Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-02-26

lie did not redeem, Or that he ever made
a promise which be has vioIated7 No
one can point TO the man who says that
Andrew johnson ever acted with inf
deity to the great mass OF the people.
TGreat applause 0-s2A o. LII
Men NAV talk about -beheading and
about usurpation, but when i am be-
headed want the American people to
be the witness. 1 do not wantit by inu-
endoes and indirect words in high places
to be suggested To men who have as
sassination bTooding in their bosons,
this is I'll subject. Others have ex-
claimed that the Presidential obstacle
must be gotten out of the way. What is
that2 But made use of strong word,
melting to assination. No doubt the in
tention was to incite to assassination, so
that the obstacle which the people had
placed here could be got out of the way.
Are the opponents Of this Government
not yet satisfied Are those who want
to destroy our in stitutions and to change
the character of our Government, are
they not satisfied with the quantity of
blood that has been shed2 Are they not
satisfied with one martyr in this place2
Does not4he blood of Mr. Lincoln APP
pease their vengeance and wrath? Is
| their thirst still unslackened2 Do they
still want more hlood?rs Have they not
| honor and courage enough to seek to OBJ
| tain that end otherwise than through and
| by the hand of an assassin ] am not
afraid of an assassin attacking ms,
where one brave and courageous man
will attack another. / only dread him
when in disguise, and when his footstsp
| is noiseless. If they want blood, let
them have the courage to strike like men.
/ know they are willing to wound, but
afraid to strike ifany blood is to be shed I;
because l vindicate the Union and in
sist on the preservation of the Govern
ment in its original purity, let it be shed,
but let an altar to the Union be first
erected, and then, If necessary, take me,
tie me upon it, and let the blood that
now warns and animates my existence
be poured out as the last libation and at
tribute to the Union of the States. IGreat
applause. 3s 'is'iss s'lalis -
But let the opponents of this Govern
ment remember when 1t is poured out
that the blood of the martyrs is the seed
Of the church. This Union will grow,
and it will continue. to increase in
strength aud power, though il may be
/ cenented and cleanse d In blood
| l have already spoken to you longer
1 than l intended to when / came out.
merely inteGd4d tosmahe 1ny aeknowl-
edgments for the honor you have done
me; but before / close allow me to say a
word in regard to the question of amend
ment to the Constitutions Of the United
States Shortly after | reached Wash
ington for the purpose OF being inangu
rated as Vice President of the United
! States, had conversation with Presi-
dent Lincoln in regard to the condition
Of the affairs ofthe country We talked
/ particularly in reference to my own
| State. 4 told hin that we had called a
| Convention; that we had amended the
| Constitutions; that we had abolished
slavery ihtthe State, which was not in
| cluded in his emancipation proclama-
/ ton; all these things met his approba-
ton, and be gave me words Of encour-
sgement. We talked then about affairs
| generally, and upon the subject of the
amendment to the Constitution Of the
United States. He said when the amend,
ment of the Constitution now proposed
| is adopted BY three-fourths of the States.
asked bin what's that, Mr. President7
81 said / have lab 1red to preserve this
Union; il have tried during four years;
have been subjected to calumnyand mis-
representation, and my desire has been
to preserve these States under the Con-
stitutioA as they were before
! asked him again, Mr.. President, what
amendment isl bat which You would pros
pose Why said he, it sthat there
should be an amendment added to the
Constitution that. would compel the
Statesto send their Senators and Repre-
sentatives to the Congress of the United
States. EGreat applause. The idea was
in bis mind thus: part of the doc rine
Of the section, or one of their "a cans TO
break up the Government was, that if
they saw proper, they might Withdraw
their Senators and Representatives. or
refuse to elect them. He wanted to re-
move that difficulty by q constitueiohal
amendment compelling the States to
send Senators and Representatives to
Congress. But what do we now find?
The Constitution of the country, even
that portion of it which allows amend
ments to the organic law, expressly pro-
vides that no Stateg without its consent,
can be deprived of its equal suffrage in
the Senate, and also provides that each
State shall be represented dbyat least one
member on the floor of the House of
Representatives. but yet the position as
taken is that certain States have not
been represented. We impose taxes.
,,o,, tkaro = me- aand onr favoa fborarss
into every region and portion of the
States; their people are fit subjects of
goverpment for the collection of taxes,
bat when theyIask to participate in the
legislation Of the country, they are met
at the door and told no, you must pay
taxes, you must bear the. burdens of
government, but You can participate ID
its legislation, that legislation which is
to affect you through all time to come.
Is this justioe2 [no, mol 0H
In fact l am for the Union. / am for
preserving the States. lam for admit
ting to the councils of the nation all
their representatives., awhoi are unmis-
takably and unquestionably loyal men,
who acknowledge allegiance to the
Government, and who swear, to support
the OOneLlluLOn must unnecessarily DC
loyal man; cant take that in good
faith unless be is loyal asths4
A mere amplifcation of the oath, bat
made no difference as to the principle,
whatever test is thought proper as evil
dence, and as proof of loyalty Is mere
matter Of detail, about which care
nothing, but let a man be unmistakably
and uuquestionably loyal; let him ac-
knowledge allegiance to the Constifu.
ton of the United States and be willing
to support the Government in its hour
of peril, and its hour Of need, and / am
willing to trust him [AppIause. -
He said: Pardon me for being lit
tie egotistical, but we are engaged in
friendly and familiar conversation.
That man johnson is a lucky man.
Laughter They can never defeat
him. Laughter Nov, l will tell you
the cause of my good luck. Il is in do.
ing right, and being for the people
[Great applause. The people somehow
or other, although their good Judgment
.