Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-03-02

ers, whose names Ineed not repeat, and now
when l turn round, at the other cnd of the
line, I find men, [ care not by what name
you call them. a voice, Call them trait
ors, y who still stand opposed to the rcstora-
ton Of the Union Of these States, and am
free to say to you, that I am still for the
preservation Of this compact, | am still for
the restoration Of the Union, am still in
favor of this great Government of ours 60
ING on and following out its destiny. A
voice, Give us the Names A gentleman
calls for the names well, suppose should
give them. A voice, eve lmowthem y
look upon them, | repeat it, as Pnesi-
dent or citizen, as much opposed to the
fundamental principles Of thas Government,
and believe they are as much laboring to
prevent Or destroy them, as We've The men
who fought against us. IA ~ncc i" What
arc the names!''] I say Ihaddeus Stevens,
Of Pennsylvania, [trenenduous applause j |
say Charles Sumner, great applause, | say
Wendell Phillips and others of the same
stripe are amongst them A voice" Give
it to Forney.'l Some gentlemen in the crowd
says x Give it to Forney." I have only to
say that do net waste my ammunition up-
on dead cocks. Laughter and applause.
stand for my country I stand for the Con-
stitution, where placed my feet from my
advent into public life They may traduce
me, they may SANDER me, they may yituper-
ate; but let me say to you that it has no eff
feet upon me. Cheers. And let me say,
in addition, that do not intend to be over
awed by reason of pretended friends, nor do
[ intend to be bnllicd by my enemies. APP
plause, and a cry Of g the people will sustain
you"
| know, my countrymen, that it has been
insinuated-a not only Infatuated, but said
directly-(the intimation has been given in
high places THAT if such usurpation Of
power had been exercised two hundred years
ago, in particular reign, it would have cost
| a certain Individual his head What usurpa-
ton has Andrew johnson been guilty FL
['' None! none!'] The usurpation I have
been guilty of, has always been standing be-
tween the people and the encroachments of
power; and because I dared to say in con-
versation with a fellow citizen, and a Sena-
tor, too, that thought amendments to the
Constitution ought not to be so frequent F;
that their effect would be, that it would lose
all it's prestige and dignity; that the old in
strument would be lost sight of in small
time .; because happened to say in CONVEX
sation that, if it was amended, such and such
amcndmcnts should be adopted, and it was a
usurpation of power that would have cost a
L.. L % oh
and applause. And, in connection with this
subject, it was explained that we were in the
midst of earthquakes, that they trcmbled and
could not yield. Yes, there is an earthquake
coming; there is ground swell coming of
popular judgment and Indignation. "That's
true" The American people will speak by
their instincts, and they will know who are
their friends, and who their enemies
What positions have occupied | have
occupied all positions under this Government
beginning with an alderman. and running
through all branches of the Legislature -
A voice From tailor up Some gen
tcman says have been tailor. Tremen-
duous applause. Now that did not discomfit
me in the least, for when [ used to be a tail
or l had the reputation of being good one,
and of making close fits-(grcat laughter)-
always punctual with my customers, and al
ways did good work. ca voice. No patch
work. No, 1 do not want any patchwork f;
I want whole suit But we will pass by
this little facetiousness. Ny friends may say,
& You are President, and you must not talk
about such things" When principles are in
yolvcd, my countrymen, when the existence
of my country even is imperilled, will act
as | have on former occasions, and speak
what think. I was saying that l 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
that Andrew johnson ever made a pledge
that he did not redeem? or made promise
he did not fulfill? Who will say that he has
ever acted otherwise than in fidelity to the
great mass of the people? They may talk
about beheading and usulpation, but when
I am beheaded | want the American people
to be the witnesses. do not want, by inuen-
does, by indirect remarks In high places, to
see the man who has assassination brooding
in his bosom exclaim, g This Presidential OBJ
StdCic uust Dc SoLttu c4t VI tle way L
make use of a very strong expression when
say that have no doubt the intention was to
incite assassination, and SO get out of the way
''the obstacle" from place and power. Wheth-
er by assassination or not, there are individ-
uals in this Government. doubt not who
want to destroy our institutions, and change
the character of the Government Are they
not satisfied with one murder we have had !
Does not the murder of Lincoln appease the
vengeance and wrath of the opponents Of
this Government? Are they still unslakcd!
Do they still want more blood? Have they
not got honor and courage enough to attain
their objects otherwise than by the hands OF
the assassin e. No! nor') am not afraid
Of assass!ns attacking me where brave and
courageous man would attack another.
only dread him when he would 60 in disguise,
his footsteps noiseless. If it is blood the.
want, let them have the courage enough tc
strike like men. know they are willing tc
wound, but they are afraid to strike. Gap
plause. If my blood is to be shed because
vindicate the Union and the preservation OF
this Government in its original purity o.
character, let it be shed but when it is shed
let an altar to the Union be erected, and then