The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-02-15
THE PRESIDENT.


President johnson has at last spoken, aud
spoken with effect. 1t is no feeble utterance of
faint heart, quivering from pale lips and chat
tsring teeth; no courteous whispers, intended
only for tho ears that catch them; but bold,
ouspoksn, manly declaration Of the principles
and policy of the American Executive, given in
clear and unmistakable tones that find their
who this day in the hearts of the people.
His reply to the Committee of the Virginia
Legislature leaves no room for doubt as to has
position in the coming conflict. His words are;
MY effort hus been to preserve the Uuion of
she States have never for moment enter
tanned the doctrine that State could with
draw from the Union of its own will. The at
tempt was made; it has failed. Having from
the first entertained this opinion, l, of course,
cannot now assume the position that the rela-
*ion Of the State to the General Government
has been dissolved by reason of the rebellion.
leoanot b forced into that position Hence,
when the States and the people comply with
the requirements of the Constitution, | shall
b. in favor of their resunling their former re-
lations and positions to the Government, and
ssM insist upon it,
Here are 10 honeyed phrases no mk-and-
water diet for weak stomachs, but the all-suf-
doient remedies of the Constitution, prescribed
BY physician who says that he will Insist
upon them" and who means what he says.
Sumner aud Wilson may pack up their quack
medicines and Y ankee nostrums, shoulder their
saddls-bags, and return to Plymouth Rock and
the free and fragrant air of Cape Cod. The
President does not appreciate their, school of
medicine, and they will not be permitted to
sram vegetable pills, either Indian or Etho-
plan, down the gagging throat of the sick ma
ton. Congo plasters and Black draughts are
alike tabooed. Stevens must go back to sour
krout, and whistle for the appropriation to re-
build his furnaces at the expense of rebel in
sendiaries; and Benjamin Butler must at last
sloss tho longing eye so long fixed with an
acquisitivs lingering upon the relics of South
arn treasure that have escaped his burglarious
hsnds-for "Othsllo's occupations gone"
The game Of might is over--the drama of
toar years bloodshed, and carnage, and desola-
ton, and ruin, is oyer-ths curtain rises
-'v.---------, ----- ''.ss,.'- ---ak ground
10 the sad and sacred past--furrowed Will sns
graves Of patriot dead, and strewn with the
uneuldering ashes of once happy homes, send
Ing the smoke of their sacrifice to heaven.
Yet In front, the central figure of the scene,
there stands the Executive of the reunited
nation, holding In one hand the Constitution
Of his country, while in the other he grasps
the power Of the nation, and warning all who
oppose the spirits Of that Constitution, calls
upon bis people to uphold the Union in its
equal justice to all.
This Ii the scene to which the eyes and
he hearts Of the American people are directed.
II Is no impassive audience that he adj
dresses; eagerly and anxiously they listen to
their President, and as the words of peace and
moderation, and patriotism falls from his
lips, they are caught up by millions of rhits
frssmen, who have sworn to defend and
cherish that Union and its chief A nations
applause rewards his act, and the plaudts of
his country from the granite hills Of New
Hampshire, and the orange groves of Florida,
and the far off shores of the Pacific, mingle
in most grateful harmony, swell done, good
and faithful servant"
Those plaudits, so grateful to him, will be,
to the political mountebanks, who have
converted the temple of liberty into a
den of thieves, like Israel's trumpets to the
men of Jericho. They will break in upon
their juggling tricks, and monkey shows and
Ethiopian melodies, now performing in her
sacred halls, as did the finger on the wall upon
the profans revelries of the sacrilegious Ba-
byloniau, and the men who now urge their
carnival Of blood, will drop from trembling
hands the. untastsd chalice. as they read -upon
these walls, as clearly as did Belshassar upon
those Of Baylor, the "aaens, meme, seaeg upAar-
sis," of an indignant nation.
FUND FOR Mrs. SToNEwALL JACKSON
The Richmond Dispatch of yesterday says: An
asteamed corresnondent calIs orr ATTENTION r.,