The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-02-28


but let man be Enthusiastically and unques-
tionably loyal, let him acknowledge ale
glance to the Constitution Of the United
States and be willing to support the Gov
eminent in its hour ofperil and its hour of
need, and am willing to trust him. APP
plausc.
Itcllth opposers ofthis government, Icare
not from what quarter they come, East or
West, North or South, you that are engaged
In the work Of breaking up the Government
are mistaken. The Constitution Of the
United States and the principles of free
government arc deeply rooted in the Amcri-
can heart, and all the powers combined can
not destroy that great instrument, that great
chart Of freedom. Their attempts, though
they seem to succeed for time, will be
/ futile. They might as well undertake to
lock up the winds or chain the waves Of the
ocean, and confne them within limits They
might as well undertake to repeal the Con-
stitution, and indeed it seems now TO be
supposed that it can be repealed By q CON
current resolution. Laughter. But when
the question is submitted to the popular
| judgment, and to the mass Of people. these
men will find that they might as well intro
duce resolution to repeal the law of gray
| itation, The attempt to keep this Union
| from being restored is just about as feast
BILE as would be resistance to the great law
of gravitation which binds all to common
center. The great law Of political grayita-
! ton will bring back these States and restore
them to all their relations to the Federal
Government. Cliques, and cabals, and con-
spiracies, and Vaccinations North and
South cannot prevent this great consumma-
ton. Tremendous applause All that is
wanted is time. Let the American people
get to understand what is going on, and they
will soon manifest their determination
Here, by way of explanation, let me say
that l would to God the whole American
people could be assembled here to-day as
you are. | wish there was q vast amphi-
theater here spacious enough to contain the
whole thirty millions, and they could wit.
ness the great struggle that is going on to
preserve the Constitution Of their fathers.
| They would soon settle the question if they
could once see how things are, if they could
see the kind of spirit that is manifested in
the effort to break up the real principles Of
free government-when they cone to I'M
derstand who was for them and who was
against them, who was for ameliorating
their condition, and who for elevating them
by preserving their Government. If the
combatants could stand before them, and
there could be a regular set-to between the
respective gladators, in the first tilt that
might be made you would find that the enc
mics of the country would be crushed, and
the people would sustain its friends. and
the friends of constitutional liberty. Great
1 cheering,l My fellow ,,s;zens have de-
tanned you much longer than | intended.
/ Go on, go on. But We are in q great
! struggle and | am your intrument, and
have thought it best to express myself
| frankly. When l ask you have l usurped
| power? who is itin this country that have
not toiled and labored for? Where is the
man or woman, either in private life or pub
| lie life, that has not always received my at
tention) and my time? Sometimes it has
been said, pardon me for being a little
egotistical. but we are engaged in a friendly
and familiar conversation, .That man
Johnson is a lucky man. Laughter. They
can never defeat him" Laughter Now
l will tell you what constitutes my luck. 1t
is in doing right and doing for the people.
[Great applause The people somehow or
other, although their sagacity and good
judgment are very frequently moderated,
under estimated, generally get to find out
and understand who is for them and who is
against them. They do it by instinct if in
no other way. They know their ssis.1a
| they know in whom they can confde. sc
far, thank God can lay my hand upon my
bosom and state with heartfelt satisfaction
that in all positions IN which | have been
| placed,-in many that were as trying as any
/ IN which mortal man has ever been placed,
! have never deserted tham, nor do believe
/ they will desert me, No, no. Applause. |
| Whom have l betrayed! What principle
| have | violated? What sentiment have
swerved from? Can those who assal me
put their fingers upon any one? ["No,"
ssno"1 In all the speeches that have been
made, no one has dared to put his finger
upon single principle | ever asserted from
| which have deyiated. Have you not heard
/ some of them at some time attempt to quote
my predecessor, who fell martyr to his
| countrys cause. But they can give no
sentiment of his that is in opposition or in
contradiction to anything that | have done
| The very policy that am now pursuing was
pursued by him under his administration.
| | having been appointed by him in nartic-
ular position for that very purpose. In
scrutible Providence saw proper to remove
/ him from this to, trust, a better world, and
/ came into his place, and there is not a
! principle of his in reference to the restora-
ton of the Union from which ] have de-
parted None, none. Then the war is
not simply upon me, but il is upon MY pre-
decessor also have tried to do my duty.
| l know that some are enyious, and jealous,
| and speak of the White House as having
attractions for the President. Let me say
| to you, the charms Of the White House have
| as little influence upon me as upon any in
dividual in this country, and much less upon
| me than upon those who are talking about
| it. The little that eat and wear does not
amount to much, and the difference between
what is enough to sustain me and my little
family--it is very small, for am not kin to
many folks by consequently, though by
affinity am kin to eyerybody-the differ
ence between the little that suiiices for my
stomach and back, and more than enough
has no charms for me. The proud and con-
scious satisfaction Of having performed my
duty to my country, to my children, and tc
the inner man, is all the reward | ask
[Great applause. In conclusion, let mt
ask this vast concoursc here to-day. this Sea
of upturned faces, to come with me, or
will go with you, and stand around the Con
stitution Of our country. 1t is again un
folded; the people are invited to read and
understand; to sustain and maintain it:
provisions. Let US stand by the Constitu
themselves should fall. Though faction may
rage, though taunts and jeers may come
though abuse and vituperation may be
poured out in the most violent form, mean
to be found standing by the Constitution Of
my country. Stand by the Constitution as
the chief ark of our safety, as the palladium