Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1866-09-01
+ O J. T II Z @ a Il
Presideat Jnsnsons Remarks TO tho Com.
tnittes Of the Philadelphia Convention


WASHINGTON, August 18.-There was
great crowd t" day to hear the President, ip
response to R"vcr'!y Johnson, who presented
ne oHhc'al proceedings of the Convention,
nc Hs'd' referring with feeling to the scene
ssls ,slR1sssnniafftah sniaftha q hapt5hy Gettl @ Vas
overcome, a;.S coald not but conclude that
All ovcrruling proyilrncc was directing US
Alright lie said our brave men have per-
formed their duties on the field and have won
lurcls mperishablc; but, Cunning to Ger.
Randall,) he continued, there are greater and
more important duties to perform, and while
VIC bayc had their cooperation in the field,
we now need their efforts to perpctuate
peace. Applnusr.i The Executive Depart
mcnt had tried to pour oil on the waters, and
restore tho Union but it had not entirely
succeeded We have seen, he said in one de-
partment of the Government, every effort to
perfect the restoration of peace aud harmony
in the Cnion. We have seen hanging on the
verge of the Government. AS it we're, a body
called, or which assumed to be, the Con.
grcss Of the United States, while in fact it is
Congress OF only part Of the States. We
have seen this Congress assume and pretend
to BIO aiding the Union when its every step
and act tended to pcrpetuatc disnnion and
make disruption of States inevitable, in
stead of promoting reconciliation and harno.
ny. It's legislation has p,rtaken Of the char
actcr of penalties, retaliation and revenge =
This has been the course and the policy of one
portion Of your Government. The humble
individual who is now addressing you stands
the represenntiyc of another department of
the Government. The manner in which he
was called upon to occupy that position, ]
shall not allude to on this occasion; suffice it
to say, that he is here under tho Constitution
of the couatry, and being here by virtue Of
Its provisions, he takes his stand upon that
charter Of our liberties as the great rampant
of civil and religious liberty. CProlongcd
chceringJ Having been taught in NY early
life to hold it sacrcd and having practiccd
upon it during my whole public career, shall
ever continue to reverence tho Constitution oi
my fathers and make it my guide. [IIearty
applause
The President proceeded and denied tho
charge that he had ever been tyrannical or {
dospot; but he said such charges were snrl,
intended to deceive and deude the public
mind into the belief that there is some one il
power who is nsurping and trampling upo,
the rights Of the Constitution. 1t is done BY
those who made such charges for the purpose
of covering their own acts That's 30
and applause.] I have fcltit my duty, in vim
dioatioo of tho principles of the Constitution
of my country, to call the attention of m,
countrymen to these proceedings. When W
come to examine who has been playing the ty
rant. by whom do we find despotism exer
cised AS to myself, the elements of my ma
turc the pursuits of my life, have not mad
me In my feelings or in my practice, opprcs
sive--n,y nature, on tho contrary, is rathor de
fonsve IN its character; but will say that
having taken my stand upon the broad prin
oiples Of liberty and the Constitution, ther
is not power enough on earth to drive mo fron