The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-02-24
REMARKABLE SPEECH
or
PRESIDENT SON.
He Stands by the Constitution and
the Policy lac has Enunciated!
Traitors Personally Named and
Denounced.

Thoatcr, Washington, on the 22d, which
was addressed by number Of eminent
Democrats and conservatives, after which
resolutions were adopted strongly uphold
Ing the reto of President johnson. The
crowd which was large then adjourned en-
p'dsse, to the northern portico of the Ex-
.ecutiyo Mansion. The resolutions were
handed the President by Committee, ap-
pointed for that purpose, and Mr.. johnson
soon thereafter appeared, was enthusiastic
cally received, and proceeded N make quite
a lengthy response. We can find space
only for the main features of his address,
which, in some of its points, we regard as
well directed and in "the very nick OF
time" We first quote him ON
RECoNsTRUCTIoN.
In considering the question of rcconstruc-
ton, we should not deal with whole peo-
pie In spirit Of revenge. The South had
acknowledged its allegiance to the Govern
meut and he was ready to open the doors
of the Union, and restore them to their for
mcr relations. There Is no one who has la
bored harder than have to have the prin-
cipal conspicuous and Intelligent traitors
brought to Justice, to have the law yindica-
son Is crime. Yet while conscious intel
ligent traitors are TO be punished. should
whole States, communities and pcople be
made TO submit to, and bear the penalty of
dcathY Let them become loyal aud willing
supporters and defenders of our glorious
stripes and stars, and the Constitution of
our country Let the leaders the conscious,
intelligent traitors suffer the penalty ofthe
law; but for the great mass. who have been
forced into the rebellion and mslcd by their
leaders, | say lcniency. kindness, trust and
confidence. The rebellion IL put down by
the strong arm of the Government; but we
are scarcely out of one rebellion before we
are almost in the midst ofanother rebellion.
There IA an attempt to concentrate the
power Of the Government IN the hands of II
few, and thereby bring about consolida-
tion, which is equally dangerous and OBJ
jcctionable with separation,
Sometimes revolutions, most disastrous
to the people. are effected without shedding
of blood. The substance of our Governs
mcnt may be taken away, leaving only the
formidable shallow We find that in fact.
by an irrepressiblc central directory, nearly
All powers of government are assumed
without even consulting the Legislative or
Executive Departments of the Government
by the resolution reported by committee
upon whom all the Legislative power Of the
Government has been conferred. That
In the Constitution which au-
thorizcs and empowers each branch of the
Legislative Departments to he Judges of
the election and qualifications of its own
members, has been virtually taken away
from these departments and conferred upon
n committee who must report before they
can act under the Constitution, and allow
members duly elected to take their seats.
By this rnlc they assume that there must
be laws passed that there must be rccog-
milton in respect TO State in the Union.
with all its political relations restored, be-
fore the respective Houses of Congress.
under the Constitution. shall Judge Of the
election and qualifications of It's own MEM
bcrs.
You have been struggling for fourycars
to put down the rebellion. You denied i'm
the beginning that any State had the right
TO go out of the Union, and it has been Set
thed that n State has neither the right nor
the power to go out of the Union, and
when you have settled that by the cXecu-
tive and military power of the Government,
and by the public Judgment you turn
around and assume that they are out and
shall not come IN.
TRAITORS NAMED AND DENOUNCED.
have fought treason and traitors In the
South. opposed the Davis and Toombs'
ana Slidells, and long list of others,
whose names ! need not repeat, aud now
when turn round at the other end of the
line, lind men, | care not by what name
you call them, a Voice-"call them trail
tors, who still stand opposed to the re-
storation of the Union of States, and | am
Irce to say TO You that | am still for the re-
storation of this Union. am still in favor
OF this great Govcrnmcnt--of our going ON
and following out Its destiny, "a voice
Give us the enames."l
gentleman calls for their names. Well.
suppose should give them Ia yocc-"we
know thcm,"l look upon them, / repeat
It, as President or citizen, ms much opposcd
TO the fundamental principles of this Gov
and believe they are rs much Ia
boring to prevent or destroy them as were
the men who fought against the United
states. A voice-"what arc the names pnl
say Ihddieus SteUens, of Pennsylvania
Tremendous applapse say Charles
SKINNER. tGreat applause.l | say WendeH
ihHtlPS, and Others of the same stripe, ALI
amongst them. Meaning Wade, lSohenck,
Sc.-ED. A vQlce-'giyc It TO Forncy."l
some gentleman In the crowd saws give H.
% Forney." | have only Just to say that |
10 not waste my ammunition upon dead
tucks. Laughter and applause | stand
or my country. ! stand for the Constitu-
ion where placed my foot from INV on
rance into public life. They may traducc
me- They may vltnperate. But let me saw
% you that IL has no effect upon me.
Cheers.l Aud let me say in addition that
do not intend 10 be bullied by enemies.
Applause, and vOice-"thc people will
sustain you,"l
THE THREAT or THE sCAFFoLD.
1 know, my countrymcn, that it has been
nsinuated, and not only insnuated. but
iaid directly, that the intlmation has been
given given IN high places, that if such usur-