that por-
ton of the people who have constituted the gal.
lant and brave men who 10 both branches OF
the service have upheld the national flag and
sustained the country in the recent struggle.
| thank you, gentlemen, for the encourage
meut. l thank you for your counteosnce 90
this occasion. 1t cheers me on and gives me
strength to perform the work before me. 1--we
are true to ourselses-if we are true TO the Con-
s,itution, the day 10 not far distant whep this
| Government will be restored. Let rs enlarge
the area of our commerce. and trade. Let ~
| not only inspire confidence at home, but respect
abroad, by letting the patton resume IL career
of prosperity aod greatness.
As the President closed bis speech he was
| i..aIz .nd rootinnonalv checved The hand