The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-04-24

i
to the Presidential chair. What then ? the
Congress of the United States had adjourned
without prescribing any plan. then pro-
1 .ceeded, as I had done in my own State, I'M
der the direction of the government to re-
store the other States, and how did we be-
gin2 We found that the people had no
courts, and we said to the judges, the district
attorneys and the marshals: +" Go down and
hold your courts. The people need the tri-
bunals of justice to be opened" Was there
| anything wrong in that? The courts were
opened. What else? We looked out and
saw that the people down there had no mails
They had been interrupted and cut Oft by
the operations of the rebellion.
We said to the Postmaster General, "let
the people have facilities for mail communi-
cation, and let them begin again to under
stand what we all feel and think-that we
are one people" He looked out again and saw
that there was blockade-that the custom
houses were all closed-he said: "Open the
doors of the custom-house, and remove the
blockade. Let trade, commerce, and the
pursuits of peace be restored" and it was
done. We thus travelled on, step by step,
opening up custom-houses, appointing col
lectors, establishing mail facilities and re-
storing all the relations that had been inter
rupted by the rebellion. Was there anything
undertaken to be done here, that was not
thorized by the constitution
w Hat WIS ItiSIlucu ny lliC great HcCeSSlIlcS
of the case, that has not been already conso-
nant with the Constitution and with the ge-
MUS and theory of our government 3
Cheers. What remained to be done One
other thing remained to demonstrate to the
civilized and pagan world that we had pass
ed successfully through the third ordeal of
our national existence, and proved that our
government was perpetual. A great prin-
ciple was to be restored which was establish
pC in Mi fat
contending against the power of Great Bri-
tain, what was of the principal causes
of their complaint? 1t was that they were
denied representation. They complained of
taxation without representation. Cheers.
One Of the great principles laid down by
our fathers, and which fired their hearts, was
that there should be no taxation without
representation.
How then does the matter stand Who
has been Usurping power? Who has been
defeating the operation of the Constitution,
and what now remains to be done to COM
plete the restoration of these States to all
their former relations under the federal gov
eminent, and To finish the great ordeal
through which we have been passing? 1t is
to admit representation. Cheers. And
when we say admit representation, what do
We mean! We mean representation in the
Constitutional and law abiding sense, as was
at the beginning OF the Govern
mcnt. And where does that power lie The
Constitution declares in express terms that
each House, the Senate and House OF Repre-
each acting for itself, shall be the
Judge OF the returns Of election and qualiica-
lions OF its own members.
1t is for each House to settle the question
under the Constitution and under the solemn
sanction OF an oath and can we believe that
either House would admit any member into
its body to participate in the legislation of
the country who was not qualified and fit to
sit i'll that body and participate in its pro-
ceedings? They have the pOwer-not the
two houses but each house for itself. The
further declares that no State
shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the
Senate of the United States without its con-
sent. Then, where do we stand All that
IS needed to finish this great work Of resto-
'ation is for the two Houses respectively to
determine these questions. "Oh," but some
will say, a traitor might come in The
answer to that is-cach House must be the
Judge, and if a traitor presents himself can
lot either House know that he is Il traitor,
applauscl and if he is traitor can they not
Kick him out OF the door, and send him
pack, saying to the people who sent him,
you must send us a loyal man?' [Cheers,
md voice" that's the logic."l Is there
my difficulty about that Cries of mo,
10" If a traitor presents himself to either
House, cannot that House say to him mo,
'ou cannot be admitted into this bOdy-go
'ack, we will not deny your people the right
# representation, but they must send loyal
representatives." Cheers.
And when the States DO send loyal repre-
entatives. can you have any better evidence
f their fidelity to the COnst tuition and laws
There is no one learned in Constitutional
aw who will say that if a traitor happens
o get into Congress, the body cannot eXpel
i'm after he gets in. That makes assurance
LOUDLY sure, and confirms the action OF the
government to the Constitution of our faith
rs. Hence, L say, let us stand by that Con-
titution, and i'll standing by 1t, the covenant
will be preserved.
While l have been contonding against
raitors, and treason, and ec@ssion, and the
dissolution Of the Union, / lave been con-
ending at the same time Against the con-
0lidation of power here. iClies OF good.
[ think the consolidation of power here is
qually dangerous with the separation OF the
tates. GCheers. The one would weaken
5, and might run into anarchy, while the
Their would concentrate and run into mon !
rchy. Cheers, and cries OF . Can't do it" !
IN, but there is an idea abroad that one man |
an be despOt-that one man can be t
supper; but that Il hundred or Two hundred !
len cannot. Mr. Jefferson, the Apostle of /
liberty, tells us, so does common sense, that
granny and deSpotism can be exercised by |
lany more vigorously and more tyrannical-
than by one.
What power has your Presitien to be a
rant: What can he do2 What can he
riginate? Why, they say he exercises the
eto power Laughter What is the veto
ower2 a voice, I" To put down the mig
er." Laughter.
Who's your PRESIDENT Several voices
Andy Johnson.'0 Is he not elected by the
eople through the electoral college? The
resident is nothing more than the tribute
the people. His Office is tribunitial in its
laracter. In olden times when tribunes
ere first elected in the Roman republic,
ley stood at the door of the Roman Senate.
hich was then encroaching on the popular
gifts and putting the heel Of power on the
ecks of the people. The people chose
ibune and placed him at the door of the
enate, so that when that body ventured on
oppressive acts, he was clothed with power
say "vcto u forbid.
Your President is now the tribune of the
eople, and thank God L am, and l intend
assert the power which the people have