Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-03-07
Pfesident Johnson,s Great speech.

ington, on the 22dinst., ,sat,as meeting OF th
National Monumental Society. -.
Abiding to Washington'sF Farewell Addrea
as containing the principles by which b
sought to be guided, and expressing the hop
that all the States. would continue, their. con
tributions to the structure to be completed
as an enduring memorial to the restoration
Of all the States to their proper relations t.
4 the government, he said: I say that whel
these States comply with the Constitution
when they Lave given sufficient evidence o
their loyalty, and that they can be trusted
when they yield zobedisuce to the iaw, SO,
extend to them the right:hand of FELLOWSHIP
and let peace and uniopabe restored, / hay
| fought traitors and treason in. the South
| opposed the Davis, and the. Toombs' and th'
SlidellS, and q long list Of Others who's
names I need not repeat, and now when
turn round at the other en- ! of the line ! fnt
menI care not by what'narne you call them
[ASoice.-Call them traitors.
Who still stand opposed to. the restoration
of the union of those States, and [ am fret
to say to you that am still for the prescrva
tion of this compact. / am still for tho res
toration o this Union. ! am still in favor o
this great government of oura living and fol-
loving out its destiny.
lA Voice-Give us thensmes.
a gentleman calls for their names. Well
suppose should give them. o..
+ a Yoice-We know them:
i look upon them, repeat1t, as President
or citizen, assmuch opposed to the fundamen
tai principles of this government, and be
lieve they are as much laboring to prevention
destroy them as were the men who fought
aginst them. n.s.st--., --u.., ~.
2lA Voica-What are their names {?
/ say Tbaddeus Stevens, of Pennsylvania
applause. ]s'I say Charles Sum-
ncr, great applause; t'ssaye Wendell Phil
lips, and Others OF the1 same stripe amongst
them. - - az &C.
IA Voice-a Give it to. Forney." ,..
Some gentleman in the crowd says Give
it 10 Fcrrey." l have only Just to say that
10 not waste my ammunition npon dead
ducks. Laughter and applause. / stand
for my country; l stood for the Constitution
where placed my feet upon my entrance
into public life. Thcymay traduce me; they
may slardcr; they Snay Tv'tuperate, but let
me say to you that it has mo. effect upon me.
[Chee!s. Let me sayainsadditiol that do
not in.c tc be tullied by enemies. (Ap-
plausc aid cry The people will sustain
y,u.") e,...,...
know, my countrymen,i ii has been insinu-
ated, but not paid directly, the intimation has
been given in high places THAT if such usur-
patton of power had been exercised two hun
dred years ago in q particular region, it would
have cost q certain individual his head.
What usurpation has Andrew johnson been
guilty Of? None, none s5The only usurpa-
ton / have bsen guilty Of was standing be-.
tween the penple aud the encroachnent OF
powor-and because dared. to say in con
.varsaiion with sallnW=cssaasaa and q Senator,
that I thought amendments 10 the Conslitu
ton ought not to be too frequently made,
that it would lose Ill its dignity, and that
thu old INSTRUMENT would be lost sight Of in
a short time; because happened to say il
it was amended, such and such amendments
should be adopted, it was q usurpation Of
power that would have ccst King his head
at certain time. Laughter aud applause }
In connection with this subject, it was main
tanned by the same gentleman that we were
in the midst of an earthquake; that lie
trambled and could not yield. Laughter. J..
Yes, there is an earthquake coming there is
ground-swell coming, Of popular judgment
and indignation.
IA Voice-that's true.
The American people will speak by their
interests, and they will know who are their
fri ends and who are their enemies.
What positions have held under this gov
'ernment, beginning with an Alderman, and
running through all branches of the Legis-
lature.
IA Voice-From tailor up.]
Some gentleman says have been tailor.
Tremendous applause. Nov, that did not
diseomf;t me in the least, for when l used
to bo tailor / had the reputation of being a
good one and making close fits-[Grcat
laughter always puuctual to my customers.
and always did good work. e@
"a Yoice--No patchwork
{, No, don't want any patchwork. I want
a whole suit.
But will pass by this little facetiousness.
Ny friends, some may say, You are Presi
dent and you must not talk about such
things" When principles are invaded, my
countrymen, when the existence of my coun.
try is imperiled.I I will act as Ihave on former
occasions, and speak what Think.
was saying that 1 had held nearly all po-
sitions, from Alderman, through both branches
of Congress to that which ] now occupy,
and who is there that will say thnt Andrew
johnson ever made promise he did not ful
fill. Who will say tha. lie has ever acted
any other way than in fidelity to the great
mass of the people? They may talk about
beheading and usurpstion, but wien am
behcaded I want the American people to wit.
ness it. don't want, byinuendoes, by indi-
rect remarks in high places, to see the man
who has assassination breeding in his bosom,
exclaim, this Presidential obstacle must be
rot out Of the way. make use of o very
Strong expression when Tsay I have no doubt
the intention was to incite assassination and
get oot'of the way The obstacle from place
and power, whether by assassination or not.
There are individuals in this government,
doubt not, who wait 10 destroy our institu.
tions and ch.nge the character of the govern.
ment. Are they not satisfied with tho blood
tba. has been shed2 Does not the murder
of Lincoln appease the vengeance and wrath
of the opponents of tina governments are
they still unsaked {? Do they want more
blood Have taey not got honor and cour-
age enough to obtain their objects otherwise
dian by the hands of the assassin Mol
am not afraid of assessing attacking mo when
brave, courageous man wouldattack another
I OILY dread him when he would goin dis
guse, and his footsteps noisclcss. # II is
Blood they want, let them have courage
enough to strike like men. know they re
wiling to wound, hut they are afraid to strike
[Atplause. If my blood isto be shed be-
Gauss sindicate the Union and the preser
yation of this government inits original, puri
y,snd chastity, let it bo shed. Let an altal
to the q nion bo erected, and then, if it is ne
! ea.s.ru takc me and lay me upon it and tbt