The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1866-03-02
sneech of the President.

containing the principles By which he sought to be
guided, and expressing the hope that al the States
would continue their contributions the structure
to be completed as an enduring memorial to the
toration of all the States to their relations to
the Government. He said II say that " hen these
States comply with the Constitution, when they
have given sufficient evidence of their loyalty and
that they be trusted when they yield obedience
to the law, say extend to them the rightshand of
fellowship and let peace and union be restored. I
have fought traitors and treason in the South. I
opposed Davis and Tombs and Slidell, and long
list ofethers whose names need rel eat and now
when turn round at the other end of the line find
men, I care not by what name you call them
a Voice-Call them traitors.
who still stand opposed to the restoration of the
union of these States, and am free to say to you
that am still for the preservation of this compact.
] am still for the restoration of this Union. /
stiI III favor Of this great Government of Nv
ing and following ont its destiny, ( a voice-Giye
us the names.l A gentleman calls for the names.
Well, suppose should give them. "A voice-'We
know them,l look upon them, repeat it, as
President CITIZEN much opposed to the funda-
mental principles of this Governments, and believe
they are as much laborng to prevent destroy
them, as were the men who fought against them.
A Voice-'What are their names?' au'
Il say Thadeas Stevens, ofPensyIv ania. rTremen-
plause] I say Wendell hilliPs, and others of the
same stripe amongst them.
-AVoice-Givo it to Forney. a 80
Some gentleman in the crowd says f'Give it to
Forney." ] have only just to say that donot
waste my ammunition upon dead cocks. Laughter
and applause.] stand for my country; stand for
the Constitution, where placed my feet from my
advent into public life. They may traduce me;
they may SANDER; they may vituperate; but it has
no effect upon me. Cheers.] Let me say in addi-
ton that do not intend to be bullied by enemies
EApplause, and acry-sThe people viii sustainyoual
/ know, my ceuntrymen, it has been insinuated,
and not only insinuated but said directly the nti-
maeion has been given in high place-) that if such
usurpation of power had been exercised two hun
bred years ago in particu region it would have
cost certain individual his head. What usurpa-
ton has Andrew johnson been guilty of? [''None!
noneT'l The only usurpation have been guilty Of,
is that have always been standing between the
people and the eneroachments of power; and because
dared to say in conversation with fellow citizen
and a Senator, that l thought amendments to the
Constitution ought not to be too frequently made,
that it would lose all its dignity, and that the old
instrument would be lost sight Of IN short time;
because happened to say if it was amended, such
and such amendments should be adopted, it was
usurpation of power that W ould have cost King
his head at certain timeI Laughter d Applause.l
In connection with this subject, it was maintained
by the same gentleman that were in the midst of
earthquakes that they trembled and could yield
[Laughter.1 Yes, there is an earthquake coming;
there is ground7swen coming of popular Judgment
and indignation, lA.Voice-'That's true
The American people viii speak by their instincts
and they viii know who are their trieuds and who
are their enemies. l4 ra $500
What positions have held under this Govern
ment9 I have occupied all positions, beginning
with Alderman, and running through all branches
Of the Legislature. { A Voice--sFrom Tailor up.l
Some gentleman says have been a tailor. Now
that did not discomft. me in the least, for when
used to be tailor had the reputation of being
good one, and b making close fits-[great laughterl
always Punctual with my customers and always
did good work. IA Voice-'No Patchwork
No, don't want any patchwork; I want whole
suit. But viii pass by this little facetiOus-
ness. My friends may say, 'Yo on President, and
you must not talk about such things.p When prin-
ciples are involved, my countryInen, when the ex-
istence of my country is imperiled, I win act as
have on former occasions, and speak what 1 think
was saying that I had held nearly all positions,
from Alderman, through both branches of Congress
to that which I now occupy, and who is there that
will say thataAndrew johnson ever made promise
he did not fulfill. Who viii say that he has ever
acted any other way than in fidelity to the great
mass of the peoplel They may talk about behead-
ing and usurpation, but when I am beheaded want
the American people to witness it. 1 dc NOT want
by innendoes, by indirect re1uars gh places, to
see thu man who has assassination brooding in his
bosom exelaim 'tThis Presidential obstacle must be
got out of the ways 1 make use of a very strong
expression when say that have doubt the in
tention was to ince assassination, and get out of
the way Sthe obstacle'' FROM place and power
Whether by assassination or not, there are men in
this Government, doubt not, who want to destroy
our institutions and change the character of our
Government Are they not satisfied with the blood
which has been sheds Does not the murder of Mr..
Lincoln appease the wrath and ngeanee of the op
ponents of this Government Are they still IN
slakedl Do they still want more bloodi Have they
not got honor and courage enough to attain their
objects otherwise than by the hands Of the assassin
TYoiees-s'Noi neiTl I am not afraid Of assassins
attacking me where. brave and courageous man
would attack another. only dread him when he
would 90 in disguise, his frootsteps noiseless fit
is blood they want let them have courage enough
to strike like men. I know they ere willing to
wound but they are afraid to strike GApplause. Il
If my blood is to be shed because L yindieate the
Union and the preservation of this Government in
its original purity of character let 1t be she'd but
whent is shed, let altar the Union be erected,
and then, ifit be necessary, take and lay upon
it, and the blood that now warns and animates my
existence shall be poured out last libation Of
tribute to the Union of these States. [Great ap-
plausel But let the opponents OF this government
remember that whenit is poured, "the blood of the
martyr viii be the seed Of the Church." GCheers."
Gentlemen, this Union will grow; it VIII continue
to increase in strength and power, though it may
be eemented and clcansed with blood. ,,-
have talked longer now than 1 intended. Let
me thank you for the honor you have done me- So
far as this Government is 1cened let me say one
other word with reference to the amendments to the
Constitution of the United States. When reached
Washington for the purpose of being inaugurated as
Vice President, had conversation with Mr.. Lin
coin about the condition Of affairs, and in reference
to matters in my own State. told him we had
called Convention and ht d amended the Constitu-