Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-08-29
Extraordinary Speech of Andrew
Johnson

TO TIE PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION RE-ASSEE-
BLED AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen Of the Com
miffes: Language is inadequate to express the
emotions and feelings produced by this occa-
sion. Perhaps l could express more by per-
mitting silence to speak and you to infer what
| ought to say, confess that, noswithstand-
ing The experience | have had in public life
and the audiences have addressed, this occa-
sion and this assemblage are we'll calculated
to, and do, oyerwhelm me. As | have said,
have rot language to convey adequately my
present feelings aud emotions.
In listening to the address which your elO-
quent and distinguished chairman has just
delivered, the proceedings OF the conven ton
as they transpred recurred to my mind.
Seemingly partook of the inspiration that
prevailed IN the convention. When | re
ceived dispatch sent by two of it's distin-
guished M u bers, conveying in terms the scene
which has just been described of South Caro-
| lima and Massachusetts, arm In arm, marching
into that vast assemblage, and thus giving
evidence that the TWO extremes had come to-
gether, and that, tor the future, they were
united, as they had been IN the past, tor the
preservation of the UnIon-when the dispatch
informed me that in that vast body of men
distinguished for their intelligence, intellect
and wisdom, every eye was sufu1ed with Tears
ON behOldlng the scene, l could not finch
reading the Dispatch to one associated vita
me In the office, tor my own feelings overcam :
me. (Cheers.) | think we may Justly con-
clude we are moving under proper lnspira-
tlon and that We are not mistaken that the
finger OF an overruhng and unerring Provi-
dence is IN this matter loud cheers.) The
nation is In peril. We have just passed
through a mighty, bloody, mYmensou
ordeal, yet do not find ourselves free from the
difficulties und dangers that at first surround
ed us. w bile our brave men have performed
! their duties, both officers and men (turniug to
Gen. Grant who stood at his right), while
they have won laurels i'm mperlshable, there a. e
still greater and more important duties to per-
form, and while We have had their c0-opera-
tiOn in the field we now need their support 10
our efforts to kerpetuate peace. cloud cheers.
So FAR as the Executive Department OF the
government Is concerned, the effo has been
made TO restore the Union, TO heal the breach
TO pour oil into the wounds, which were con.
sequent upon the struggle, and, to speak IL
common phrase. to prepare, the learned
and wise physician would, a plaster, healing
8 10 character and co-extenslye with the wound
cloud cheers.)
I We thoug ht, and we think that we had
partially succeeded, but as the work pro-
gressed, as reconciliation seemed to be taking
place and the country becoming united, We
found disturbing and warning element op
posing In alluding to that element
shall go no further than did your convention
and the distinguished gentlemen who havs
delivered TO me the report OF Its proceedings
J. | shall make no reference To it that do moi
believe the time and the occasion Justify
We have witnessed in one department O
the government every effort, as it were, t
prevent the restoring of peace and harmony
e In the | mon. We have seen hauging upoI
the verge OF the government, 1t were,
body called, or which assam d to be, the Con
gress OF the United States, but in fac; Con
o gress of only part OF the states. We hsv
= seen ihls Congress assume and pretend to b.
j., for The Union, when Its every step and &C
tended TO perpetuate dlsunion and make
disruption OF the states inevitable. Instest
OF promoting reconciliation and harmony, it
e legislation has partaken of the character 0
. penalties, retaliation and revenge. This ha
been the course and the policy of one depart
ment OF your government
: The humble Individual Who is now address
p ing you, stands the representative of anot he
d department. ot the government. The manne
IN which he was called upon to occupy th
p sition | shall not allude TO on this occasion
= Suffice it to say that he is here under the Con
/ stitution OF the country, and being here b
. virtue OF its provlsIo1 he takes his stand upo
TaIl
part of civil and relie ious liberty. fPfc
. ionged cheers)
Having been taught in early life to hold
le sacred, and having practlced upon it durin
my whole publc career, L shall ever continu
to reverence that Constitution-the Constitr
g tion of the Fathers OF the Country-and ;
IS make it my guide. Enthusiastic cheers)
or know lt has been sald-aud | must be Del
a mltted to indulge IN the rem irk-that the E.
ecuuye Department CT the government ha
: been tyrannlcal. LIZ me ask this audience {
distinguished gentlemen around me here &
= day, to point to vote | ever gave, to a speec
| ever made, to a single act OF my whole put
lie lite, that has not been 9gainst tyranny an
&c despousm. w nat position have | ever occu
s. pied, what glound have L ever assumed
N where 1t can be truthfully charged that
~ tailed to advocate the ameiioratier and ell
vation OF the great masses of my countrymen
Vi (Crles of "never, and great applause.) S
We tar as the charges of this kind are concerned
of will say that they are SIMPLY intended
m deceive and delude the public mind into tt
. belief that there Is some one in power who
'' usurping and irampling upon the rights al
ut perverting the principles OF the Constitution
ls IL done by those who make such chars,
,r; for the purpose of covering their own act
(Cries that's so,' and cheers.) | have fe
= 1t my duty, In vlndication of principle and II
IN Constitution of my country, to call attentio
l. to these proceedings. When We cJme to e,
t. anime wno has been playing the tyrant, b
whom do We find that disposition has been e,
r erclsed AS to myself, the elements of u
e nature, the pursuits of my life, have not mac
be me IN my feelings or in my practice aggressiy
an NJ nature, on the contrary, is rather defer
-, sive In its character ; but will say that, ha
ing taken my stand upon the broad principl
nt l1n md rhe
as power enough on earth to drive me from i
at prolonged cheers.) Having placed myse
H. upon that broad platform, have not bet
awed, discouraged or intlmidated by eth
VS. threats or encroacbments, but lave stood the
Is ln conjunction with patriotic spirits, soundir
r. the tocsIn of alarm whenever | deemed Il
;. citadel of liberty in danger. (Great applause
oA | said on q previous occasion, and repeat no,
ey that ell that was necessary in the great stru
its gle against tyranny and despotism was til
a, the struggle should be sufficiently audible f.
=. the American people to hear and properly
''' derstand. They did hear, and looking on ar
In seeing where their constituents were and VIII
of that struggle was about. they determined tn
t ? they would settle this question on the side
- the Constitution. and of principles. "a
piause.)
a' proclaim here to-day, as have on 9th
1e- OCCASIONS, that my faith is abiding in Il
ed great mass OF the people. In the darkest NJ
III ment OF the struggle, when the cloud seem
oct to be most lowering, my faith, instead of gi
ing away, loomed up through the dark clou
III Far beyond saw that ali would be safe
at the end. (Cheers.) My countrymen, we
know that IN the language of Thomas jeff
son, tyranny and despotlsm ever can be e1,
cised and extended more efectually by {
A. many than the one. We have seen Congr
a.. oil nah,