The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-02-28

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revolution of the Government, and before we
fully get from the battle-helds -when our
brave men have scarcely returned to their
homes and renewed the ties of affection and
love to their wives and their children--we
are now almost inaugurated into another re-
bellion. [Cheers. One rebellion was the
effort of States to secede, and the war on the
mart of the Government was to prevent them
from accomplishing that, and thereby chang
inc the character of our Government and
weakening its power. When the Govern
ment has succeeded, there is an attempt now
to concentrate all power in the hands of
few at the Federal head, and thereby bring
about a consolidation of the Republic which
is equally Objectionable with its dissolution;
Cheers. We find a power assumed ana
attempted to be exercised OF most extra
ordinary character We see now that gov
ernments can be revolutionized without go
ing into the battlefield and sometimes the
revolutions most distressing to people are
effected without the shedding of blood
That is the substance of your Government
nav he taken away while there is held out
TO Won the form and the shadow. And now,
what are the attempts and what is being
proposed We find that by an irresponsi-
BILE central directory nearly al the powers of
Congress are assumed without even consult
ing the legislative and executive depart
ments of the Government. By resolution
reported by committee upon whom and in
whom the legislative power of the Govern
ment has been lodged, that great principle
in the Constitution which authorizes andem-
powers the Legislative department, the Senate
and House of Representatives, to be the
Judges of elections, returns, and qualifications
of its own members, has been virtually taken
away from the two respective branches OF
the National Legislature, and conferred up
ON a committee, who must report before the
body can act on the question of the admiss-
ion of members 10 their seats By this rule
they assume State is out of the Union, and
to have its practical relations restored by
that rule, before the House can judge OF the
qualifications of its own members. What
position is that9 You have been struggling
for four years to put down rebellion. You
commended at the beginning of that struggle
that State had not right to go out. You
said it had neither the right nor the power,
and it has been settled that the States had
neither the right nor the power to go out of
the Union And when you determine by the
executive, by the military, and by the public
judgement, that these States cannot have
any right to go out, this committee turns
around and assumes that they are out, and
that they shall not come in.
| am free to say to you as your Execu-
tive that am not prepared to take any such
position [Great cheering. l said in the
Senate, in the very inception of this rebell-
ion, that the States had no right to secede.
The question has been settled. Thus deter
mined, cannot turn round and give the lie
direct to all that profess to have done dur
ing the last four years. I say that when the
States that attempted to secede comply with
the Constitution, and give sufficient evidence
of loyalty, shall extend to them the right
hand of fellowship, and let peace and union
be restored am opposed to the Davises,
the Toombses, the Slidells and the long list
of SUCH But when perceive on the other
hand men-[A voice, "Call them off" =
care not by what name you call them-still
opposed to the Union, 1 am free to say to
YOU that am still with the people. l am
still for the preservation of these S:ates-tor
the preservation of this Union, and in favor
of this great Government accomplishing its
destiny. q
Here the President was called upon to
give the names of three of the members of
Congress to whom he had alluded as being
opposed to the Union.
The gentleman calls for three names. /
am talking to my friends and fellow-citizens
here. ICheers. Suppose should name to
YOU those whom look upon as being oppos-
ed to the fundamental principles of this
Government, and as now laboring to destroy
them. I say Thaddeus Stevens, of Pennsyl-
yania; say Charles Summer, of Massachu-
sets; l say Wendell Phillips, of Massachu-
rN,oo+ ond a voioa Eornavtr1
do not waste my fire on dead ducks
Laughter l stand for the country, and
though my enemies may traduce, SANDER,
and vituperate, l may say, that has no force.
In addition to this, do not intend to be
governed by real or pretended friends, nor
do 1 intend to be bullied by my enemies.-
TCheers. An honest conviction is my sus-
tenance, the Constitution my guide. know,
nv countrymen, that it has been insinuated
nav. said directly, in high places-that if
such usurpation of power had been exer-
cised two hundred years ago, in particular
reigns, it would have cost an individual his
head. What usirpation has Andrew John
son been guilty Off Cheers and cries of
"None.nl My only usurpation has been COM
mitted by standing between the people and
the encroachments of power. And because
L
citizen and Senator too, that thought
amendments to the Constitution ought not to
be so frequent, lest the instrument lose all its
sanctity and dignity, and be wholly lost
sight of in short time, and because | hap
pened to say in conversation that thought
that such and such an amendment was all
that ought to be adopted, it was said that
had suggested such a usurpation of power
as would have cost king his head in a GER
tain period! In connection with this SUBJ
iect, one has exclaimed that we are in the
amidst of earthquakes and he trembled." Yes,
there is an earthquake approaching, there is
groundswell coming of popular judgment
and indignation. The American people will
speak, and by their instinct, if in no other
way, know who are their friends, when and
where and in whatever position stand-and
I have occupied many positions in the Gov
eminent, going through both branches of the
Legislature. Some gentleman here behind
me says, "And was a tailor Laughter
Now, that don't affect me in the least
When was tailor always made close
fit and was always punctual to my custo-
mers, and did good work.
A Voice. No patchwork.
The President. No, did not want any
patchwork. But we pass by this depression.
Intimations have been thrown out-and when
principles are involved and the existence of
nv country imperilled, will, as on former
occasions, speak what think. Yes Cost
him his headl Usurpation! When and
where have been guilty of this? Where is
tho man in all the nositions have occupied