The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-24

of power as would have cost a king his head
in certain periodY In connection with this
subject, one has exclaimed that we are In the
"midst of earthquakes, and he trembled."
Yes, there Is an earthquake approaching, there
is ground-swell coming of popular judgment
and Indignation. The American people will
speak, and by their instinct, If In no other
way, know who are their friends: when and
where and In whatever position / Standard
have occupied many positions in the Govern
ment, going through both branches OF the
Legislature. Some gentleman here behind me
says, "And was tailor" [Laughter NOW,
that don't affect me in the least. When L
was a tailor / always made close fit, and was
always punctual to my customers, and did
good work.
A Voice. No patchwork.
The President. No, did not want any patch
work. But we pass by this depression Init
nations have been thrown out-and when
principles are involved, and the existence of
my country imperiled, l will, as on former
him his head Usurpation When and
where have / been guilty of thisa Where is
the man, in all the positions / have occupied,
from that of Alderman to the Vice-Presi-
dency, who can say that Andrew Johnson
ever made pledge that he did not redeem, or
ever made a promise that he violated, or
that he acted with falsity to the people'
They may talk about beheading, but when
/ am beheaded l want the American people
to be the witness. [Cheers. / do not want,
by inundoes of an indirect character in high
places, to have one say to man who has
assassination broiling in his heart, /" there is
a fit subject and also exclaim that the
:" Presidential obstacle" must be got out of
the way, when possibly the intention was to
institute assassination. Are those who want TO
destroy our institutions and change the cha
racter ofthe Government not satisfied with
the blood that has been shedH Are they not
with one martyri Does not the blood
of Lincoln appease the vengeance and wrath
of the opponents of this Government? Is their
thirst still unslaked? Do they want more
blood ? Have they not honor and courage
enough 10 effect the removal of the Presiden
tial obstacle otherwise than through the hands
of the assassin am not afraid of assassins
but if it must be, l would wish to be encoun-
tered where one brave man can oppose another.
l hold him in dread only who strikes cowardly.
But if they have courage enough to strike like
men Il know they are willing TO wound, but
they are afraid to strilfe); If my blood is TO be
shed because l vindicate the Union and the
of this Government in its origi-
nal purity and character, letit be so but when
it is done, let an altar of the Union be erected,
and then, if necessary, lay me upon 1t, and
the blood that now warns and animates my
frame shall be poured out in a last libation as
q tribute to the Union, [great cheering j and
let the opponents of this Government remem-
ber that when it is poured out, the blood OF the
martyr will be the seed of the church. The
Union will grow. 1t will continue to increase
in strength and power, though it may be ce-
mented and cleansed with blood.
have talked longer, my countrymen, than
l intended. With many Acknowledgements for
the honor you have done me, will say one
word in reference to the amendments TO the
Constitution of the United States Shortly
after l reached Washington for the purpose of
being inaugurated Vice-P President, l had
with Mr.. Lincoln We were
talking about the condition of affairs, and i'll
reference to matters in my own State. l said
we had called convention and demanded n
abolishing slavery in the State,
which provision was not contained In the
Presidents proclamation This met with his
appreciation, and he gave me encouragement.
In talking upon the subject of amendments TO
the Constitution, he said, When the amend
ment to the Constitution now proposed is
adopted by three -fourths of the States, /
should be pretty nearly or quite done as
regards forming amendments to the Constitu-
tion-if there should be one other adopted"
I asked what that other amendment sug
gested was, and he replied, g. have labored
to preserve this Union. l have toiled four
years. l have been subjected to calumny and
and my great and sole desire
has been to preserve these States intact under
the Constitution, as they were before; and
there should be an amendment to the Constitu-
ton which would compel the States to send
their Senators and Representatives to the Con
gress of the United States" He saw, as part
of the doctrine of secession, that the States
could, If they were prepared Withdraw their
Senator'S and Representatives; and he wished
amendment suggested. Even that portion of
the Constitution which differs from other
organic law says that no State shall be deprived
of its representation. We now find the posi-
ton taken that States shall not be recognized
that we will impose taxation; and where
taxes are to be imposed the Representatives
elect from thence are met at the door, and
told, "No; you must pay taxes, but you can
not participate in q Government which is to
affecLyou for all time" Is this justH Voices -
90 No!' "No!" We see then where we are
going. ! repeat that l am for the Union. L
am for preserving all the States. They may
have erred, but let us admit those into the
councils of the nation who are unmistakably
loyal. Let the man who acknowledges allie
glance to the Government, and swears to sup
port the Constitution, (he cannot do this in
good faith unless he is loyal no amphfcaton
Of the oath can make any difference 1t is
mere detail, which i care nothing about let
him be questionably loyal to the Constitu-
ton of the United States and its Government,
and willing to support it in its peril, and am
willing to trust him. / know that some do not
attach so much Importance to the principle MS
/ do One principle that carried us through
the revolution was, that there should be no
taxation without representation. i hold that
that principle which was laid down by our
fathers for the country's good then is inpor-
tant to it's good now If 1t was worth bat
tling for then it is worth battling for now. 1t
is fundamental and should be preserved so
long as our Government lasts. know II was
said by some during the rebellion that the
had been rolled up rs piece OF
parchment, and should be put away and that
in time of rebellion there was no Constitution.
But ii is now unfolding; ii must now be read
and adjusted and understood by the American
people.
| come here to day to yindcate, in so far as
can in these remarks, the Constitution Ito
save 1t, as 1 believe for ii does seem that
after encroachment is TO be
and as resist encroachments on the
stand to-day prepared to resist
on the Constitution, and
thereby preserve the Government. 1t is now
peace and let us have peace. Let us enforce
the Constitution. Let us live under and by lts
Let 1t be published in blazoned
characters. as though ii were in the heavens,
SO that all may read and all may understand
it. Let us consult that instrument, ana,
its principles, let us apply them.
/ tell the opponents of this Government,
and / care not from what quarter they
come east or west, north or south, 'you mat
are engaged in the work Of breaking up TINS
Government are mistaken. The Constitution
and the principles of free government are
deeply rooted In the American heart" All
the powers combined, / care not OF what
character they are, cannot destroy the image
of Freedom They may succeed for time,
but their attempts will be futile. They may
as well attempt TO lock up the winds, or chain
the waves. Yes, they may as well attempt 10
repeal Ii, las Ii would seem the Constitution
can be.) by concurrent resolution; but
r.. 4od tn