Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-04-24
SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT.
He is Sefenaded by the Soldiers and Sailors
Enthusiastic Assembly-The President
Stands by the Constitution.


! On Wednesday evening, in Washington,
procession of the soldiers and sailors and their
friends formed and marched to the Executive
mansion accompanied by the marine band, to
express their grateful Acknowledgement OF the
President late order directing the heads OF de-
partments to give preference in appointments
and promotions to soldiers and sailors who had
rendered honorable service in the army and
navy. President johnson had previously sig
nifed to committee his acceptance OF the COM
pliment
A very large number of persons of both sexes
were previously on the ground awaiting the
demonstration. At quarter past O clock the
band performed several patriotic airs, when the
President made his appearance and was greeted
with huzzas by the assembled thousands
ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT
President johnson said It is not affectation
IN me to say that language is inadequate to con-
vey the heartfelt feelings produced on this oc-
caslon by your presence here, and by the pre-
sentatlon OF your sentiments as expressed by
your representative In his address, and in the
resolutions which you have thought proper to
adopt. [ repeat my thanks for the manifesto
ton of your appreciation and of your encourage
ment. Applause We are to-day involved
in one of the most critical and trying struggles
that have occurred since this Government was
spoken into existence. Nations, like individ-
uals, must have a beginning have birth.
In struggling into existence a nation passes
through its first trying ordeal.
HIS POSITION
stand here to-day opposing traitors and
treason, whether they be in the South or in the
North. Loud cheers. I stand here to-day,
as have stood, using all my powers, mental
and physical, to preserve this nation in passing
through the third phase Of it's existence. The
organized forces and combined powers that re-
Gently stood arrayed against us are disbanded
and driven from the field, but it does not follow
that there are still no enemies against our pres
ent form Of government and our free institutions
Applause.
have stood in the Senate Of the United
States denying the doctrine Of separation and
secession. [ denied then, as [ deny now, that
any State has the right of its own WILL to sep
arate itself from the other States, and thereby
to destroy the Union and break up the govern
ment; and think have given some evidence
that | have been sincere and In earnest; and
now [ want to know why it is that the whole
train of slanderers, calumniators and traducers
have been barking and swapping at my heels
Cheers Why is it that they array them
selves against me? Is it because | stand on
the side Of the people, and when | say the peo-
pie, include the sailors and soldiers !? Cheers.
Why is it that they are arrayed in traducing
and vlllifylng and eliminating me? Where
were they during the rebellion? 4 voice :
Home III bed
FORCIBLE ILLUSTRATION.
When the rebellion in Massachusetts was put
down, did that put Massachusetts out OF the
Union and destroy the State? And when the
rebellion IN Pennsylvania was put down, did
that destroy the State and put it out Of the
i Union? So when the recent great rebellion was
put down, and the Constitution and laws Of the
country restored the States engaged In it stood
as part Of the Union. The rebellion being
crushed, the law being restored, the Constitu-
ton being acknowledged, these States stand in
the Union, constituting part OF the glorious
and bright galaxy OF States. Loud Cheers.
NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION:
A great principle was to be restored which
was established in our Revolution When our
fathers were contending against the power Of
Great Britain, what was one OF the principal
causes Of their complaint? Tt was that they
were denied representation. They complained
Of taxation without representation. And what
now remains to be done to complete the resto-
ration of these States to all their former rela-
/ tons under the Federal Governments and to
been passing? It is to admit representation
| What do we mean? We mean representation
in the constitutional and law-abiding sense as
was intended in the beginning of the Govern
ment.
And where does that power lie? The Con-
stitution declares In express terms that each
House, the Senate and House Of Representa-
tiyes, each acting for itself. shall be the judge
of the returns of election and qualifications of
! ohapS + &c fO cot
tie that question under the Constitution, and
under the solemn sanction Of an oath; and can
we believe that either House would admit any
member into its body to participate in the leg
islation Of the country who was not qualified
and fit to sit in that body and participate in its
proceedings. They have the power-not the
two Houses, but each House for itself
The Constitution further declares that no
State shall be deprived Of it's equal suffrage in
the Senate of the United States without its con-
sent Then where do We stand? All that is
needed to finish this great work of restoration
Is for the two Houses respectively to determine
these questions.
THE PRESIDENT THE TRIBUNE OF THE PEOPLE
Mr.. Jefferson, the apostle of liberty, tells US
>, SO does common seI1se-that tyranny and des-
potism can be exercised by many more vigor-
ously and more tyrannically than by one
What power has your President to be a tyrant
What can he do? What can he originate p
Why they say, he exercises the veto power!-
Laughter, What is the veto power? La
voice-''To put down the niger. Laugh
ter.
>, Who's your President? ESeveral voices
Andy Johnson Is he not elected by the
people through the electoral colleges The
President is nothing more than the tribune of
the people. His Office is tribunal in its char
acter.
THE VETO POWER.
The people chose tribune and placed him at
the door of the Senate SO that when that body
ventured an oppressive act he was clothed with
power to say 'sveto" Your President is now
the tribune of the people, and thank God [ am,
and intend to assert the power which the peo-
pie have placed in me- Cheers.
4 IL. l.. l.. IL.