The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-08-23
ANDREW JOHNSON as he was.
ANDREW JOHNSON as he Wa 8.
speech OF vice-Prssident johnson, nj
WilIard's Hotel, Warrington, April Sd
1s0B.
lie Urges "the Halter for Intelligent
Traitors and thinks death too
Easy a Punishment"
[From the Memphis Post.l

sons great speech made at Willard
Hotel, in Washington City, on the &c
of April, six days prior to the surren
der Of Lee, and suggest that it be rcac
at the meeting Of the Johnson Club ir
this city. The then Vice Presidcnr
said: H '' G3'Ha iiir .a'f'' "aih
We are now, nv friends, winding
up a-rebeilion--a great effort has been
made by bad men to overthrow the
Government Of the U Sra Govern.
ment founded upon free principles and
cefnented by the best blood of the
Revolution. [Cheeis You must in
dulge me in making one single remark
in regard to myself. At the time that
the traitors in the Senate of the United
States plotted against the Government
and entered into conspiracy more
foul, more exeprable, and more odious
than that of Catnline against the Ro.
mans, | happened To be a member Of
that body, and, as to loyalty, stood sol.
itary and alone among the Senators
from the Southern States.
] was then and there called upon To
know what | would do with such trai.
tors, and | want to repeat my reply
here, | said, If we had an Andrew
jackson, he would hang them as high
as Haman, [cheers,] but as he is no
more. and sleeps in his grave in his
beloved State, where traitors and trea.
son have even insulted his tomb, and
the very earth that covers his re-
mains, humble, as l am. when you ask
me what / would do, my reply is,
would arrest them, ! would try them,
lwould convictthem, and would hang
them. Prolonged cheers.
AS humble as | am and have been,
| have pursued but one undertaking
course. All that | have-life, limb
and property-bave been put at the
disposal of the country in this great
struggle. l have been in the camp,
| have been in the field, 1 have been
everywhere where this great rebellion
was. have pursued il until believe
can now see its termination. Since
the world began there never has been
a rebellion of such gigantic proper
tions, 80 infamous in character, so dia,
bolical in motive, so entirely disregard
ful of the laws of civilized war. 1t
has introduced the most savage mode
OF warfare ever practiced upon the
earth.
l will repent here a remark, for
which | have been in no small degree
censured. What is it, allow mo TO
ask, that has sustained the nation in
this great struggle? The cry has been,
you know, that our Government was
not strong enough for a time Of re'el,
lion; that in such q time she would
have to contend against internal foes.
We have now given the world evil
dence that such is not the fact; and
when the rebellion shall have been
crushed out, and the nation shall once
again have settled down in peace, our
Government will rest upon more en-.
during basis than ever before,
But, my friends, in what has the
great strength of the Government con-
sistedP Has it been in one man pow
or! Has it been in some autocrat or
in some one man who held absolute
government? No l thank God have
it in my power to proclaim the great
truth that this Government has deri.
we'd it's strength from the Americar
people. They have issued the edict
they have exercised the power that
has resulted in the overthrow of the
rebellion, and there is not another Gov
ernment upon the face of earth that
could have withstood the shock
[Chcers e.
We can now congratulate ourselves
that wo possess the strongest, the
treest and the best Government the
world ever saw. Great applause. =
Thank God that we have lived tbro'
this trial, and that looking in
your intelligent faces here to-day,
can announce to you the great fact
that Petersburg, the outpost to the
strong citadel, has been occupied by
our brave and gallant officers and un.
firing and invincible soldiers. Great
cheering] And not content with that
they have captured the Hcitadel iselI
--thT stronghold of traitors. Rich.
mond is ours, and is now occupied by
the forces Of the United States? Ire
mendous cheers. Her gates have
been entered. and the glorious stars
and stripes, the emblem of the Union
Of power, and Of supremacy, now float
over the enemy's Capitol Great
cheering
In the language of another, lot that
old flag rise higher and higher, unit
it meets the sun in bis coming and lei
the parting day linger to play upon
its ample folds. [Cheers. 1t is the
flag OF your ccuntry,it is your flag, il
is my flag, and it bids defiance TO all
the nations of the earth, and to the en-,
croachments of all the powers combin
ed. lRenewed cheering 1t is moi
my intention to make any imprudenl
remarks or illusions. but the hour will
come when those nations that EXHIBIT
ed toward us so much insolence and
improper interference in the midst Of
our adversely, and as they supposed
OF our weakness, will learn that this il
a Government OF the people, possess
ing power enough TO make itself fell
and respected. [Cheers
In the midst OF our rejoicing we mus
not forget to drop tear for those gal
liant fellows who have shed their blood
that their Government might triumph