Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1866-03-17

please to prove their loyalty.
When the rebellion was going on
the Constitution was rolled up rs u
piece of parchment. If 1t was vi
olatcd in somo particulars to save
the Government, there may have
been some excuse to justify il; but
now that peace is come and the war
il over we want written ConStltu'
ton. say the time has come to
take the Constitution down. unroll
and read it, and understand its pro-
visions. come here to vindicate
the Constitution, and TO save 1t, for
it does seem to me that encroach-
mentuiterencroachment isproposcd.
! stand to-day prepared, as far as |
can, to resist these cncroachments
upon the Constitution and Govern.
mcnt.
] tell the opponents of this Gov.
crnmcnt, lrare not from what quar-
ter they come, you who are engaged
in the work Of rbrcaking up the Gov.
crnmcnt by amendments to the Con-
Stitution. that the principles Of free
govtrnm NJ are deep! y rooted in the
American heart All thcpowcr COM
bincd | care no, of what character,
cannot dcstr"y the great instrument
the grca, Charter of freedom. They
may seem 10 ~ coed for time hut
their attempts viii be futile. They
may think now. that it can be done
bv Il concurrent resolutions; when it
is submitted to the popular judg.
mrnl aud the popular will, they will
find that they might as well have
undertaken to introduce II resolu-
ton to repeal the laws OF gravity as
to keep this Union from being re.
stored
1t is Just about as feasible to re
s;St the great law Of gravitation.
which binds all to II common center
as that great law which will bring
back these States to their relations
with the Union.
have detained you longer than
intended. A voice--"Go on
We are in great struggle. am
your instrument. Whoi is there that
| have not toilcd AMI laborcd for
Who're is the man or woman, eith-
cr in public or private life, who has
not always received my attention
or my time in proportion to my
ability? They say that man John
son is a lucky man, that no man can
defeat him. will tell you what
constitutes good luck, Some how
or other the people will find out who
is for and who is against them.
/ have been placed in as many
trying positions as any mortal ever
was placed in, but so far, / have not
deserted the people, and | believe
they will not desert me. What prin
ciple have | violated? What senti-
ment have ! swcrved from? Can
they put their finger on it?
Have you heard them point ont
any discrepancy? Have you heard
them quote my predecessor, who
fell martyr to his countrys cause
as going in opposition or in contra
diction to anything that / have done?
The very policy that | am pursuing
now was pursued by him, when that
inscrutablc Providence saw fit to
summon him. | trust, 10 Il better
world than this, above. IL there
one principle adopted by him in
reference to this resolution, that ]
have departed from? ? None, none.
The war is not simply upon me but
upon my predecessor, also.
| have tried to do my duty. !
know that some are cnvious and ical-
GUS, and speak Of the White House
as having attractions for the Prcsi-
dent Let mr say to you the charm
of the White House has as little in
huence upon ~ ~ any individuai
in the country III alch ;,'Ss upon
me than those i.n tire talking about
the di.frrrn =. Between the little
Il, suffice, % Y stomach ANA
b ,ck. more thu" HInugh has moi
arms for me. Fac proud and con
scious satisfaction Of having per
formed my duty to my country, to
my children to the inner man, is all
the reward ask Great applause.
/ In conclusion. invite this vast
concoursc here to-day; this sea oi
upturnrd faces. {" come with me, or
will 30 with you, aud stand around
the Constitution of our country,
again unp,lluted. The people are
invited to read and understand sus-
tain and maintain its provisions.
/ Let Us stand by the Constitution
of our fathers. though the heavens
fall. Though factions should rage,
though taunts and .ieers may come;
though abuse and vituperation may
be poured out in the most violent
form. | mean to be found standing
by the Constitution as the chief ark
OF our safety rs a people, and the
palladium of our civil and our re-
iigious liberty.
Yes, let us cling TO it as the ma
riner clings to the last plank, when
the night and the tempest closes
around him. Let us 20 away, for
getting the past and looking to the
fnture. resolved to endeavor to re-
store our Government TO its pristine
purity. trusting to Him who is on
High. but controls all here below
that ere long. our Union will be re.
stored. and that we shall have peace
and good will among all parts of the
people of the United States. Wher
xonr country is gone. and YOU ar,