Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-08-20
President JOhnsOn's Speech.

WASHINGTON, August lS.-There was
a great crowd to-day to hear the Presi /.
dents response to Reverdy johnson, who
presented the official proceedings of the
Convention He said in reference to the
scene of the representatives from South
Carolina and Massachusetts, entering the
Convention, that he was overcome, and
could not but conclude that an overrll-
ing Providence was debating us Alright
He said our brave men have performed
their duties in the field, and have won
laurels imperishable turning to Gen.
Grant, be continued: But there are
greater and more important duties to
perform, and while we have seen their
cooperation in the field, we now need
their efforts to perpetuate peace APP
plause. The Executive Department
had strven to pour oil on the wounds
and restore the Union, but it had not
entirely succeeded. We have seen, he
said, in one department Of the Govern.
ment, every effort used to prevent the
restoration of peace and harmony, and
we have seen hanging on the verge of the
Government as it were, a body called,
and which assumed to be the Congress
Of the United States, while, in fact,
it is only the Congress of a part
of the States, we have seen this
Congress assume, and pretend to be for
the Union, when its every step and act
tends TO perpetuate disunion, and make
a disruption of the States inevitable
Instead of promoting reconciliation and
harm ony, the Legislature has partaken of
the character of penalties and revenge.
This has been the policy of one portion
of your Government, and the humble in
dividual who is now addressing you
stands as the representative Of another
department of the Government, and the
manner in which he was called upon to
occupy that position, | shall not allude
to on this occasion. Sufficient to say
that he is here under the Constitution Of
the country, and being here by virtue of
its provisions, he takes his stand upon
that charter of our liberties, as the great
rampant of civil and religious liberty
prolonged cheers. Having been taught
in my early life TO hold it sacred, and
having practiced upon it during my whole
public career, | shall ever continue TO
adhere to the Constitution of my fathers,
and make it my guide. [Applause. The
President proceeded and denied that he
had ever been tyrannical or despotit,
and said such charges we're simply in
tended TO deceive and delude the pub
lie mind into believing that there is
one in power who is usurping and
trampling upon the rights of the consti.
tuition. This is done by those who make
such charges for the purpose Of covering
their own acts. That's so, and ap.
plause. have felt it my duty, in vim
dication of the principles and constitu-
tion of my country, to call the attention
of my countrymen to these proceedings.
Having placed myself upon the broad
platform, have not been awed, dis
mayed or intimidated by either threats
or encroachments, but have stood there
in conjunction with the patriotic States,
the tocsin of alarm when |
deemed the citadel of liberty in danger
Great applause | said, and repeat
now, that all that was necessary in this
great struggle against tyranny and des-
potism, was that the struggle should be
sufficiently audible for the American
people to hear and perfectly understand
They did hear, and looking on and see
ing who the contestants we're, and what
the struggle was about, they determined
that they would settle this on the side of |
the constitution and of principle. pro- |
claim here to-day, as have on previous oc
casions, that my faith is in the great mass
Of the people. In the darkest hour of the |
struggle, when the cloud seemed to be
most lowering, my faith, instead of Civ
ing way, doomed up through the cloud,
beyond which saw that all would be |
we'll in the end. My countrymen, we
know that despotism and tyranny, in the |
language of Thomas jefferson, can be |
exercised and executed the more effec- |
tually by the many than the one. We |
have seen Congress encroaching step |
by step, and violate, day after day, and |
after month. the Constitution and |
the Fundamental principles of govern
ment. We have seen a Congress that I
seems to forget that there was a limit 20 4
the sphere and scope of legislation. We |
have seen a Congress, in a minority, as /
sumo and exercise power which, IT al 1
lowed TO be carried out, would result in |
iespotsm or monarchy itself This Is
ruth, and because others, as wellas my |
self, saw proper to appeal to the patriot.
SIN and republicon feelings OF the eoun-
iry, we have been denounced. in the Sc.
gerest terms, ISLANDERS upon ISLANDERS,
upon vituperatiOn of the /
Tilest character, has made its way |
through the press. What, gentlemen,
las been the cause Of our ofending2 II
will tell you-daring to stand BY the I
Constitution Of our fathers consider /
he proceedings OF this Convention more j