The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-03-01

ioait az VIC otilef end OF the line, L lind
men care not by what name you call
theih a voice, call them traitors, who
still stand opposed to the restoration of
the union Of these States, and | am free
to say to you that l am still 5or the res
toration OF this Union. | am Still in
favor Of this great Government of ours
going on and following out its destiny.
\ voice, give us the names. A gen
tleman calls for their names. Well.
suppose / should give them. a voice
we know them. | look upon them. i
repeat it as President Or as a citizen. as
much opposed to the fundamental prin-
ciples of this Government, and believe
they are as much laboring to prevent
or destroy them as were the men who
fought against us. \ voice, what are
the names? say Thaddeus Stevens,
of Pennsylvania. Tremendous APP
plause. | say Charles Summer. Great
applause. ! say Wendell Phillips and
others Of the same stripe are among
them. \ voice, give it to Forney.
Some gentleman in the crowd says
give it to Forney. ] have only just &c
say that do not waste my ammunition
upon dead ducks. Laughter and an
for the Constitution, where placed nv
feet from my entrance upon public life.
They may traduce me. They NAV sian
der me. They may vituperate. hnt let
me say to you, that it has no effect mon
me. Cheers.
And let me say in addition. that I do
hot intend to be bullied by my enemies.
Applause under cry Of " the people will
sustain YOU"
l know, my country men, that it has
been insinuated, and not only insinuated,
but said decidedly. The insinuation
has been given in high places that ifsuch
usurpation OF power had been exercised
two hundred years ago in particular
region 1t would have cost certain i'll
dividual his head. What usurpation
has Andrew johnson been guilty off,
None, none. The usurpation | have
been guilty Of has always been standing
between the people and the encroach-
ment of power. And because | dared
say, in 4 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
dignity; that the old instrument would
be lost sight of in short time. Because
| happened to say, in q conversation,
that il it was amended such and such
e.iiiN iiN'4LN - ID ,iiouiO IN ttNtODt0Q3 III NGS
q usurpation of power that would have
cost a King his head al Il certain time.-
Laughter and applause. And, ia con-
nection with this subject, it was cx-
planned by the same gentleman e that
we We're i'll the midst OF EARTHQUAKES
that he trembied and could net yield.ts
! es, there IS an earthquake coming:
there Is 4 ground swell coming of popu-
lar Judgment and indignation; that's
true. The American people will speak
hy their instincts, and they will Know
who are their friends and who are their
enemies.
/ have occupied all positions under
tals government, beginning with an al
derman, and running through all
branches of the Legislature. \ voice
" From q tailor up" Some gentlemen
says ! have been Il tailor. Tremendous
fort me in the least, for when | used to
be tailor had the reputation Of be-
ing Il good one, and Of making close fits.
Great laughter. Always punctual with
my customers, and always did good
work. A,aoice-'' No patchwork" II
No, don, tWantany Patchwork want
q whole suit. But we will pass by this
little facetiousness.
My friends may say: You are Presi-
dent. You must not talk about such
things. When principles are involved,
my countrymen, when the existence Of
my country even is imperilled | viii act
as | have on former occasions, and
speak what l think. | was saying that
/ had held nearly all positions, from
Alderman, through both branches of
Congress, to that which / now occupy,
and who is there that will say that An
drew Johnson ever made pledge that
he did not redeem, or made promise
he did not fulfil? Who will say that he
has ever acted otherwise than in fidelity
to the great mass of the people:
They may talk about beheading and
usurpation, but when l am beheaded ]
want the American people to be the
witness. l do not want, by inuendoes
by indirect remarks in high places, to
see the man who has assassination
brooding in his bosom eXclaim: This
Presidential obstacle must be gotten out
of the way. | make use of very strong
expression, when ] say that | have 10
doubt the intention was to incite assassi-
nation, and SO get out of the way the OBJ
stacle from place and power. Whether
by assassination or not, there are indi-
viduals in this Government who want |