The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-04-21

ont representation. [Cheers.1 one of the
great principles laid down by our fathers,
and which fired their hearts, was that there
should be no taxation without representa-
tion. How then does the matter stand?
Who has been usufping the power? Who
has been defeating the operation of the
Constitution? And what now remains to
be done to complete the restoration of these
States to all their former relations under
the Federal Government, and to finish the
great ordeal through which we have been
passing? 1t is to admit representation,
tcheers and when we say admit represen-
tation, what do we mean? We mean rep
RESERVATION in the constitutional and law
abiding sense, which was existing at the
beginning of the Government.
The Constitution declares in express
terms that each house, the Senate and
House of Representatives, each acting for
itself, shall be the judge of the returns,
election and qualifications of its members
1t is for each house to settle that question
under the Constitution, and under the sol
emn sanction of an oath. And can we be-
lieve that either house would admit any
member into its body, to participate in the
legislation of the country, who was not
qualified? They have the pOwer-nOt the
two houses, but each house for itself. The
Constitution further declares that no State
shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in
the Senate of the United States without
its consent. Where do we stand? All that
we have needed to finish the great work of
restoration is for the two houses, respec-
lively, to decide the question. "Oh but"
one will say, "a traitor might get in" The
answer TO Iltlb Is, that each mousse uluSb DC
the Judge, and if a traitor presents himself,
cannot help it. The House knows that
he is a traitor. [Applause.1 And If he is
traitor, can they not kick him out of the
door, and send him back saying to the
people who sent him, 'syOu must send us a
loyal MANI" [Cheers. Is there any diff
Guilty about that2 NO no. ana cheeers.
House, can not that House say to him,
ssNo, you can not be admitted into this
body; 60 back; We sYil4not deny your
they must send a loyal Representative"
[Cheers.l And when the States do send
loyal Representatives, can you have any
better fidelity to the Constitution and
laws2f There is no one learned in the Con-
stitution and laws who will say that, If a
traitor happens to get into Congress, that
body can not expel him after he gets in.
That makes assurance doubly sure, and
conforms the action of the Government to
the Constitution OF our fathers. Hence, l.
say, let us stand by the Constitution, and
in standing by It, the Government will be
preserved. III ri ,re -ytsr rafr# g
While / have been contending against
traitors, and treason, and secession, and
the dissolution of the Union, have been
contending, at the same time, against the
consolidation of power here. / think the
consolidation of power here is equally
dangerous with the separation of States.
[Cheers.1 The one would totter us, and
might run into anarchy; while the other
would concentrate and eventuate a mon
archy. Oh but there is an idea abroad
that one man can be an usurper. Mr.. jeff
erSOn, the apostle of liberty, tells us, and
so does common sense, that tyranny and
despotism can be exercised by many more
vigorously and more tyrannically than by
one. What power has your President to
be attained? What can he do? What can
he originator Why, they say, he exercises
veto power. A voice-"To put down the
Niger" Laughter.] Who is your Presi-
dent? lSeveral voices" Andy Johnson."l
Is he not elected by the people? In the
Ol6an times when fT1nnnQG first
elected in the Roman Republic, the people
chose tribune and placed him at the
body ventured an oppressive act, he
was clothed with power to say 'svoto,'' /
forbid. Your President now is the tribune
of the people. I thank God / am, and
/ intend to assert the power which the
people have placed in me. [Cheers.l Your
President, standing here day after day,
discharging his duty, is like q horse on a
tread-wheel; and because he dares to diff
fer in opinion in regard to public mea-
sures, he must be denounced as a usurper
and tyrant. Can he originate anything
power is conservative in its character, and
Affirmative. All that can be done by the
proper, haSty, unwise, or Unconstitutional;
wait till this can be submitted to the peo-
pie, and let them consider whether it is
right or wrong. [Applause.] That is all
there is in it. Hence ] say that tyranny
ans power can be exercised somewhere
else than by the Executive. He is power
less. All that he can do is to check legisla-
ton, to hold il in a state of allegiance until
the people can consider and understand
what is being done, and then what has
been done. ] have done what conscience,
/ believe, required me to do. lApplause.l
So believing, II intend to stick to my post.
ton, relying on the judgment, the intell1-
gence OF the people, the soldiers and sailors
Then, for my life, cannot see where
there IS any tyranny. 1t is very easy to inn
pugn motives and suspect the purest and
re nf a mo & re Won for
ward and propose a certain thing, your
motives are suspected and condemned;
and if you withhold your opinion, you are
regarded as being opposed to the matter,
so that it is very hard to move one way or
1 the other. ImaH the questions pertaining
to the interests of the American people,
! for in them is my hope for the salvation Of
the country, am with You, soldiers, sail
ors and citizens.
Who has sacrificed or perilled more than
the humble individual who addresses you?
Has not my.all been put upon it, My life,
I nay pr0pefty Y every thing sacred and dear
to man, has been staked upon it; and can
| l now be suspected of faltering at the close
| of the third ordeal Of the nation? Where
] is he, in public or private life who has sac
rificed more, or who has devoted more of
! his time and energies to the accomplish
ment of the great end than II and have
done it from the prOmptings of my own
heart. believe 1t was right, and with
YOUR hearts and your countenances and
your encouragement shall go through on
that line. [Cheers and laughter.] And
/ when / come to talk about soldiers and
! sailors about this to be done, and that To- be
done, all want is for you to wait and see
SO fan. as you are concerned. Wait and see
| if don't stand by you, although every on
may falter and fail. lCheers.1 j I want to
see measures of policy brought forward
| that will advance the interests of the peo-
pie who constitute the gallant and brave
men who in both branches of the Service
4 upheld the national flag and sustained the
j country in the recent Struggle.
I L thank you, gentlemen, for this en-
.couragement. thank you for your coun-
tenance on this occasion, II cheers me on,
before me- If we are true to ourselyes-if
| we are true to the Constftution-the day is
| not far distant when this Government ywiIl
be restored. Let us go on and restore the
Government; let us enlarge the area of
our commerce and trade; and let MS NOT
spect abroad. by letting the nation resume
its career OF greatness. know that some