The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-03-12


embraces the whole earth. Yes, he who found
d this scheme came into the world and found
our race condemned under the law, and the
sentence was death. What was his example?
instead of putting the world or nation to
death, He went forth with grace and attested
by His blood and His wounds that He would
lie and let the nation live. Let them repent,
and let them acknowledge their allegiance;
let them become loyal and willing supporters
and defenders of our glorious "stripes and
stars" and the Constitution OF our country;
let their leaders, the conscious, intelligent trail
tors, suffer the penalty of the law, but for the
great mass, who have been forced into this re-
beliion and misled by their leaders, 1 say, leni-
ency, kindness, trust and confidence. En-
thusiastic cheers.
But my countrymen, after having passed
through the rebellion, and given such evidence
as have-thou5h men croak a great deal
about it now laughter when look back
through the battle fields and see many ofthese
brave men, in whose company was, in parts
of the rebellion where it was most difficult and
doubtful to be found, before the smoke of bat
tie has scarcely passed away, before the blood
shed has scarcely CONCEALED, what do we find
The rebellion is put down by the strong arm
of the Government in the field, but is that the
only way in which we can have rebellion
They struggled for the breaking UP of your
Government, but before they are scarcely out
of the battlefield, and before our brave men
have scarcely returned to their homes, to re-
new the ties of affection and love, we find our
selves almost in the midst of another rebellion.
(Applause.l The war to suppress one rebellion
was to prevent the separation of the States,
to prevent them from flying of, and thereby
changing the character of the Government,
and weakening its power. Now what is the
err iC q m \ m frof 70
the power of the Government in the hands of
the few, and thereby bring about a consolida-
ton which is equally dangerous and objection
able with separation. Enthusiastic applause.
We find that powers are assumed and at
tempted to be exercised of a most extraordi-
nary character. What are they?
We find that governments can be revolu-
tionized, can be changed without going into
the battlefield. Sometimes revolutions the
most dangerous to the people, are effected
without the shedding of blood. The substance
of government may be taken away, while the
form and shadow is still adhered to, Now,
what are the attempts? What is being pro-
posed? We find that, in fact by an irrespon-
sible, central directory, nearly all the powers
of Government are assumed, without even
consulting the legislative or executive depart
mentsOf government Yesl and by resolu-
ton reported by committee, upon whom all
the legislative power of the Government has
been conferred, that great principle in the
Constitution, which authorizes and npowers
each branch of the legislative department, the
Senate and House Of Representatives, to be
the judges of the election and qualification of
its own members, has been virtually taken
away from those departments of Government,
and conferred upon committee, who must re-
port before they can act under the Constitu-
ton, and allow members duly elected to take
their seats. By this rule they assume that
there must be laws passed, that there must be
recognition in respect to State in the Union,
with all its practical relations restored, before
the respective houses Of Congress, under the
Constitution, shall judge of the election and
qualification of its own members. What po-
sition is thatP You have been struggling for
four years to put down the rebellion. You
denied in the beginning of the struggle that
any State had the right to go out; you said
they had neither right nor power. The issue
has been made, and it has been settled that a
State has neither the right nor the power to
60 out Of the Union; and when you have set
tied that by the executive and military power
of the Government and by the public judy
ment, you turn round and assume that they
are out, and shall not come in. Laughter and
cheers. . ...r -..--.. ~ =.
I am free to say to you, as your Executive,
that am not prepared to take any such pO-
sition. said in the Senate, in the very incep-
ton of the rebellion, that States had no right
to go out, and that they had no power to 20
out. That question has been settled, and I
cannot turn round now, and give the lie direct
to all profess to have done in the last five
years. Laughter and applause.1 can do no
such thing. Isay that when they comply with
the Constitution, when they have given suffi-
cient evidence of their loyalty and that they
can be trusted, when they yield obedience to
the law, say extend to them the right hand
of fellowship, and let the Union be restored.
Loud cheers.
circle, have fought traitors and treason in the
South; opposed the Davises, the Toombs the
Slidells, and long list of others, whose names
need not repeat, and now when turn round
not by what name you call them, Ia voice, "Call
them traitors. who still stand opposed to the
restoration of the Union of these States, and 1
al free to say to you, that am still fo7 the
preservation of this compact, / am still for the
restoration of this Union, am still in favor of
this great Government Of ours going on and
following out its destiny. IA voice, "Give us
the names. A gentleman calls for three
names; well, suppose should give them. IA
voice, I'VE know them."] Hook upon them, I
repeat it, as President or citizen, as as much op-
posed TO this fundamental principles of this
Government, and believe they are as much Ia
boring to prevent or destroy them, as were the
men who fought against us. "A voice, "What
are the names ?"l Isay Thaddeus Stevens of
pennsylvania, [tremendous applause,1 I say
Charles Sumner, [great applause say Wen
dell Phillips and others of the same stripe, are
amongst them. A voice, "Give it to Forney."l
Some gentleman in the crowd says, "Give it to
Forney." have only just to sal that do not
waste my ammunition upon dead cocks.
Laughter and applause.] stand for my coun-
try, stand for the Constitution, where placed
my feet from my advent into public life. They
may traduce me, they may SANDER me- they
may vituPerate; but let me say to you that it
has no effect upon me. (Cheers.J And let me
awed by reason Of pretended friends, nor do /
intend to be bullied by my enemies. lap
plause, and cry of 1.-THE people will sustain
you'll
know, my countrymen, that it has been in
no. only insinuated, but said d.
rectly-(the intimation has been given in high
placss)-that If such usurpation of power had
been exercised two hundred years ago, in a
particular reign, it would have cost o certain
individual his head. What usurpation has An
drew johnson been guilty Of? [" None p
"none ri The usurpation have been gull
ty of, has always been standing between the
people and the encroachments of power; and
because dared say in conversation with a
fellow citizen, and a Senator, too that I thought
amendments to the Constitution ought not to
be so frequent; that their effect would be, that
it would lose all its prestige and dignity; that
the old instrument would be lost sight Of in a
small time; because happened to say in a con-
versation that, If it was amended, such and
such amendments should be adopted, it was a
usurpation Of power that would have cost a
king his head at a certain time. Laughter and
applause.l And, in connection with this SUBJ
ject, it was explained that we were in the midst
of earthquakes, that they trembled and could
not yield. Yes, there is an earthquake coming;
there is ground swell coming Unpopular judg,
ment and indignation. ['Thats true, The
American people will speak by their instincts,
aud they will know who are their friends, and
who their enemies.
What positions have occupied have &C.
cupied all positions under this Government,
beginning with an alderman, and running
through all the branches of the legislature.
IA voice, From tailor up."l Some gentle
leman says have been tailor. Tremendous
applause.] Now that did not discomfit me in
the least, for when used to be tailor. I had
the reputation of being good one, and of maxi
ing close fits-[great laughterl-always pune
tual with my customers, and always did good
work yOice "no nafchwork o1 NJ a.