The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1866-02-27

Il
upon dead ducks. Laughter
and applause.l l stood for my country;
stand for the constitution whereOn plac-
ed my foot from my entrance into puOIlc
life. They may traduce me. Ihey may
They may vituperate: But let
me say to you that it has no effect upon
me. iCheers.l Let me say in addition
that L do not intend to be bullled oy enc
mics. Applause. and cry, the people VIII
support you.1 | know, my countrymen'
that it has been insinuated-not only IN
sinuated. but said directly-the lntlmatlon
has been given in high places-that II such
a usurpation of power had been exercised
two hundred years ago in particular
region, it would have cost certain Indl-
yidual his head. What usurpation has
Andrew johnson been guilty OF! None
nonel
The only usurpatiOn ] have been guilty
ofwas between the people and an encroach-
ment of power, and because L dared to say
i'm conversation with a tell0w-c tlZen and
a Senator, that | thought amendments to
the constitution ought not TO be too fire.
nuentIy made, that it would be lost sight
of in a short time; because l happened to
say if it was amended, such and such
amendments should be adopted, 1t was
usurpation of power that would have cost
a king his head at certain time. Laugh
this subject. it was maintained by the same
gentleman that we were in the midst of
an earthquake. that he trembled and could
not yield. Laughter.l Yes, there is an
earthquake coming, there is a ground swell
coming of popular judgment and lndlgna-
ton. A voice: that's true.I Inc Amefl-
can people will speak by their interests,
and they will know who are their friends
and who their enemies. What position
have held under this Government, begin
inc with an Alderman and running through
ali the branches OF the Legislature. La voice
from tailor up, some gentleman says
| have been a traitor, tremendous APP
plause, now. that did not discomtit me in
the least. for when | used to be tailor
had the reputation of making close nus,
great applause always did good work.
4 voice-no patchwork | want whole
suit, but will pass by this little tacetious-
ness. My friends, some may say you are
President. and you must not talk about
such things when principles are involved.
NV countrymen. when the existence OF
nv country is imperilled, | will act as L
have on former occasions. and speak WhaC
| think, | was saying that had held near
" all positions from Alderman, through
both branches of Congress, to that which
| 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 fulfil: Who will say
| that he has ever acted otherwise than IN
| fidelity to the great mass OF the people !:
! They NAV talk about beheading ana usur-
| patton. but when | am beheaded want
! the American people to witness 1t. uoll l
want by inuendoes. by indirect rGhldIhS
| i'm hiph places. to see the man who has as
! sassinatiOn brOoding in his bosom, eNclalm,
! this Presidential obstacle must be gotten
! out of the way. | make use OF a very
! stl Onp expression when say that have no
doubt the intention was to incite aSsassl-
nation and to get out OF the way the Cd
stacles from place and power. Whetner
by assassination or not, there are lnulNlu-
ualS in this Government, doubt not, VINO
want to destroy our institutions and
| change the character of the Government.
| Are they not satisfied with the blood which
| has been shed? Does not the murder OF
| Mr.. Lincoln appease the vengeance and
wrath of the opponents OF this Govern
ment? Do they still want more blood =
Have they not honor and courage enough
| to obtain their objects otherwise than by
the hands of the assassin? No, L am moi
afraid of assasSins attacking me where
brave and courageous man would attack
| another. IOnlv dread him when he Woult
! 90 in disguise, his footsteps nolseless. L
it is blood they want, let them have cour
age enough to strike like men. l know
they are willing to warn, but they ar
afraid to strike. Applause. If M!
| blood is to be shed because L vfndlcate TIT
| Union and the preservation OF this Gov
eminent in its original purity and chastity
let it be she'd; let an altar to the Union b.
erected, and if it is necessary TO take me
Law me upon it, and the blood that nov
warns and animates my existence shall
be poured out as a fit libatiOn to the Union
of the States. [Great applause.l But lie
-, y OaAFAfp pIE m
Der that when it is poured out, the bloot
of the martyrs is the seed of the church
[Cheers.l
Gentlemen, this Union will grow, it vii
continue to increase in strength and pow
/ err though it may be cemented and cleanse
with blood. | have talked longer than
intended. Let me thank you for the homo
YOU have done me. So far as this Govern
ment is concerned, let me say one othe
word in reference to the amendment of til
Constitution of the United States. Whe
| reached Washington for the purpose Q
being inaugurated as Vice President o
the United States, | had a cOnversatio
with Mr.. Lincoln; we were talking abOu
the condition of affairs, and in reference
matters in my own State, l said they ha
called convention, and had amended ou
Constitution by abolishing slavery in tn
. State-a state not included in his procls
, /
. gave him encouragement; and III talkln
upon the amendment to the Constitution
: he said: When the amendment to til
=, Constitution is adopted by three-fOurtf
= of the States, we should have all, or prett
: nearly ALL am in favor of amending tt
Constitution, if there was another adopte
= Said |: What is that, Mr.. President! Sal
, he: | have labOred for this Union; haN
toiled for four years; have been subiec
ed to calumny and misrepresentation y
. my desire has been to preserve the UniC
= intact under the Constitution as they we
= before But said | Mr.. President, VIII
: amendment do you prefer? He said
thought there should be an amendmeI
= added to the Constitution which wou
, compel all the States to send their Senate
= and Representatives to the Congress of Il
|. United States. Yet to compel them? II
/ idea was in his mind that it was part
! the doctrine of secession to break up {
= Government by the States withdrawn
their Senators and Representatives fro
Congress; and, therefore. he desired a co
stitutional amendment to compel them
;, be sent How now does the matter stal
= in the Constitution of the country? EY
q that portion of it which provides Tor
- amendment of the organic law sa
: that no State without its consent shall
- deprived of its representation in Congre
=, Now what do we find? The positl
" taken that the States shall not be rep1
J. sented; that we may impose taxes; IL
-e we may send tax gathererS to every regI
ID and portion of State; that the people q
,e to be oppressed with taxes, but when tn
at come here to participate in the legislati
st of the country, they are met at the dc
IN and told; You must pay your taxi
rs must bear the burden of the Governme
of but must not participate in the counc
III which are to affect you for all time.
of this just? No, no. Then 1 say let us {
q nit into the councils of the nations tho
l. who are Enthusiastically and unequivoca
at loyal, those men who acknowledge tn
ne allegiance to the Government, and swt
Dy TO support the Constitution. 1t is all e
he braced in that-the amplifcatiOn of
1t, oath makes no difference ifa man is
re loyal-but you may adopt whatever
to oath you please, to prove their loyal
Iot When the rebellion was going the Con:
/ tuition was rolled up as a piece of par
act ment. 1t it was violated in some parti
asst lars to save the Government, there Il
have been some excuse to justify it;
)ly now that peace has come, and the wa