Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-02-24

I know, my countrymen, that 1t
has been i~nsinuated, and not only
insinuated, but said directly, of which in
timation has been given in high places,
that ifsuch q usurpation of power had been
exercised two hundred years ago, in a par
ticular reign, it would have cost a certain
individual his head. l ask you candidly
what %usurpation has Andrew johnson
been guilty of? None. The u~surpation l
have been guilty of has always been stand
ing between the people and the encroach-
ments of power, and because l dared to
say in a conversation with u fellow-citizen
and a Senator that l thought the amend
ments to the Constitution ought not to be
so frequent, that their effect would the loss
of all its dignity, that the old instrument
would be lost sight of in a small time, be-
cause 1 happened to say that if it was
amended, such and such amendments
should be adopted, it was a usurpation
of power that would lave cost a King his
head at a certain time laughter and APP
plauseL, and in connection with this sub
ject it wa explained by the same gentle
man that we were in the midst of an
earthquake, he trembled and could not
yield. laughter Yes, there is an earth
quake coming, there is q ground swell
coming of popular judgment and indigna-
ton. That's true. The American peO-
pie will speak by their interests, and they
will know who are their friends and who
are their enemies.
What positions have 1 held I'M
der this Government? Beginning
with an alderman and running through
all the branches of the Legislature, a
voice, q from a tailor up" Some gentle
man says l have been a tailor, [tremen-
dious applause, now that docs not dis
comfort me in the least, for when l used
to be a tailor 1 had the reputation of being
a good one and making close fits, [great
laughter, always punctual with my Gus
TONERS, and always did good work. IA
voice, "No patch work. No, L don't
want any patch work, l want II whole
suit.
But 1 will pass by this RIGHTEOUSNESS,
my friends. l say you are President, and
you must not talk about such things.
When principles are involved, my coun-
trymen, when the existence of my cOun-
try is imperiled, l will act as on former
occasions, and speak what | think. l was
saving that l had held nearly all positions
from alderman, through both branches Of
Congress to that which l now occupy, and
who is there that will say that Andrew
johnson ever made a pledge that he did
not redeem, or made a promise he did not
fulfill Who will say he has ever acted
otherwise than in fidelity to the mass of
the people. They may talk about be-
heading and ~usurpation, but when
| am beheaded l want the American
~o..l, - ru,fnnuu I don't xuanf Inv Inu-
endoes, by indirect remarks in,high places,
to see the man who has assassination brood
ing in his bosom exclaim, This Presiden-
tial obstacle must be gotten out of the
way" l make use of a very strorg ex-
preston, when / say 1 have no doubt the
intention was to incite assassination, and
SO get out of the way the obstacle from the
place of power, whether by assassination
or not. There are individuals in the gov
eminent, 1 doubt not, who want to destroy
or die. They are not satisfied
with the blood that has been shed.
Does not the murder of Lincoln appease
the vengeance and wrath of the opponents
of the government Do they still want
more blood? Have they not got honor
and courage enough to obtain their objects
otherwise than by the hands Of the Gssas-
sin? Mol mol l am not afraid of assas-
sins attacking me where a brave and cour-
ageous man would attack another. lonly
dread him when he would go in disguise,
his footsteps noiseless. If it is blood they
want, let them have the courage to strike
like brave men. l know they are
willing to wound, but they are afraid to
strike. 1Applause.1 If my blood is to
be shed because 1 vindicate the Union and
the preservation of this government in its
original purity and charity, let it be shed.
Let an altar to the Union be erected, and
then, if it is necessary, take me and lay
ne upon it, and the blood that now warns
and animates my existence shall be poured
out as a fit libation to the union of these
States LGreat applause. But let the
opponents of this government remember
that when it is poured out the blood of the
martyrs will be the seed of the church.
Gentlemen, this Union will grow. 1t
will continue to increase in strength and
power though it may be cemented and
cleansed with blood. [Cheers. L have
talked longer now than l intended. Let
me thank you for the honor you have done
me. So far as this government is con-
cerned, let me say another word in refer
ench to amendments to the Constitution
of the United States. Hear, hear.
When 1 reached Washington for the
purpose of being ~inaugurated as Vice
President of the United States; had a on
versation with Mr.. Lincoln. We were
talking about the condition of aft irs in
reference to matters in my own State. l
said we had called Il Convention had
amended our Constitution BY abolishing
slavery in the State, a State not embraced
in his Proclamation. All this met his APP
probation and gave him encouragement,
and in talking upon the amendment TO the
Constitution he said "When the amend
ment to the Constitution is adopted by
three fourths of the States, we shall have
all or pretty nearly all L am in favor OF
amending the Constitution, if there was
one other adopted. Said l "What
is that, Mr.. President Z" "Said
he; 1 have labored to preserve this
Union. 1 have toiled four yours. l have
been subjected to calumny and misrepre-
sentation. Yet, my great desire has been
to preserve the union of these States un-
der the Constitution as they were before.
But,said 1, Mr.. President, what amendmet
do YOU refer TOT" He saidhe thought there
should be an amendment added to the
Constitution which would compel all the
States to send their Senators and Repre-
seniatives to the Congress of the United
States. Yes compel them. The idea was
in his mind that it was a part of the doc
trine of secession to break up the govern
ment by States Withdrawing their Sena-
tors and Representatives from Congress,
and therefore be desired a constitutional
amendment to compel them to be sent.
How now does the matter stand. In that
portion of it which provides for the amend
ment of the organic law it says that no
State without its consent shall bedeprived
of its representation in the Senate. And
now what do we find. We find the posi-
ton taken that States shall not be repre-
sented. We may impose taxes
we may send our tax gatherers to every
region and portion of a State-the peo-
pie are to be oppressed with taxes, but
when they come here to participate in the
legislation of the country, they are met at
the door and told: No you must pay your
taxes-you must bear the burden of the
government, but you cannot participate
in the legislation or government
of a country which is to affect you for all
time. Is this just? mol No1 Then [
say, let US admit into the councils of the
nation those who are Enthusiastically and
u~nequivocally loyal-thOse men who have
acknowledged their allegiance to the gov
eminent, and swear to support the Con-
stifutiOn II iS oil amhracad in that Tn |