Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-03-01

piece of parchment, and laid away that in - "a u
time of war and rebellion there was no Constitn
ton. WE'LL we know that sometimes from tI.
very great necessity OF the case from great ena
gency we must do unconstitutional things in o
der to preserve the Constitution itself Bnt :,
while the rebellion WAS going on the Constitution,
was rolled up as @ parchment if it was violotnJ
in some particulars to save the Government tbcra
may have been some excuse to justify it, Rrt
now that peace has come now the war is over
we want written Constitution ; and / saw thn
time has come to take the Constitution down, IN
roll it, re-read it, and understand its provision
Now if YOU have saved the Government bv VIC
lating the Constitution in Wal, you can only save
it in peace by preserving the Constitution and tho
only way to preserve it is by strict adherence f.
the Constitution of fathers it is now unfold
ed. It must now be read and understood by the
American people, I come here to-day, far as
can, in makingthe remarks to vindcate the Con.
stitution and to it, for it does seem to me that
encroachment after encroachment is proposed !
stand to-day prepared, so far as can, to resist
these entertainments upon the Constitution and
Government Now that we have peace, let us Ell.
force the Constitution let us live under and bv
its provisions let it be published let it be print
ed in blazing characters as If 1T were In the hcav
ems, punctuated with stars, that all may read and
understand let us consult that instrument let
us digest it's provisions, understand them, and un-
Outstanding, abide by them:
tell the opponents of this Government, Il care
not from what quarter they come, whether from
y
gagged in the work of breaking up the Government
by amendments to the Constitution, that the prin.
clpleS of free government are deeply rooted in the
American heart. All the powers combined care
not of what character they are, cannot DESTROY
that great instrument-that great chart of free
dom. They may seem to succeed for time bu1
their attempts will be futile. They might as we'll
undertake to lock up the winds OF chain the wave
of the ocean, and contine them to limits. They
may think now it can be done by concurren,
resolution; but when it is submitted to the popu-
lar Judgment and to the popular will, they will
find that they mi ght as well undertake to intro
duce resolution to repeal the Hw of gravity rs t.
keep this Union from being restored.
THE PEOPLE 70 DECIDE THE QUESTION.
1t is just about feasible to resist the greatlav
of gravity which binds all to a common centre,
that great law of gravity which will bring bach
these States, and replace them in their relations
All these consplracieS and Vaccinations, North
and South cannot prevent it. All that is wanted
is time until the American people can get to know
what is going on l would the whole American
people could be assembled here to-day, as you are
wish had amphitheatre capacious enough
to hold these thirty million people, that they could
be here and witness the struggle that IS going OF
to preserve the Constitution OF their fathers They
would settle this question. They could see who
it is and how it is and what kind of spirit is mani
tested in breaking up this great principle of frer
government. Yes! when they came to see Tho
struggle, and to understand who is for and who
against them, if you could make them perform til"
part OF glad1ators Ill the first tilt you would hn'
the enemies Of the country crushed and heIple~,
lis FIDELITY TO THE PEOPLE.
l have detained you longer than intended
['' Go on. We are i'll great struggle. am
your instrument. Who is there have not toilcd
or laboured for :? Where is the woman
either in public OF private life, who has not al
ways received my attention my time ? Pardon
the egotism they say that man Johnson is lucky
man that man can defeat me- l will tell you
what constitutes good luck. 1t is doing right
and being for the people, that IS what constitutes
good luck. Somehow other the people wall
find out and understand who is for and who i,
against them. | have been placed in as many
trying positions as any mortal man was ever placed
in, but, SO far, have not deserted the people
and { believe they will not desert me- What prn
ciple have [ violated What sentiment have !
swerved from? Can they put their finger upon
it ? Have you heard them point out any discrep
ancy? Have you heard them quote my predc
cessor, who fell martyr to his country cause,
going in opposition or in contradistinction to any
thing that l have done? The very policy which
am pursuing now was pursued under his adj
ministration, was being pursued by him when
that inscrutable Providence saw tit to remove him,
trust to a better world than this. Where is
there one principle adopted by him, in reference
to this restoration, that have departed from
| 90 None none - The war, then, is not simply
upon LIE, but upon my predecessor. [ have tried
to do my duty. [ know that some people in Their
jealousy have made the remark that the White
House is President. Just let me say that the
charms of the White House, and ali that sort OF
hummery, has less influence with me than with
those who talking about it. The little eat OF
wear does not amount to much. That required to
sustain me and my little family is very little, for
am not feeding many, though in one sense of
affinity am akin to everybody.
The conscious satisfaction of having perfored my
duty to my country is all the reward have.
HIS CONCLUDING APPEAL.
Then, in conclusion, let me ask this vast con
course, this sea of upturned faces to go with
in standing round the Constitution of our country
It is again unfolded, and the people are invited to
read to understand, and to maintain it's provisions
Let us stand by the Constitution of our fathers,
though the heavens themselves may fall Let u
stand by it. Though faction may rage, though
taunts and ieers may come, though vituperatiOn
may come in its most violent character, 1 will be
found standing by the Constitution us the Chief
rock of our safety, as the palladium of our civil
and religious liberty. Yes, let us cling to it as the
mariner clings to the last plank when the night
and tempest closes around him.
Accept my thanks for the indulgence you have
given me in making the extemporaneous remarks
l have upon this occasion. Let go forward
forgetting the past and looking to the future and
Try to restore country trusting in Him who
rules high and in the earth below that ere long
QUIZ Union will be restored, and that we will hayc
peace not only OH earth but especially with thu
people of the United States, and good will.
thank you, my countrymen, for the respect you
have manifested on this occasion. When YOU
country is gone if you are about that place, loo.
out and you will find the humble individual who
now stands before you weeping over its final dl-
solution.
The LABOR QUESTION IN FLORIDA The Marin.
Courier, Feb. LIST, says:
We have conversed freely with farmers, il re-
ard 10 fofo Off lo1N