The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-20

distinguished chairman has just delivered, the pro-
ceedinqs Of the Convention, they transplrtd re-
Cured to my mind. Seemingly, partook oil the
inspiration that prevailed in the Convention, when
eu,shed members, conveying in terms the scene
which has just been described of south Carolina
| and Massachusetts, aImin-arm, marching into that
vast assembaPe, and thus giving evidence that the
two extremes had come together again, and that,
for the future, they were united, as thev had been
in the past, for the preservation of the Union.
| When the despatch informed me that, in that vast
body OF men, distinguished for intellect and wisdom,
| every @, was suiused with tears peholding the
| scene, could not finish reading the despatch to
ed with me IN the office, for my own feelings
| oyercame me. (Applause.) think that we NAV
Justly conclude that we are moving under proper
inspiration and that we need not be mistaken that
the fng, OF overruling and unerring Providence
| is in this matter. The nation Is in peril We have
just passed through mighty, a bloody mo-
| mentous ordeal, and not yet ind ourselves free
irom the difficulties and dangers that at first
! rounded us.
| both officers and men turning to General Grant,
who stood at his right while they have won laurels
lmpershable there are still greater and more i'm:
pOrtant duues TO perform; and while we have had
| their cooperation IN the field now need their
plause SO far as the Executive Department OF the
Government is concerned, the effort has been made
orestoTe the Union to hea the breach, to pour oil
| INTO the wounds which were consequent upon the
struggle, and, TO speak common phrase, TO pre-
| pare, as the learned and wise physclan would,
plaster healing in character and co'eXtenslVe with
| the wound (Appause) We thought. and yet
think, that we bad partially succeeded But as the
| Work progressed, as reconciliation seemed to be
taking ace, al d the country becoming united, we
| found a disturbing and marrng element OF
in aluding to that element, shall 90 farther
| than d d your onvention and the distinguished
gentleman who ha, delivered to the report of ITS
proceedings. 1 shall make reference toit. That,
do not believe, the time and the occasion justify
We have wltnt ssed IN one depa tment of the Gov
ermtnt every effort, as it were, to prevent the
restoration of peace and harmony in the Union. We
Rave seen hanFing upon the verge OF the Govern
be, the Congress of the United States but in fact
Congress of only part OF the states. We have seen
al ,,c m hn far I'M
Union when its every Step and act tended to per.
petuate disunion and make a disruption OF the
Instead of promoting reconciliation and harmony,
It's legislation has partaken of the character OF penal
ties, retaliation, and revenge lhls has been the
course and pohcy oil one depariment OF your Gov
ernment. The humble individual who is now ad-
dressing you stands the representative OF another
department of ihe Government The manner in
which he was called upon to occupy that position l
shall not alude TO on this occasions suffice it to say
that he Is here under the Constitution OF the
try and being here by virtue of lis provision, he
takes his stand upon that charter of our liberties,
as the great rampant OF civil and religious
liberty. prolonged cheering.) Having been
taught in my early life to hold sacred, and having
pracise0 upon 1t durlng my whole public career,
Shall continue to reverence the Constitution of
my fathers and TO make it my guide. (hearty ap
plause)
know it has been said, and must be permitted
to indulge IN the remark, that the Executive de.
partment OF the Government has been despotic and
tyrannical. Let ask this audience of distIn-
guished gentlemen around me here to-day to point
10 vote ever gave, to a speech ever made to
against tyranny ana despOtism. What position
have Il ever occupied, what ground have ever
sumed, where It can be truthtuly charged that l
failed to advocate the ameoration and elevation
OF the great mass of my countrymen (Cries of
"NeverV and great applause.) SO far as charges
OF that kind are conc rned. l will say that they
are simply intended to 9ecelve and delude the
public mind INTO the belief that there is some one
in power who is usurping and trampng upon the
rights and perverung The principles OF the Consti.
tuition. 1t is done by those who make such charges
for the purpose of covering their own acts. (CrIes
OF chats sol! and applause. 1 have felt IL my
duty, IN vindicatlon OF principle and the Constitu-
ton OF my country to CAL attention TO those pro.
ceedinCs. When we come to examine who has
been playing the tyrant, by whom do tin1 that
des potsm has been exercised? AS to myself the
elements OF my nature, the pursuits of my lie, have
rot made me, either in my feelings or in my prac-
Uce aggressive.
NV nature, on the contrary, is rather defensive in
its character. But will say that, having taken my
stan upon the broad principles OF liberty and the
Constitution there not power enough on earth TO
drive me from it. loud and prolonged appause.)
Having placed myself upon that broad platform,
have not been aWed, dismayed, or inundated by
either threats or encroachments, but having stood
there in conjunction with patriotic spirits sounding
the tocsin OF a larm when deemed the citadel of
liberty in danger. (Great appause.) l said on a
previous occasion, and repeat 1T now that all that
was necessary IN Is gT9t @ ssbuggG sb agast granny
sufficiently audible for the Amencan people to hear
an0 understand, They did hear, and looking on
and seeing who the contestants were, and what that
struggle was about, they determined they would
settle this question on the size of the Constitution
ana of principle. (Cries of THAT'S sop and
applause proclaim here to-day, as have on other
occasions, that my faith ABIDING the great
of the people. In the darkest struggle, when the
clouds seemed TO be most lowering my faith, instead
of giving way, loomed up through the dark cloud
far beyond and saw that all would be safe IN the
end. .
OF thomas Jefferson, tyranny and desgotism even
can be exercised and eXerted more eflectually by
| the many Than by the one. We have seen a Con-
gTess gradually encroach step by step, upon consti.
tutional rights, and violate, day after day, and
month after month. the fundamental principles OF
the Government. (Cries OF "ThaPs so" and ap-
plause) We have seen Congress that seemed 10
forget that there was a Constitution OF the United
States-that there was O limit to the sphere and
| scope of Legislation. We have seen Congress in
minority assume 10 exercise powers which, If al
lowed to be carried out, would result IN despotlsm
is truth, and because olhers as well 10 myself have
seen proper to appeal to the patriotism and republ-
can feeling of the country, We have been denounced
IN the seVerest terms. Sander upon SANDER vItu-
| peration upon yItuperatOn, of the most vlIlanous
| Character has made its way through the press.
| What, gentlemen, has been your and my sinE
| " hat has been the cause OF our ohendngE Will
| tell you Daring to stand by the Constitution Of our
| fathers! approaching senator Johnson | con-
sIder the proceedings of tins Convention sir
| important than those of any convention that ever
| " hen look with my mlnd's eye upon thar cOllec-
ton OF citizens coming together voluntarily, and sit
ting council, with ideas, with principles and
views commensurate with all the States, and cO-eN-
lenslye with the whole people, and contrast 1t with
the collection OF gentlemen no trying TO destroy
the country, 1IegaTd 1t as more important than any
| convention that has sat- at least since 1851 Ire
| neWed appause.) l think may also say, that the
declarations that were made equal with tho De-
| claTatOn OF Independence ITSELF and here to-day
| pronounce it q second Declaration OF Independence
ICnes of GLORIOUS" and most enthusiastic and pro-
| ionged applause
Your address and declarations are nothing more
| nor less lhan Teatlrmaton OF the Constitution OF
the United States. Genes OF "Good," and applause
| Yes Will 20 farther, and mat the declarations