Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-03-20

scandalous transaction than is our Vic
Presidency by the late election OF Andrew
johnson. That office has been adorned il
better days by the talents and accomplish
ments of Adams and Jefferson, Clinton ant
Gerry, Calhoun and Van Buren,, and now t
see il filed by this insoieRt, drunken brute
IN comparison totth tohom egeB Cdligula
horse icds respeetdble-for the poor anima
did not abuse his own nature. And to thinl
that only one frail life stands between TIL
! inSote7t, cI0tonfsh drURkdrd, and the Presi
| dencyl May God bless and spare Abraham
Lincolni"
MIR. STEvENs.-Now, Mr.. Speaker, is il
any wonder that
Mr.. NIBLAcK.-I beg to inquire of the
gentleman whether that may not also be 6
hoax of the same kind as the Presidents
| speech?
Mr. STEvEEs.-That was a serious Sian
der which appeared as an editorial in the
New York World. That party, taking ad
vantage of an incident which it is thought
by many they themselves brought about,
have been prosecuting the President with
such ISLANDERS as that ever since. But sir,
although they have asserted il from time ia
| time, they have never made the loyal Re-
publican people of this nation believe it, and
they never could. We never credited it,
but looked with indignation upon the SANDER
which was thus uttered against the Presi-
dent of our choice. Being, therefore, una
bic to fix such odium upon our President by
evidence which the lawyers would call
dltuade, they resort, with the skill of prac-
tical advocate, to another expedient. My
friend before me, [Mr. Bingham1 if he were
trying in court case de Lundtic0 inquirendO,
and if the outside evidence were doubtful,
leaving it questionable whether the Jury
f1tfn ntnrr 4
would cautiously lead the alleged lunatic to
speak upon the subject of the hallucination,
and if he could be induced to gabble non
sense, the intrinsic evidence Of the case
would make out the allegation of insanity
so, MIR. Speaker, if these slanderers can
make the people believe that the President
ever uttered that speech, then they have
made out their case. Laughter. But we
all know he never did utter it. Laughter. ]
1t is not possible, sir, and am glad of this
opportunity to relieve him from that odium
But they had wrought it up in such cum
ming way
Mr. WINFIELD.-The gentleman will al
low me. May not we hope that the iniunc-
tion of secresy will be removed from this
earnest, generous and sincere defence?
MIR. STEVENs.-I hope not Laughter.
hope the gentleman will not violate the
confidence have placed in him and all
Others. Renewed laughter 1t is a conf
dental communication.
Now, MIR. Speaker, they worked it up
pretty cunningly, enough to impose upon
the people. For instance, they went into
circumstantial account, as in the moon hoax.
They pretended the counsel of the assassins
of the late President escorted him to the
stone wall on which they say he mounted in
front of the White House, and they say he
was supported by late rebel Mayor of this
city, who was gratuitously furnished lodg-
gings in one of our penal forts for some time.
Great laughter. All these circumstances
they threw about it. The people may have
been deceived, but we who know the Presi-
dent knew it was lie from the start IRE
newed laughter.
Now, sir, having shown my friends that
all it is built upon is fallacous, hope they
will permit me to occupy the same friendly
position with the President l did before.
Laughter.
MIR. PRIcE.-I am satisfied tho House and
the country will agree with me there was
mistake, very great mistake, and although
have not lived as long as the gentleman
from Pennsylvania, have found history
cannot always be depended upon, and but
for this accidental occurrence that would
have gone down in history as a fact. Pro-
badly, sir, the present and succeeding gen
erations would not have discovered it had
not this fact been opportuDely developed.
Laughter
Mr.. STEvENs.-I know the gentleman is
satisfied now it is all hoax, [Renewed
laughter.