The weekly union record., 1866-03-03
Johnson's Speech.


special correspondent gives fuli report of the
President's speech delivered yesterday. The
Growers Theater meeting adjourned to the
White House to present the resolutions indors-
ing the Presidents veto. There assembled in
front of the White House a noisy crowd of two
persons. The President came out
and said:
ut is extremely gratifying to know that so
large portion Of my fellow-citizens approve
the policy adopted, and which intend to carry
out The day is peculiarly appropriate for the
Endorsement Of policy whose object is the
restoration of the Union, as designed By the
Father Of bis Country. stand here to-day,
as l stood in the Senate 10 1860 and 1861,
when denounce traitors who were trying to
break up the Government. There we're two
parties-o3e Of which was determined TO
destroy the Government to save slavery, while
the other. almost equally dangerous. was
equally willing TO break up the Government to
destroy slavery. Whether disunionists come
from the South or North, stand now as | did
then, indicating the Uuion and Constitution.
Tremendous applause.l The Government has
stretched forth It's strong arm, and with phys
ical power put down treason in the field. Their
armies have been disbanded and they come
forward now, in a proper spirit, and say we
were mistaken; We made an effort to carry out
the doctrine of secession, and to dissolve the
Union. In that we have failed. We have
traced this doctrine to its logical and physical
results, aud find we were mistaken. We
acknowledge the flag Of our country, are willing
to obey the Constitution, and yield to the
supremacy Of the laws Great applause |
Coming in that spirit, say to them: When
you have yielded to the law, when you have
acknowledged allegiance, l will, as far as can
open the door of the Union to those who have
erred and strayed for time Great applause
The spirit of revenge is not the spirit 10 which
to deal with whole people. l know there
has been great deal said about the exercise
Of the pardoning power. There is DO one who
has iabored with more earnestness than myself
to have the principal, intelligent aud cousciou:
traitors brought to justice, the law vindicated
and the great fact judicially established. that
treason is crime. Applause.l But while
the conscious, leading ard intelligent traitors
are to be punished, should whole communities
States, and peoples, be made 20 submit to the
penalty of death? No, no; let those who
have erred be punished but to the great mu
titude, forced into the rebellion, l say leniency
and kindness. We put down the rebellion il
order to prevent the separation Of the States
but when the struggle on our part is successful
we find an effort to concentrate all power ir
the hands Of q few at the Federal head, aDc
thereby establish new principle equally as
Objectionable as separation. The Government
may be revolutionized without war, and this is
most dangerous, because its progress is not Sc
easily watched. What is now being proposed.
We find, in point Of fact, tina: nearly all the
powers of Government are assumed by an ire
sponsible central directory, which does not ever
consult the Legislative or Executive Depart
ments. In this Committee it seems that prac
tically all legislative power is now vested. The
great principle which authorizes each branct
Of the Legislative Department to judge fol
itself of the qualifications of its own members
has been virtually taken away from the two
branches and conferred upon Committee
fought traitors and treason in the South
Now, when turn round aud fiud men, care
not by what name you call them, still opposed
to restoring the Union, am free to say to you
that am still in the field" Great applause.
Voices-"Name them! Who are they!n
Presldent-"Y gu ask me who they are
say rhaddeus Stevens. of Pennsylvania, Is one
Sumner, of the Senate, is another and Wendell
Phillips is another" Long continued applause.
oices-"Give it to Foruey."
President-"In reply to that. will simply
say do not waste my ammunition on dead
ducks Laughter and applause stand fol
my country. stand for the Constitution
There have placed my feet from my advent
into public life. They may traduce, they LAY
SANDER or they may vituperate me, but let me
say to you all that it has no influence upon me
lApplause.l Let me say further that do not
intend to be overawed by real or pretended
friends, DOR do mean to be bullied by my
enemies. Tremendous applause. Homes,
conviction is my courage. The Constitution is
my guide. | know, my countrymen, it has
been insinuated-no not insiouated-it has
been said directly in high circles that if snct
usurpaton of power as l am charged with bad
been exercised some two hundred years ago, il
would have cost the individual his head OF
what usurpation has Andrew johnson beer
guilty? None-none.l Is it usurpation that
stand between the people and the encroach
menis of power from the same source? Ex
clamation has gone forth that they were in the
midst of earthquakes, that they were trembling
aud could not yield Yes, fellow cltizens, there
is an earthquake coming. There is a grand
swelling of popular judgment and Indignation
[Appause-l The American people will speak
and BY their instinct, if not otherwise, will
know who are their enemies have endeav
ored to be true to the people in positions which
l have occupied, and there is hardly position
in this Government have not at some time
filled. suppose it will be said that this i;
vanity. Laughter. But may say that
have been in all of them. | have been in botf
branches Of the State Legislature"
Voice-"You commenced tailor"
President-"A gentleman behind me saws
began as tailor. Yes, l did begin as tailor
[Applause.] That suggestion does not discomf
me 10 the least, for when l was q tailor, l had
q reputation of being good one, and making
coats to fit. [Laughter.] l was alway:
pupctual TO my customers, and did good
work." [Applause.
Voice-"We will patch up the Union yet.
The President-"No, l don't want any
patchwork; l want the original article:
restored. Point to the man who can say
Andrew johnson ever acted with in6deliiy tc
the great mass of the people [Great applause.
Men may talk about beheading and about
usurpation, but when l am beheaded l want
the American people to be the witnesses
do not want ii, BY inuendoes aud Indecent
remarks in high places, TO be suggested to men
who have assassination brooding in their
bosoms. Others have explained that the
present obstacles must be got out of the way
Whist is that butt make use of strong
word-but incitlpg to assassination? No
doubt say, the intention was to incite 10
assassination, that the obstacle which the