The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-02-24

MhdG i Llluhs ! WAS Ludb l. uttu
held nearly all positions from alderman
through both branches of Congress to
that which L now occupy, and who is
there that will say Andrew johnson
ever made a pledge that he did not re-
l-deem, or ever made promise he did
not fulfill2 Who will say that he has
ever acted otherwise than in fidelity to
the great mass of the people? They
may talk about beheading usurper,
but when / am beheaded 1 want
the American people to witness. /
don't want, by inuendoes and indirect
remarks in high places, TO seethe man
who has assassination broodtng in his
bosom exclaim that this Presidential
obstacle must be gotten out of the way.
make use off very strong expression
when say that have no doubt that
the intentionSw to incite assassina-
ton, and so get out of the way the OBJ
stac1e from place and power whether
viduals in this government, doubt not,
who want to destroy our institutions
and change the character of the govern
ment; and they are not satisfied with
the bl9qd that as 5ssn shsd RSes PES not
geance and wrath? Have they not got
honor and courage enough to obtain
their objects otherwise than by the
hands of the assassin? No, no, am
not afraid of assassins attacking me
where brave and courageous man
would attack another. I only dread
him when he would go in disguise and
his footsteps noiselsss. If 1t is blood
they want let them have courage enough
to strike like men. i know they are
willing to wound, but they are afraid to
strike. lApplause.l II my blood is TO
be shed because 1 vindicate the Union
and preservation of the government In
its originalpurity and charity, let 1t be
shed. Let an altar to the. Union be
erected and then, ifit is necessary, take
me and lay me upon it, and The blood
that now warns and animates my ex-
istence, shall be poured outas a ht hba-
ton to the union OF these states lJreat
applause.1 But let the opponents OF
this government remember that when
it is found out, the blood of the martyrs
will be the seed of the church, [Cheers.l
Gentlemen, this Unionwill grow, 1t will
continue to increase in strength ana
power; though it may be cement
ed and cleansed with blood.
have talked longer now than j intend
ed. Let me thank you for the honor
YOU have done. So far as the govern
ment is concerned, let me say one other
word in reference to the amendments
to the Constitution ofthe United States.
When reached Washington for the
purpose ofbeing 1naugurated as vice
President of the United States, had
conversation with Mr.. Lincoln. we
were talking about the condition of at
fairs, and in reference to matters IN my
own State. said that we had called
convention, had amended our consti-
tuition by abolishing slavery in the
clnmation. All this met his approba-
ton and gave him encouragement In
backing up the amendment to the Con-
stitution. He said, "when the amend
ment to the constitution is adopted by
-fourths of the States, we
shall have all or pretty nearly all. am
in favor of amending tne G9ns5ltatloh
for there was one other he wished adopt
ted. SaidI, what is that, Mr.. President?
He saidI have labored to save this Union.
1 have toiled four years. have been
subjected to calumny and misrepresen-
tation, yet my great desire has been TO
preserve the union of these States
intact under the constitution as they
were before. But, said j, Mr.. Presi-
dent, what amendment do you refer tor
He said he thought there should be an
amendment added to the constitution
which would compel all the States to
send their Senators and representatives
to the Congress of the United States -
yes. compel them, The idea was in his
mind that it was part of the doctrine
of secession to break upthe government
by States withdrawing their Senators
and Representatives from Congress-,
and, therefore, he desired constitn-
,tional amendment to compel them TO
be sent. How now does the matter
stand? In the constitution of the coun-
try, even in that portion OF 1t which
provides for r-thesamendment of the or
ranic law, it says that no State, without
It's consent, shnll be deprived OF Its rep
resentation in the country, and now,
what do we find2 We find the position
taken that States shall not be represent
ed; that we may impose taxes; that we.
may send our tax gatherers to every
region and portion of State; that the
people are to be oppressed with taxes,
but when they come here to.
participate in the legislation of
the country they are met at
your taxes, you must bear the burden
OF the government, but you must not
participate in the legislation of the
country, which is to affect you for all
time. Is this just2 No, no. Then
say let us admit into the councils ofthe
nation those who are eunmistakaolya ana
loyal; those men who ac-
knowledge their allegiance to the gov
ernment and swear TO support the con-
stitution. 1t is all embraced in that
the amplification of an oath makes no
difference if a man is not loyal, but you
NAV adopt whatever test oath you
please to prove their loyalty. II, while
was BOlAES VII SA4S SSAAstAT
tuition was rolled up as piece of parch-
ment, If it was done in some particu-
lars to save the government, there may
have been some excuse to justify 1t, but
now that peace has come, that war is
over, we want written constitution,
and say the time has come TO take the
constitution down and unroll it, read 1t
and understand its provisions. came
here TO yindicate the constitution and
to sayeit, for 1t does seem to me that
encroaohment after encroachment is
proposed. stand to-day prepared, so
far as L can, to resist these encroach-
ments upon the constitution and gov
ernment. / tell the opponents OF this
government, Icare not ftom whatquar-
ed in the work of breaking up
the Government by amendments to the
constitution, that the principles of free
government are deeply rooted in the
American heart. All the powers COM
bined. 1 care not of what character,
cannot destroy that great instru-
menC, that great chart of freedom. They
NAV seem TO succeed for a time, but
their attempts will be futile. They may
think now it can be done by a concur
rent resolution, but when it is submit
ted to the popular judgement and to the
popular will, they will find that they
might as we'll undertake to introduce a
resolution TO repeal the laws of gravity
as TO keep this Union from being re-
stored, tits Just about as possible to
resist the great law of gravitation which
which binds all to a common centre as
that great law which will bring back
these States to their regular relations
with the Union. / have detained you
longer than intended. Voices, go on.l
instrument. Who Is there I have not
hoiIad and Iahnrad for? ? Where Is the