Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-09-13
The President at Louisville.
His Speech on Southern Soil.
The speech Of Secretary Se,oard.

! al LVuiHNtilei evening before lasl, Was IL
deed a grand occasion. 1t was eyerythin
that true, generous, honest and brave peo
pie could give to the representative of tn
national justice, liberty and life. 1t was th
first occasion, in this memorable tour, whel
bis foot touched the soil of a late slay
State. He brought to them words of cheer
Of confidence and of hope. We subjoin hi
speech on the OCCASIONS well as that o
Mr.. Secretary SEWARD, as the impression
Of great man born and educated at ths
North, and identified with the opinions o.
the North for the past thirty years, respect
ing the South and her people in the present
emergency. Upon his recepion and intro
duction by Senator GUTHRIE, the President
said:
PRESIDENT JOHNsoN's SPEECH.
FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF LOUIS
VILE AND VICINITY: Permit me on this
occasion, through your honored representa-
tive here to-day, to tender you my cordial
and sincere thanks for this welcome to your
city; and in rendering you my thanks it is
not unmeaning, for | mean what say on
this occasion, for the encouragement and the
kind words that have been given here to-
day, and those which received during the
last session Of Congress from your distin-
guished Representative, are, and we're pecu-
liarly acceptable. Cheers for ROUSSEAU.
Il is not my intention, even if time would
permit, to make a speech to this vast audi.
ence here to-day. 1 viii conclude with a
few words, by repeating again, that my feel
ings, excited by this demonstration and
manifestation Of appreciation or regard for
the manner in which | have tried to dis
charge my public duties disqualiies me and
makes language inadequate to convey my
Acknowledgements. LCheers, and cries of
Go on"
But, my countrymen, an allusion has been
made here by your distinguished citizen to
the position now occupied before the nation,
| must say single word That is this
We have passed through perilous conflict.
The nation has been placed in a great emer-
gency, from which it has extricated itself.
We have been involved in civil war; but
now the rebellion is suppressed, we should
have peace. The whole effort on the part
of the Government was TO restore those re-
lations under the Constitution, which exist
ed prior to the beginning of the war.
/ Cheers. ] have nothing to disguise. |
have always fought my battles-if may be
permitted the expressiOn-in open day and
with directness. You know that my his
tory has been opposed TO the dissolution of
these States. At the feet of ANDREW JACK
SON, in connection with your own dis
tinguished fellow-citizen, HENRY CLAY,
lcheelE, and Others, / have been taught 10
love the Union from my advent into public
life to the present time. Hence, when the
came up to dissolve the Union
was against the dissolution Of the States.
When the rebellion broke out / was for sup
pressing it and preserving the Union. The
has been suppressed; but while we
are opposed TO a dissolution of the States,
and to secession, we, at the same time should
be equally opposed to the concentration and
of all power in one Of the de-
partments Of the Government. Cheers.l
Der Government, fortunately, is divided
into three grand divisions-the Executive,
Legislative, and Judicial. We find that
when the last Congress met, Notwithstanding
the Executive Department had proceeded
10 restore all the relations between the State
and Federal Governments which had been
or interfered with during the civil
war-the mail facilities restored, the block
ade removed, and the courts reinstated-
there was but one other thing left to COM
plete the restoration, and that was the adj
mission of loyal representatives to Congress
from all the States, Loud cheers, Con-
gress, with a majority oftwo-thirds, although
in the first instar ce they had been opposed
10 dissolution and secession, yet when the
rebellion was suppressed they turned around
and assumed the bold ground that the Union
was dissolved, and that these States should
not be admitted TO representation. [Cheers.
We hold 10 that great principle which char
lcterized snd distinguished our forefathers
IN the Revolution, that there should be no
taxation without representation. ICheers.
We find, then, that the Legislative depart
ment has undertaken to assume and absorb
al the powers of the Government. This
being done, instead of having dissolution on
he one hand, wewould have consolidation
4 monarchy established on the other. Then
where do we stand? The question arises,
shall the Constitution be preserved? This
Congress, we see, has introduced a PROPOSE
lion that is violative Of the Constitution Of
The United States-they have legislated
upon the principle that there is no Consti-
luton, in effect, and that orrs is Govern
ment, not Of limitations, but of unlimited
power.
The time has come when it behooves
very man who loves constitutional law, who
owes the Constitution itself, who knows that
he soul Of liberty is the love Of law, and
hat without law and the Constitution there
an be no liberty and no government 70 ten
h. them his support. [Cheers.l l know,
Is has been alluded TO here to-day, that /
nave been traduced and illuminated; that
lander, the foul whsip Of sin, has gone
through the land. A voioe-"Giye il to
emf" l know all that; but have been
aught to revere the Constitution of my
country, and the enemies of the Constitution,
whether they be from the South or the North,
will meet with my opposition. Cheers
And because / dare exercise the veto power
n trying 20 arrest some Of their unconstitu-
ional, improvident and unrighteous legisla-
ion. have been denounced rs a traitor and
usurper. [Cheers. The veto power, as
edged in the Constitution, is one of the
most conservative powers in the Constitution
4 the United States. Cheers.l Let me
lsk this intelligent and learned assembly
lere to-day, what is there in the veto power
inder the Constitution that authorizes the
Executive to originate? Ii is wholly mega
i've, not affirmative in his character, and the
Executive of the United States is simply
he peoples tribune, their direct representa-
i've. f'Bravol"1 All that can be done
" the exercise Of the veto power is to arrest
lasty, improvident and unconstitutional le-
yislation until the people can have an oppOr-
unity to consider upon it. Loud applause.l
When ] came into power / took a solemn
,ath to support the Constitution and TO see
hat the law was faithfully executed. Keep
hat oath - That being so, l planted
myself upon the battlements Of the COnsti-
ntion, and there / have stood, and there ]
will stand until l die Loud applause.l
The taunts, the SANDER, and misrepresenta-
ion and charges OF usurpation cannot drive
ne from my purpose. Cheers. con-
believe that the preservation Of
his Government depends upon the Ameri-
an people rallying around and sustaining
he Constitution Of theircountry, and when
,ver il Is 20 be amended or modified, il
hould be done IN accordance with the pro-
fisions Of the Constitution. lCheers.l l
gill add further, that when the Constitution
: amended, as il is 20 affect the whole peo-
pie, the whole people shouldhave an oppor-
unity Of participating in the amendments
-Cheers.l would that time and strength
md your patience would justify me in taking
NJ some OF those questions and discussing
hem before YOU Cries Of Go on but
I will not permit me 10 DO so. IL ] were
ls,,,-,l I ,r,,,ll take nm CanOrasa-TA