Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-08-29

| its character. But | VIII say that having
taken my stand upon the broad principles
of liberty and the Constitution, there is not
power enough on earth to drive me from it.
Loud and prolonged applause Having
placed myself upon that broad platform,
have not been awed, dismayed or intimidat-
ed by either threats or encroachments, but
have stood there in conjunction with patri-
otto spirits, sounding the tocsin Of alarm
when I deemed the city in danger. Great
applause | said on a previous occasion,
and repeat it now, that all that was necessa-
~ in this great struggle against tyranny and
despotism was, that the struggle should be
sufficiently audible for the American people
to hear and understand. They did hear,
and looking on and seeing who the contest
ants were and what that struggle was about,
they determined they would settle this ques-
ton on the Constitution and of principle.
TCries of That so, and applause. l
proclaim here to-day, as l have on other oc-
casions. that my faith is abiding in the great
mass of the people In the darkest strug-
gle, when the clouds seemed the most lower
ing my faith, instead of giving way, loom
ed up through the dark cloud far beyond,
and l saw that all would be safe in the end.
My countrymen, we all know that IN the
language of Thomas Jefferson, tyranny and
despotism even can be exercised and exertcd
more effectually by the many than by the
one. We have seen Congress gradually en-
croach step by step upon constitutional
rights, and violate day after day and month
after month the fundamental principles OF
the government Cries of That's so, ~
and applause We have seen a Congress
that seemed to forget that there was a Con
stitution of the United States-that there
was limit to the sphere and scope Of legis-
lation. We have seen Congress in a mi
allowed to be carried out, would result in des-
potism or monarchy itself. Enthusiastic
applause. This is truth, and because 9TH
ers as we'll as myself have seen proper to ap-
peal to the patriotism and republican feeling
of the country, we have been denounced in
the seyerest terms. Slander upon SANDER,
vituperation upon vituperation of the most
villainous character, has madeitsway through
the press. What, gentleman, has been your
and my sin ? What has been the cause Of
our offending / will tell you. Daring to
stand by the Constitution of our fathers :
GApproaching Senator johnson. / consider
the proceedings of this Convention, sir, as
more important than those of any conven-
ton that ever assembled in the United
States Great applause. When look
with my mind $ eye upon that collection OF
citizens coming together voluntarily, and sit
ting in council, with ideas, with principles,
and views commensurate with all the States,
and co-extensiye with the whole people, and
contrast it with the collection Of gentlemen
who are trying to destroy the country, re-
gard it as more important than any conyen-
| ton that has sat at least, since 1877. Re-
pewed applause think may also say,
that the declarations that were there made
are equal with the Declaration of Independ-
ence Itself, and here to-day pronounce 1t
second Declaration of independence. Clio
rious, sand most enthusiastic and prolonged
applause.
Your address and declarations are nothing
more nor less than a reaffirmation of the
| Constitution of the United States. Cries
of Good and applause. Yes, | will go
| farther, and say that the declarations you
| have made, that the principles you have
enunciated in your address, are asecond proc
| l2mation of emancipation tOthe people OF the
| United States; renewed applause for in
prOclaiming and reproclaiming these great
| truths you have laid down a constitutional
platform upon which all can make common
cause, and stand united together for the res
| toration of the States and preservation of
| the government without reference to party.
| The query only is the salvation of the coun-
| try for our country rises above all party
! considerationsor influences. Cries of good,
and applause How many are there in the
! United States that now require To be free
| They have the shackes upon their limbs and
are bound as rigidly as though they were in
fact in slavery. L repeat, then, thatyour dec
laration is the second proclamation of eman-
! cipation to the people of the United States,
and offers common ground upon which all
patriots can stand. Applause.
! Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen, let me IN
this connection ask you what L have to gam
more than the advancement of the public
welfare l am as much opposed to the In
| dulgence of egotism as any one, but here, in
a conversational manner, while formally re-
ceiving the proceedings of this Convention,
| may be permitted again to ask, what have
! | to gain consulting human ambition more
than have gained, except one thing? My
race is nearly run. | have been placed in the
high office which / occupy under the Constl-
| tuition of the country, and | may say that L
have held, from lowest to highest, almost
every position to which man may attain in
| our government | have passed through
every position, from alderman OF village to
| the Presidency of the United States 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 would 1T have been to
hold and WELD that which was placed in my
| hands by the measure called the Freedmen S
Bureau Bill. Laughter and applause. i
With an army which it placed at my disere
ton, could have remained at the capital of
the nation, and with fifty or sixty millions Of
appropriations at my disposal, with the ma
chinery to be worked by my own hands, with
my satraps and dependents in every town
and village, and then with the Civil Rights
Bill following as an auxiliary laughter, in
connection with all the other appliances Of
the government i could have proclaimed my
self dictator That true, and applause.
But, gentlemen, my pride and my ambition
have been to occupy that position which re-
| tains all power in the hands of the people.
[Great cheering 1t is upon that have al
ways relied 1t is upon that l rely now. \
/ Yoice-"And the people will not disappoint