The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1866-03-08

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and the encroachments of power; am
because I dared say in q conversation Will
/ q fellow citizen, and senator, too, that
! thought amendments to the constitution,
ought not to be SO frequent; that thci
effect would be that it would lose all it
prestige and dignity; that the old instru
ment would be lost sight of in a shor
time; because 1 happened to say in ;
conversation that, if it was amended, suci
and such amendments should be adopted
it was usurpatiOn Of power that would
have cost king his head at a certain
time. daughter and applause.) And
in connection with this subject, it wa:
explained that we were in the midst OF
earthquakes. that they trcmblc and could
not yield Yes, there is an earthquake
coming; there is ground swell coming
Of popular judgment and Indignation
That's true.) The American people vii
speak by their instincts, and they vii
know who are their friends, and who their
enemies.
What positions have [ occupied? l have
occupied all positions under this govern
ment beginning with an alderman and
running through all branches Of the leg
islature. & voice, ''from = tailor up. y
Some gentleman says | have been a tailor
tremendous applause) Now that docs
not discomdt me in the least. for when /
used TO be tailor, [ had the reputation
Of being a good one, and Of making close
fits, (great laughtcr,) always punctaal
with my customers, and always aid good
work. (A voice, "no patch work" No |
do not want any patch work; want a
whole suit. Bat We will pass by this little
Righteousness. My friends may say ''you
are president, and you must not talk about
such things When principles are involy-
ed, my countrymen, when the existence Of
my country even is impcrilled, | will act
as have on former occasions, and speak
what [ think. ] was saying that l had
held nearly al positions from alderman,
through both branches Of congress, to that
which [ now ocupy, and who is there that
will say Andrew johnson ever made 4
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 great mass Of the people? They may
talk about beheadlng and usurpation, but
when am behcaded | want the American
people to be the witnesses. [ dor want,
by inuendoes, by indirect remarks in high
places, to see the man who has asSassina>
ton brooding in his bosom cxclaim. this
presidential obstacle must be gotten out Of
l,0 Of cL,.c
expression when | say that | have nodoubt
the intention was to incite assassination,
and so Get cat of the way "the obstacle
from place and power. Whether by assas-
nation or not, there are individuals in
this government, | doubt not, who want to
destroy our institutions, and change the
character OF the government. Are they
not satisfied with the murders We Ia c had?
Does not the murder Of Lincoln appcase
the vengeance and wrath OF the opponents
of this government? Are they still un-
slaked? Co they still want more bloOd?-
Have they not got honor and courage
enough to attain their objects otherwise
than by the hands OF the assassins? No,
no. | am not afraid Of assassins attacking
me where brave and courageous man
would attack another. | only dread him
when he would 90 in disguise, his footsteps
noislcss. fit is blood they want let them
have courage enough TO strike like men.
know they are willing to wound, but
they arc afraid to strike. (Applause.) If
my blood is to be shed because | vindcate
the union, and the preservation of this
government in its original purity Of char
acter, let it be shed; but when It is shed,
let an altar to the union be erected, and
then, if it is necessary, take NE and lay me
upon it, and the blood that now warns and
animates my existence shall be poured ont
as a last libation of tribute to the union of
these states Great applause But let
the opponents Of this government remember
that when it is poured out, ''thc blood Of
the martyr will be the seed Of the church.
(Cheers.)
Gentlemen, this union will grow; it will
continue to increase in strength and pow
er, though it may be cemcntcd and cleans
ed with blood have talked longer now
than intended to speak. Let me thank
you for The honor you have done nc. SO
far rs this government is concerned, let
me say one other word in reference to the
amendments to the constitution Of the
United States. When [ reached Wash
inston for the purpose of being inaugu-
rated as vice president OF the United
States [ had conversation with Mr..
Lincoln. We were talking about the con
dition of affairs, and in reference to matters
in my own state. | stated that we had
called a convention; had amended our
constitution by abolishing slavery in the
state-a state not embraced in his procla-
nation. All this met his appreciation and
gave him encouragement, and, in talking
upon the amendment to the constitution.
he said: "When the amendment to the
constitution is adopted by three fourths Of
the states we shall have done all, or pretty
nearly all am in favor of in amending
the constitution, if there was one other
adopted" Said |. what is that MIR presi-
dent" Said he, II have labored to pre-
serve this union, I have toiled four years,
| have been subjected to calumny and
yot my great desire has
been to preserve the union of these states
intact, under the constitution as they were
before" But, said |, "NIr President,
what amandmont do VIM rofor to2v 10