The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1866-03-01

OF tney may Vltupefate Hie, DuI let Hlt
say to you all, this has no influence up
Oh me. [Great applause. Let me fur
iher say that ] do not intend to bt
"verawed by real or pretended friends
nor do mean to be bullied by my
enemies. Tremendous applause. Hon
est conviction is my courage, the Con
stitution is my guide. l know, my
countrymen, that it has been insinua
ted-no, not insinuated, it has beer
said directly, in high circles, that il
such a ,usurpation o.. power as | am
charged with, had been exercised some
two hundred years ago, in particu'
lar reign, it would have cost al indi.
yidual his head. Great laughter. OF
what usurpation has Andrew Johnson
been g',iltye "tNone, None" Is it
usurpafiml that | sand between the
people and the cncroachments of pow
er3 Because, in a conversation with
fellow citizen, who happened to be a
Senator, | said that thought amend
ments to the Constitution ought not
TO be so frequent that if it was eter-
nalIy tinkered with it would lose all
its prestige and dignity; that the old
instrument would be lost 81 ght of alto
grther in a short time. Because i'll
the same conversation l happened to
say if it were amended ut all such an
amendment ought not to be adopted,
it was charged that was gni ty of a
usurpation of power that would cost a
king his head in certain period OF
English history. ffreat laughter.)-
From the same source the eclama
ton has gone forth that we are in the
midst of an earthquake. Yes, fellow
citizens, there is an earthquake cons
ing: there is grand swelling of pop
Mar judgment alr1 indignation. (Great
spplaOse.p The American people will
speak, and by their instinct, if not
otherwise, they will know who are
their enemies. have endeavored TO
be true to the people in all the posi-
tons which l. have occupied, and
there is hardly a petition in this Cow
eminent which I have not at some time
fl ed. suppose /, win I've said that
this is vanity, [augEterj but l may say
that I have been i'll all Of them.
A Voice-You commenced tailor.
The Presrient-A gentleman behind
me says l began as ~ tailor. Yes, I
did, begin as a tailor, (applause) and
that suggestion does not discomfit me
in the least, for when was HtaIlOr,
had the reputation of being good
one and of making close fits laughter
and was alw avs punctual to my GUS
toners and did good work Applause
Voices-We will patch mp the Un-
ion yet
The Presslent-Nc, I do not wan any
patch. work oft; w:aas the origiorid a.rli-
Giles restored. lGrear applause But
enough of this facet usness. | know
it my be said, "You are President and
you must not talk about these things
but, my fellow citizens, intend to
talk the truth, and when principle is in
volved, when the existence of my coun-
try is in peril, hold it to be nv duty to
speak what I think, and what feel, es
l have always done on former occa-
SONS. [Great applause.1 | have said
that it has been declared elsewhere that
I was guilty Of msurpation which would
have cost a Kings head, and j., another
place I have been denounced for white
washing. Wnen and where did ever
whitcwash anything or anybod.? have
been an Alderman Of Il town; | have
been in both branches of the Legisla-
ture of my State; | have been in both
Houses of the National Congress; have
been at the head of the Executive De-
partment of my State; have been Vice
President Of the United States; and |
am now in the position which | occupy
before you; and pnriug all this career,
where is the man and what portion of
the people is there who can say that An
drew Johnson ever made a pledge
which he did not redeem, or that he
ever made promise which he violated?
None, none. Point to the DEAD who
can say that Andrew johnson ever
acted with inffdelity TO the great mass
of the people. Great applause Men
may talk about beheading and about
usurpation; but When | am behcaded |
want the American people to b. the
witness. l do not want it by innuendocs
AMI indecent remarks in high places to
be suggested to men who have asssina-
tion brooding in Their bosoms. Others
have exclaimed that the Presidential
o. s,acle must be gotten out of the way.
What is that butt make use of a
strong workout melting to assassina-
tion? No doubt, l say, the intention
was to incite to assassination, so til It
the obstacle which the people had plac.
ell here could be got out of the way
Are the opponents OF this Government
not yet sa,isieds, Are those who want
to destroy our institutions and to ch.'nge
the character of the government not
satisfied with the quantity of blood that
has been shed? Are they not satisfied
with one martyr in this placer Does
not the blood of Lincoln appease their
vengeance and their wrath? Is the, I
thirst sill unslacked? Do they still
want more blood? Have they not
honor and courage enough to seek to
obtain their end otherwise than through
and by the hand of an assassin? / am
| am not afraid of an assassin attacking
me where one brave and courageous
man will attack another. only dread
him when IN disguise and where his
foo,step is noiseless. If they want
blood, let them have the courage 10
strike like men. know they are will
ing to wound, but afraid to strike. IT
my bio I'd is to be shed because vindi-