Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-03-07
NEW SERIES-vOL. VINO. S5.

Cupy, uHu WHO is Juefc lnlJ Will SLY
Andrew Johnson every made pledge
that he die not redeem, or made a
promise that he did not fulfill. Who
will say that he has ever acted other
wise thanin fidelity to the great mass
of people They may talk about be-
heading and usurpation, but when i
am beheaded / want the American
people to be the witnesses. do not
want. by inuendoes, by indirect re-
marks IN high places, 90 see tiis MAJ: :ssss:as::
who has assassination brooding in his
bosom, exclaim; "The presidential
obstacle must be gotten out of the
way" ] make use of a very strong
expression when | say, that have no
doubt the intention was to incite as
sassination, and TO get out Of the way
tie obstacle from place and power.
Whether by assassination ornot, there
are individuals in this government, !
doubt not, who waat to destroy our
institutions md change the character
of the government
Arc they not satisfied with the
blood which has been shed ? Does not
the murder of Lincoln appease the
vengence and wrath of the opponents
of this government ? Are they still
unslaked /? Do they still want more
blood? Have they not honor and
courage enough TO attain their objects
otherwise than by the hands of the
assassins attacking me where brave
and courageous man would attack
another. | only dread him when he
would 60 in disguise, his footsteps
noiselcss. Ifit is blood they want, let
them have courage enough to strike
like men. know they are willing
to wound, but they are afraid TO strike.
| If blood is to be she'd because ] vindi-
cate the Union and the preservation
Of the government in its original pur-
Iity of characte let it be shed but when
it is shed, let an altar to the UEien be
erected, and then, if necessary, take
me and lay me upon 1t, and the blood
that now warns and animates my ex-
listcncc shall be poured out as fit Ii.
baton to the union of these States
But let the opponents of this govern
ment remember that when 1T is pour
lee out, that the blood of the martyrs
will be the seed ofthe church.
i Gentlemen, this Union will grow
1t will continue TO increase IN strength
and power, though it may be cemented
land cleansed with blood. have talked
now longer than | intended. Let me
thank you for the honor you have
done me. So far as this government
is concerned, let ME say one Other
word in reference TO the amendments
to The Constitution of the United
States.
! When l reached Washington foI
the purpose of being inaugcrated as
I Vice President Of the United States,
had conversation with Mr.. Lincoln
We were talking about the condition
of affairs, and il reference TO matters
in my own State. i said that we haC
called a convention, had amended oui
constitution by abolisning slavery ~
the State---a State not embraced ia
his proclamation. All this met hi'
, appreciation, and gave him encourage
/ ment, and in talking upon the amond
ment TO the Constitution, he said
} "When the amendment to the Consti
tuition is adopted by three-fourths o
t the States VIC shall have all, or prett,
, nearly all. / am in favor of at leas
1 one other amendment being adopted.
lSaid I,"What is that, Mr.. President 2
S Said be- al have labored to pre-
5 serve this Union. 4 have toiled iou
{ years. l have been subjected to ca
1 lumny and misrepresentation. Yet m.
: great desire has been to preserve th
s Union of the States intact under tn
Q Constitution az they were before.
t "But," said /, "Mr. President, wha
amendment do you refer TO 7" Ii
n said "he thought there should be a
4 amendment added to the Constitutio
1 which would compel all the States {
= send their Senators and Represents
4 tives to the Congress of the Unite
s States" Yes, compel them. The ide
was in his mind that is a part of tn
l doctrine Of secession to break up th
S government by States withdrawing
: sheir Senators from Congress, and
$ therefore, he desired constitutions
q amendment to compel them TO be seni
s How now does the matter stan
4 for the Constitution of the country
n Even that portion of il which prC
: vides for the amendment to the organ
: ic law says that no State without il
b consent shall be deprived Of its repre-
a sentation in the Senate. And no,
J what do we find We find the pos
/. tion taken that the States shall not b
8 Represented, that we may impos
s taxes, that we may send our tax co
u lectors TO every region and portion Q
a State, that the people are to be oI
Y pressed with taxes but when the,
f come here to participate in the lsgisll
4 tion OF the country they are met a