The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-15
THE HOAX.

In the House of Representatives, OF
Saturday, the understanding that MI
Stevens. would speak, brought out
crowded gallery TO hear whatever h,
might have to say in reply to the Presi
dents. speech of the 22d February. He
evidently had not intended saying any
thing in reply, for he had only man
uscript written for delivery several
weeks ago, and postponed to the present
time because he could not get the floor:
The first part of it was entirely an argu-
ment in support of his wellknown po-
sition in regard to the status of the Sc.
ceded states. and in some respects a re
ply to Mr.. Raymond. He finally went
on to. say that some papers charged hin
with hostility to the president :lJ ia
This said he, is mistake feel
great regard for the President. honor
his integrity, his patriotism Ia il courage
and the purity of his intentions; but all
this does not make ME less free to criti-
else his policy and doubt his ju igmenu
on some occasions. When [ deem his
views incorrect 1 shall say so, and
shall even denounee them If ] please.
Mr.. Price of Iowa rose and wanted
some information. He called attention
to the fact that one Thaddeus Stevens
had been denounced by the President.
and he wanted to know If the gentle
man now speaking in such warm terms
of the President was the same man
there denounced. -.
+ Mr.. Stevens-Docs my friend SUP
pose that speech, which it was reported
the President delivered in front of the
White House, was Il fact? (i-aughter.1
If so, 1 desire 10 put him right. | will
make a confidential communication.
and presume that nobody will violate
the confluence which / repose in him,
Slr,I that speech, which mas imposed
upon tue gentlemen from, Iowa, aud
which has had "A considerable run, am,
has made some Impression on the, public
mind, was one of The sraEdest hoaxes
That has ever been perpetrated, aud more
success iul Than any except the moon
hoax" which, am told, deceived manv
-astute astronomers. (Laughter)
am now el9d OF an opportunity, al
Inougn 40 not wish 1T TO 20 out pub
hciy, lest my motive might be mistin-
derstoDd, OF eXonerating the President
''P'' 49, 80" us maui lltiL speech.
uaughter.) IL is u part OF tue cunning
contrivances OF the copperhead party
which has been prescribing oar presi-
dent since The fourth OF March Lass.
Taking advantage OF an unlortunate
incident which happened OH that occa-
sion, they have been ever since con
sLanIy urn9uacing him as addicted to
low aud degrading vice. TO show Won
that, ana IN order 10 prove the truth of
what say about this hoax, [ send I'M To
be read a part of that same SANDER TAX en-
1foul, Tie New York World of March
ls5o.' The following extract was rea,i
by the clerk from the World, March :
1865; 1.-The drunken ana beastly Call.
gua, the most profligate of the Roman
emperors, raised his horse to the dignity
of consul, an Office that in former times
had been filed by the greatest warriors
and statesmen of the republic. the
Scipios and Catos, and by the mighty
julius himself. The consulship was
scarcely more disgraced by that scanda
lous transaction than is'our vice-presi-
dency by the late election of Andrew |
johnson. That Office had been adorned |
III better days by the talents and accom- |
piishments of Adams and Jefferson.
CLINTON and Gerry, Calhoun aud Van
bafen, anu now, to see il filled by this |,
insolent, drunken brute, in comparison 1
win Wnom even Caliguia's horse was
the poor animal did not
abuse his own nature--and 10 think th.t
only one frail life stands between this
insolent, clownish drunkard and Ibe
May God bless and snare
Abraham Lincoln" efI'
Mr.. Niblack-I beg to inquire whe-
her that may not be also a hoax. . in
the same way as the Presidents speech
was?
Steyens-That was serious Islander,