The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-03-06
CHARLOTTE, N. c., TUESDAY, MARCH 6. 1866

whom and in whom the legislative power OF th
Government has been lodged, that great princi
/ pie in the Constitution which AUTHORIZES AM
empowers the legislative. department; the Sen
ate and house of Representatives to be tht
Judges of elections, returns, and qualifications o
Its own members, has been virtually taken ava,
from the two respective branches of the Nation
al Legislature, and conferred upon committee
| who must report before the body can act on the
| question of the admission of members to thei
seats. By this rule they assume State is ou
Of the Union, and to have its practical relation
restored by that rule, before the House car
/ judge of the qualifications of its own members
What position is that !? You have been strug.
Cling for four years to put down rebellion -
You contended at the beginning of that strug
gle that State had not right to 60 out You
said it had neither the right nor the power, and
it has been settled that the States had neither
the right nor the power to so out of the Union
And when yon determine by the executive, by
the military, and by the public judgment that
these States cannot have any right to 60 out,
this committee turns around and assumes that
they are out, and that they shall not come IL.
l am free to say to you as your Executive
that [ am not prepared to take any such posi-.
ton. [Great cheering I said il the Senate,
in the very inception of this rebellion, that the
States had no right to secede. The question has
been settled. Thus determined, | cannot turn
round and give the lie direct to all tha: | pro-
fess to have done during the last four years. [
say that when the States that attempt to comply
with the Constitution, and give sufficient evil
dence of loyalty, [ shall extend to them the
right hand of fellowship, and let peace and
union be restored. [ am opposed to the Davis
es, the Toombses, the Sldels, and the long list
of such. But when I perceive on the other
hand men-IA voice, "Call them off f"l-I care
not by what name you call them-stll opposed
to the Union, | am free to say to you that am
still with the people. I am still for the preser-
vation of these States-for the preservation of
this Union, and in favor of this great Govern
ment accomplishing its destiny.
There the President was called upon to give
the names Of three Of the members of Congress
to whom he had alluded as being opposed to
the Union
The gentleman calls for three names am
talking to my friends and follow-citizens here
[Cheers Suppose [ should name to you those
whom l look upon as being opposed to the fun
damental principles of this Government, and as
now laboring to destroy them. say Thaddeus
Stevens, of Pennsylvania; | say Charles Sum-
ner, Of Massach usetts; I say Wendell Phillips,
of Massachusetts, [Great cheering, and a
voice. "Forney!']
do not. waste my fire on dead ducks
Laughter [ stand for the country-and though
my enemies may traduce, SANDER, and yitupe-
rate, may say, that has no force.
In addition to this, [ do not intend to be gov
erned by real or pretended friends, nor do Lin
tendto be bullied by my enemies. Cheers.
An honest conviction is my sustenance, the
Constitution my guide. [ know, my country
men, that it has been insinuated nay, said di-
rectly, in highplaces-that if such usurpation
of power had been exercised two hundred years
ago, 10 particular reigns, it would have cost an
individual his head. What usurpation has An
drew Johnston been guilty of? 1Cheers and
cries of "None."] My only usurpation has
been committed by standing between the peo-
pie and the encroachments Of power And be-
cause dared say in a conversation with fell
low. citizen, and Senator too, that [ thought
amendments to the Constitution ought not to be
so frequent, lest the instrument lose all its sane
tity and dignity, and be wholly lost sight of in
short time, and because I happened to say in
that [ thought that such and such
an amendment was all that ought to be adopted,
it was said that I had suggested such usurpa-
ton of power as would have cost king his
head in u certain period In connection with
the smidst of earthquakes and he tremblcd."
Yes, there is an earthquake approaching, there
is groundswel coming Of popular judgment
and indignation. The American people will
speak, and by their instinct if 10 no other way,
know who are their friends, when and where
and in whatever position siand-and | have
occupied many positions in the Government,
going through both branches of the Legisla-
ture Some gentleman here behind me says,
"And was tailor" daughter ] Now, that
don't affect me in the least. When was tail
or 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
patchwork. But we pass by this depression.
Intlmations have been thrown out-and when
princinles are involved and the existence of my
country imperilled I will, as former occa-
sious, speak what think. Yes! Cost him his
head. Usurpation, When and where have L
been guilty of this? Where is the man in all
the positions have occupied, from that of AL
derman to the Vice Presidency, who can say
.hat Andrew johnson ever made pledge that
he did not redeem, or ever made promise that
he violated, or that he acted with ialsity TO the
people?
They may talk about beheading, but when
am beheaded | want the American people to be
the witness TCheers l do not want by in
uendees of an indirect character in high places
to have one say to man who has assassination
broiling in his heart "there is fit subject"
and also exclaim that the ''Presidentia obstacle"
must be got out of the way, when possibly the
intention was to institute assassination. Are
those who want to destroy institutions
and change the character of the Government
not satisfied with the blood that has been she'd?
Are they no, satisfied with one martyr? Does
bot the blood of Lincoln appease the vengeance