The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-02-28

Voices-We will patch up the Union yet.
The President-No, do not want any
patch work of it; | want original articles re.
stored. [Great applause But enough of this
facetiousness. ] know it may be said, "You
are President and you must not talk about
these things" but, my fclow.citizens, intend
to talk the truth, and when principle is 'ihvolv-
cd, when the existence Of my country is in
peril, hold it to be my duty to speak what I
think, and what l feel, as have always done
en- former occasions. Great applause.] l
have said that it has been declared elsewhere
that l was guilty of usurpation which would
have cost a King his head, and in another
place have been denounced for whitewashing.
When and where did l ever whitewash any
thing or anybody? have been an Alderman of
tows; have been in both branches of the
Legislature of my State; I have been in both
at the head Of the Executive Department O {
my State; have been Vice President Of the
United States; and am now in the position
which occupy before you; and during all this
career, where is the man and what portion of
the people ia there who can say that
ever IN ide pledge that did not redeem
or that l have ever made promise which,
violated? None, none. Point to the man
who can say that ever acted with
inhdelity to the great mass Of the people
lGreat appause Men talk about beheading
and about usurpation; but when am beheaded
want the American people to be as witness
DO not want it by innuendocs and indecent
remarks in high places to be suggested to men
who have assassination brooding in their bos-
oms. Others have exclaimed that the Presi.
dental obstacle must be gotten out of the way.
What is that butt make use of strong
word-but melting to Assassination No doubt,
say, the intention was to incte to assassina.
ton, so that the obstacle which the people had
placed here could be got out of the way. Are
the opponents Of this Government not yet sat.
isfed? Are those who want to destroy our in.
stitutions and to change the character Of this
Government not satisfied with the quantity Of
blood that has been shed? Are they not salts
fed With one martyr in this place Does not the
blood of Lincola appease their vengence and
their WRATH Is their thirst still unslaked? Do
they still want more blood? Have they not
the end otherwise than through and by the
hand Of an assassin? l am not afraid Of an as
sassin Attacking me where one brave and cour
ageous man will attack another. | only dread
him when in disguise and where his tootstep
is noisess. If they want blood, let them have
the courage to strike like men. Iknow they
are willing to wound, but afraid to strike. If
my blood il to be shed because vindicatc the
Union and insist on the preservation Of this
Government in its original purity, let itbe shed,
but let an altar to the Union be first erected, and
if necessary, take me and lay me upon it.. and
the blood that now warns and animates my
existence shall be poured out at the last libA.
tion as tribute to the Union of these States.-
[Great applause, But let the opponents of
this Government remember when it il poured
f,t,f hat pe I'll,
of the church. This Union will grow, and it
will continue to increase in strength aud pow.
err, though it may be cemented and cleansed in
blood. | have already spoken to you longer
than intended when came out. go on. l
merely intended to make my acknowledS
mcnts for the honor you have done me; but
before close allow me to say word in re-
gard to the question Of amendments to the
Constitution OF the United States Shortly af
ter reached Washington for the purpose Of
being inaugurated As Vice President of the
United States, had a conversation with Mr..
Lincoln in regard to the condition of affairs.
We talked particularly in reference to matters
in my own State. told him that we had call.
ed a convention, that we had amended the
Constitution, that we had abolished slavery in
that state, which was not included in his elnan.
cipation proclaim alton All these things met
his appreciation. and he gave me words of en-.
enlargement We talked then about affairs
generally, and upon the sn,;;eec. OF amend.
ments to the Constitution Of the United States
tic said: "Whea the amenlmeGt Of the Con
stitution now proposed is adopted by three.
fourths Of the States, am pretty near done,
or indeed quite done in favor Of am endng the
Con situti0n, il there was one other adopted
| asked him, "what is that Mr.. President?''-
lie said, 81 have labored to preserve this Union
| have tried during the four years l have been
subjected to calumny and Misrepresentation
and my greatest aud strongest desire has been
rg rrcserpe these s.atas i.tae. naia ~ the. Con
stltution as they were before. I'asked him
again, "Mr. President, what amendment i:
that which you would propose?" "Why," SAID
he, sit is that there should be an amendment
added TO the Constitution which would compel
the States to send their Senators and Repre-
sentativcs to the congress of the United States
Great applause. The idea was in his mind
that, as "a part of the doctrine Of the means tc
break up this Government was that the States
if they saw proper might withdraw their Sena
tors aud Representatives,, or refuse to cleo,
them, he wanted even to remove that diff GUILTY
by a constitutional amendment compelling the
States to send Senators and Representatives to
Congress. But what do we now find? The
Constitution of the country, even that portion
of it which allows amendments to the organic
law, expressly provides that no State withou,
its consent shall be deprived of its equal suf
flage in the Senate, and it also provides that
each State shall have at least one Representa-
tive in the House of Representatives,; but vel
the position is taken that certain States have
not been represented. We impose taxes upon
them, VIC send our tax -gathcrers into every re
gion ana portion of the States Their people
are ft subjects of government for the collec
ton OF taxes; but when they ask to participate
in the legislation OF the country they are me
at the door and told, No, you must pay taxes
you must bear the burdens Of government, bu
you cannot participate in its legislation, tina
legislation whicn is to effect you through al
time to come" Is this justice? Is it fair? mo
mol l repeat, ! am for the Union am TO
preserving all the States. an. for admittin:
into the councils Of the nation all their repre-
scntatves who are Enthusiastically and unques
tionably loyal A man who acknowledges al
lcgiance to the Government, and who swear
to support the constitution, must necessarily b.
loyal A man cannot take that in good iaitl
unless he is loyal A mere inaiction of tn,
| oath makes no difference. as the principle
whatever test is thought proper as evidences
and as proof Of Loyalty, is mere matter o
detail, about which care nothing; but let
man be Enthusiastically aud unquesionably loyal
let him acknowledge allegiance to the Goa
stitution of the United States and be willing tc
support the Govern mcnt in its hour of peri
and its hour OF need, and ana willing to trus
him, Applause q, go
| know that some do not attach as muc.
importance to the point as do, but re
1 gard it as, fundamental. One principl
that carried us through the revolution va
that there should be no taxation withou
representation. hold to that principle
| which was laid down as fundamental b.
our fathers; if it was good then, it is GOO
now; il it was worth standing by then,
1 is worth sthandng by now. It, is .funda
mental, aud should be observed as long a
!, free government lasts. am aware that il
the midst Of rebellion it was said by som
that the Constitution had been rolled up
| n niece of parchmen aud laid array. fhs