Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-08-20
MEMPHIS. MONDAY EV ENING. AUGUST 90 1866

4 important than that Of any Convention
that ever assembled in the United States.
| [Great applause
When I look with my mind upon that
collection of citizens, coming together
voluntarily and sitting in council, with
ideas and with principles and views com
munieating with all the States and the
people, and the collection of persons
that are trying to destroy the country,
regard il as of more importance than
any convention that has set, at least
since l7s7,l [Renewed applause. 1
think / may also say that the declara-
tions that were there made are equal TO
the declaration ofindependence. [Cries
of glorious, and enthusiastic and pro-
longed applause. Your address and
declarations are nothing more nor less
] than reformation of the constitution
Of the United States. Yes, | will go
| further, and say that the declarations
you have made, and that the principles
you have announced, in your address,
| are second proclamation of emancipa-
ton to the people of the United States.
Renewed applause For in proclaim
ing the great truth you have laid down a
constitutional platform upon which all
can make common cause and stand
united together for the restoration Of the
| States aud preservation of the govern
ment without reference tosparty, as the
only salvationof the country. This rises
above all party consideration or in
| huence
| How many are there in the United
States that require to be free, they have
the shackles upon their limbs and are
bound as rgidly as though they we're in
fact in slavery. repeat then, that your
declaration is the second proclamation
Of emancipation Of the people of the
| United States, and offers common
ground upon which all parties can stand
| Applause. Mr.. Chairman and gentle
men let me in this connection ask, what
| have to gain more than the advance
ment Of the public welfare I? am much
opposed to the indulgence of egotism as
any, but have conventional manner,
while formally receiving the proceedings
of this Convention | may be permitted
to again ask, what have to gain by con-
sulting hnman ambition, more than i
have gained2 My race is nearly run. /
have been placed in the high Office which
\ / occupy under the Constitution of the
country, and may say that have held
from the lowest to the highest, almost
every position to which a man may at
tain in our government, and surely,
gentlemen, this should be enough to graf
lfy reasonable ambition. If | wanted
authority, or if | wished to perpetuate
my own power how easy it would have
been to hold and WELD that which was
placed in my hands by the measure
called the Freedmen's Bnfeau bill, with
an army which it placed at my discre-
ton, ] could have remained at the capt.
tai of the nation, and with $4,000, 900
appropriation at my disposal, and with
the machinery to be worked by my sa-
traps and dependents in every town and
village, and then with the Civil Rights
bill as an auxiliary laughter in con-
nection with all the other appliances of
the government, | could have proclaimed
myself dictator; but, gentlemen, my
pride and my ambition has been to oc
cupy that position which retains all
power in the hands of the people 1t is
upon that that always rely, and | re-
peat that neither the taunts, or jeers, or
conquerorc nor of subservient and cal
umniating press can drive me from my
purpose Great applause. Tacknow-
ledge no superior except my God, the
author of my existence, and the peo
pie of the United States. Prolonged
and very enthusiastic cheering For
the one, | try to obey all His
commands as best | can, compatibly
with my poor humanity, and for the
other, in a political and representative
sense, the high behests of the people
have always been respected and obeyed
by me. Aud now, Mr. Chairman, have
said more than intended to say For
the kind illusions to myself contained
in your address and in the resolutions
adopted by the Convention, let me re-
mark that in this crisis, and in the pres
ent period of my public life, | hold above
all price, and shall ever receive, with
feelings of profound qualification, the
last resolution containing the indorse
ment of convention emanating sponta-
neously from the great mass of the peo
Pile 1 trust and hope that my future
actions may be such that you, and the
Convention you represent, may not re-
gret the assurance OF confidence you
have expressed. Before separating, my
friends, one and all, accept my sincere
thanks for the kind manifestations of the
regard and respect you have exhibited |
on this occasion. | repeat that | shall
always be guided by conscientious con
viction of duty and that always gives |
one courage = under the Constitution,
which / have made my guide.
At the conclusion of the Presidents |
remarks, three enthusiastic cheers were
given for Andrew johnson and three |
more for Gen. Grant The President |
then took position near door opening |
into hall, in which, with Gen. Grant by |
his side, as the gentlemen of the Com
mittee passed out, he grasped each by |
the hand, and had smile or cheering |
word for all, after which they passed on
and took Gen Grant by the hand