The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-05-01
WooDsFIELD MONROE COUNTY, OHIO. MAY. |, 1865.

cannot expel him after he gets in. That
makes assurance doubly sure, and cen-
forms the action of the Governmental the
Constitution of our fathers. Hence, /
say let US stand by that Constitution, and
by standing by it the covenant will be
preserved.
While l have been contending against
traitors and treason and secession, and
the dissolution of the Union, have been
contending at the same time against the
consolidation of power here. think the
consolidation of power here is equally
dangerous with separation. Cheers. 4
The one would run into anarchy, while
the other would concentrate and eventu-
ate in monarchy.
But there is an idea abroad that one
man can be a usurper. Mr.. Jefferson,
the apostle of liberty, tells US, and so
does common sense, that tyranny and des-
potism can be exercised By many more
vigorously and more tyrannically than by
one. What power has your President to
attain? What can he do? What can he
originated Why, they say, he exercises
the veto power. Laughter What is
the veto power? A voice, ITO put down
the nigger;;" laughter Who is your
President? Several voices, andy john
sonr] Is he not elected by the people?
The President is the tribute of the peo-
pie.
In olden times when tribunes were first
elected in the Roman republic, the peo-
pie cheese tribune and placed him at
the doors of the Senate, 50 that when that
body ventured an oppressive act, he was
clothed with the power to say veto
forbid Your President now is the trib-
une of the people. thank God am
and intend to assert the power which
the people have placed in me. Cheers. |
Your President, standing here day after
day, and discharging his duty, is like a
horse on tread wheel; and because he
dares differ in opinion in regard to pub
lie measures, he must be denounced as a
usurper and tyrant. Can he originate
anything under the veto power? think
the veto power conservative in its char
acter and affirmation. All that can be
done by the veto power is to say, wher
Legislation is improper, hasty, unwise anc
unconstitutional, stop action,wait till this
can be submitted to the people, and le
| them consider whether it is right OF
wrong. Applause. That is all there
| is in it. Hence, | say, that tyranny ant
power can be exercised somewhere else
than by the Executive. He is 2owerless
All he can do is to CHECK legislation, tt
hold it in a state Of abeyance until The
people can consider and understand Wha
is being done.
Then, what has been done9 | hav,
done what conscience, | believed required
me to do. [Applause. So believing,
intend to stick to my position, relying OF
the judgment and the intelligence of thu
people, the soldiers and sailors expressly
| 1[Cheers. Then, for my life, | canno
see where there is any tyranny
1t is very easy to impugn motives, anc
suspect the purest and best acts of
mans life, If you come forward an
propose certain thing, your motives ar
suspected and condemned; and if yo'
withhold your opinion you are regarde
as being opposed to the matter, so that
is very hard to move one way or the 9th
er, so far as certain persons are concern
ed. In the American people is my hop
for the salvation of the country. al
with you, soldiers, sailors and citizens
!, Who has sacrificed or periled more .ha
the humble Individual Who addresses you
Has not my all been put on it2 My lift
my property, everything sacred and dea
to man has been -staked upon it, and ca
l now be suspected Of faltering at tn
close of this third ordeal f the nation2
Where is he, in public orpriyate lift
who has sacrificed more, or who has d.
voted more of his time and energies
the accomplishment of the great end tina
l? And have done it from the prompt
ings of my own heart. believe it WI
right;and with your hearts,and yeur coul
tenances, and your encouragement sha
, GO through on that line. Cheers an
laughter.
And when I come to talk about sa
lors and soldiers, about this to be dor
and that to be done, all want is for yo
to wait and see So, as far as you a.
concerned, wait and see if don't stan
! by you, although every other man ma
: falter and fail Cheers
: want tosee measures Of policy brougl
! forward that will advance the interests
the people, and Of that portion of Il
people who constitute the gallant al
brave men who, in both branches of Il
!, , service, have upheld the national flag al
!, su; ned the country in the recent stru
: gle.
: thank you, gentlemen, for the e
: couragement. | thank you for your cou
= tenance on this OCCASION. 1t cheers I
on, and gives me strength to perform t
work before me. If we are true to ou
u selyes-if we are true to the CONSTITUTE
,, the day is not far distant when ii
q Government will be restored. Let us
!e &c on and restore the Government. Let
!! enlarge the area of commerce and trat
- and let US not only inspire confidence
- = home, but respect abroad, by letting t
y Nation reassume its career of greatne
= know that some will find fault with
= and say that / am too lenient, too kin
and all that. If we were all to be put
sr death, or punished, or thrown away
n, one offense, or for the second offense, a
is were to be lost and, excluded from soc
D ty and communion with our fellow m,