New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-08-20
The Presidents Speech.

WASHING on, Aug 18.-Tlere was great
crowd to-day to hear the President. in response
to Reverdy Johnson, who presented the 0ihciaL
proceedings of the convention, he said in reference
to tile scene of therepresentatiyes of South Caro-
lima and Massachusetts, entering the convention
together, that he was overcome, and could not
but conclude that an OyeTfuling Providence was
debating us Alright. He said, "Our brave men
have performed their duties in the field and have
won laures imperishable." Turning to General
Grant, he continues g But there are greater and
more important duties to perform, and while we
have seen their cooperation in the field, we now
need their efforts toperpetuate peace (Applause'l
The executive department had aimed to pour OIL
on the wounds to restore the Union, but had not
entirely succeeded. We have seen, he said, in one
department of the government every effortto pre-
vent the restoration Of peace and harmony In the
Union.
eve have seen hanging2on the verge of govern
ment as it were, a body called or when assumed
to be, the Congress Of the United States, Whlie,
in fact, it is Congress OF only part OF th9
States. We have seen this Congress assume ana
pretend to be for the Union, when its every steP
and act tend to perpetuate dsunlon anu nlaNe q
disruption of the States inevitable, instead ol
promoting reconciliation and harmony. lts legis-
iaton has partaken Of the character OF penalties
relative to revenge, This has been the course
and the policy of one portion OF your govern
ment The humble individual who is now address
ing you stands as the representative of another
department of the government. The manner IN
which he was called to occupy that position /
shall not alude to on this OCCASION Sufficient to
say that he is here under the Constitution Of the
country; and being here by virtue OF Its proVi-
sions he takes his stand upon that charter OF our
liberties as the greatramparto OF civil and religoaS
liberty. (PrOonged cheers.) Having been
taught in my early life to hold it sacred, and
having practiced upon it during my whole puDllc
career, | shall ever continue to adhere TO the Coh-
stitution of my fathers and make it my guide |
The President proceeded, and denied that ne |
had ever been tyrannical Or a desp0t, but SAD
such charges were simply intended to deceive ana
delude the public mind into the belief that there
is some one in power who Is usurping and tramp
ling upon the rights of the Constitution, p" Inns -
done by those who make such charges for tae
purpose of covering their own acts. E That's so,
and applause ! have felt it my duty, in yindl-
cation Of the principles and Constitution OF my
country, to cal the attention q my couryLen
to these proceedings Having placed myself upon
that broad PLATFORM ! have not been aWea, or DIS
mayed, or inundated, by either threats 81 en-
crOachments, but have stood there IN cohJuhcuoti
with patriotic statesmen sounding the tocsln'of
alarm when | deemed the citadel IN danger.
Great applause) said, and repeat it now mat
all that was necessary in this great struggle against
tyranny and despOtism was mat the stfugSle
should he sufficiently audible for the American
people to hear aud perfectly understand, lhey
did hear, and looking on see WHO the contestants
were and what the struggle wasdbOut, determined
that they should settle this on the side OF the
Constitution and principle proclaim
here to-day, as have on previous &C,
casions that my faith is in TIE great mass of the
E people, In the darkest hour Of this struggle,
when the cloud seemed to be most lowering my
faith, instead Of giving way, loomed up through
the cloud beyond, when i saw tntladI NOulu pe
well in the end hattyranny and despotism, IN tne
language Of Thomas Jefferson, can be exercised
and executed more efectually the many imam tle
one. We have seena Congress graduatly e1Gfoacl
step by step, and violate day after day and month
after month the Constitution and the fundamental
principles Of governmentWe have seena Congress
that seemed to forget that there was limit 10 int
sphere and sCope-ot- legislation. We nave seen
CONGRESS- in A minority assume and exercise powe
which, if allowed to be carried out would result II
despotisni anarchy itself This Is the truth ant
because others as welbasmyseA have seen prope
to appeal to the patriotic ana repu5llcAh ieehhg
of the country, we have been denpunCeH IN IN
81 severest terms SANDER upon Islander; Vltupera
4 ton upon vituperaton Of the most EI4aih95a
character has made its way through IN
press What, gentlemen has been the cause Q
T. our being offended? | will tell you: Daring I
= stand by the Constitution Of our fathers. ! COZ
slider the proceedings OF this convention more Ill
portant than those Of any convention ever Assem-
bIed in the United States. (Great applause
- When Hook with my mind upon that cellecnoh !
cry citizens coming together voluntarily and sltuhS
council with ideas, with principles, ana views
west communicate with all the States and the who
~ people and with the collection Of persons who al
y" trying to destroy the country regard 1t as MOI
important than any convention that has sat
sup least since 1871. (Renewed applause) think
we'd may also say that the declarations That WEI
as there made are equal to the Declaration OF ina
that pendence. (Cries ofS'glorions, and most e.
way, thusastC and prolonged applause,) our aadre
and and declarations nothing more nor less than
rifle reformation Of the Constitution of the Unit
,ctly States. Yes, will 20 further and say That Il
G III declarations you have made that the prlnclpl
Then you have announced in your address are secoi
VS. proclamation Of emancipation to the people OF
Ored United States. (ReneWed applause] For IN pr
claiming the great truths You have laid down
,ow constitutional platform, upon which all G.
their make common cause and stand united togeth
are for the restoration of the States and preseryau
for of the government without reference to part
the The only question is the salvation OF the COUNT
most for our country rises above all party consderan
with or influence. How many are there III the Unit
wire | Gta+pg that to be treet IheV ma
the the shackles upon their limbs bound as rgldly
ratus though they were in slavery. repeat then, II
bany your declaration is the second proclamation
nd Of emancipation to the people of the United stat
and and offers common ground upon winch all p
Ups in ties can stand. (Appause.) Mr.. Chairman a
Crap gentlemen, let me, in this connection, ask WI
Unity, have | to gain more than the advancement
cross the public welfare? | am as much opposed
ID ten the Indulgence of egotsm; but here, in cony
sational manner, while formally receiving
more proceedings of this convention, may be P
re of intted to ask, what have Ito gain by consult
If the human ambition more than have gained, exc
is be, in one thing? My race is nearly run. hi
II, all been placed in the high office which oCct
richly under the Constitution of the country, and n
south say have held, from the lowest to the high
ear of almost every position which man may in
are in government-and surely, gentlemen, this sho
dead be enough to crafty reasonable ambition.
would wished to perpetuate my own power, how cas-
Crap would have been to hold and WELD that which
fly 10 placed in my hands by the measure called
sistent freedmens bureau bill. daughter and appiau
,tra in With an army which it placed at my discreto
IN i'm could have remained at the capital of the nat
ain to and with fifty sixty millions Of appropriate
Inglish my disposal, with the machinery worked by
s. satraps and dependents in every town and Wilt
contin- and then with the civil rights bill following a
ear to auxiliary (laughter) IN connection with all
iyal Of other appliances of the government could
nay be proclaimed myself dictator; but, gentlemen,
made. pride and my ambition have been to occupy
remain position which retains all the powers in the hi
should of the people 1t is upon that have always
second lied. 1t is upon that rely now, and repeat
Great neither the taunts eers of Congress, nor
| of the subsidized eliminating press, can drive
ps will from my purposes. (Great applause ackn
lmence edge no superior, except my God, the autho
lway is my existence, and the people of the W
lifting States prolonged and enthusiastic cheeri
with For the one, try to obey all His comma
,e miles poor humanity for the other In political
least representative sense the high behests OF the
b pie have always beenrespected and obeyed by
ay, the (Applause.A Mr.. Chairman Ihave said more
nels Of had intended to say. For the kind alusi
ope re- myself contained in your address and in the
by the buttons adopted by the convention et me re
lise the that in this crisis and the present period OF
year as public career, hold above price and shall
els and recur with feelings of profound qualification
vain to last resolution, containing the Endorsement
thing is convention, emanating spontaneously from
lings is great mass of the people, l trust and hope
Ia fI,A