American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-05-23
Hon. Geo. V. Lawrence on the Pres
ident.
The Impetiiinent TO Harmony
The Strength of the Union Par
".

renee, representative from the oath Dis
trict, had the floor on the tariff question,
but was drawn into running debate on
other topics. Mr.. Randall interrupting,
desired to have read the platform of the
Democr ats in Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Lawrence, of Pennsylvania l
have seen that platform over and over
again. 1t is an utter abandonment of all
the old positions ofSthe Democratic par
ty.
Mr.. Randall, of Pennsylvania 1t is a
good Union platform.
Mr.. Lawrence, of Pennsylvania. But,
sir, of what use is platform which every
one knows to consist simply of hypocrti-
cal professions? Sir, the platform which
that party has adopted in Pennsylvania
for campaign purposes is a card repre-
senting Clyn er supporting a white man,
while Gen. Geary, that heroic man who
travelled with Sherman tbr'o the South,
and returned victoriously, is represented
as holding up, or perhaps, embracing, a
negro.
Sir, the only capital of the Democratic
party to day in Pennsylvania is the negro
question. They attempt to appeal to the
lowest passions and prejudices of the ig-
norant and depraved, with regard to the
negro. Because some of us representing
here the State of Pennsylvania, voted for
negro suffrage, as an experiment, and to
enable them to compete with returned
rebels in this District, our names are pa
raded as friends of the negro in preference
to the white man. In this, with the
tricks of demagogues, that party appeal
to passion and prejudice, and not to jglg-
ment and reason.
Now, | say, that is the platform upon
which these men stand. 1t is published
in every Democratic paper in the State.
I eulogized President Johnston when
these men were denouncing him. stood
by him at that time, in Harrisburg, when
he made one of the most able arguments
| ever beard in defense of the Corstitur
ton aud the right of this Government to
put down this rebellion. | followed him
then; | followed him in Tennessee, when
he stood like an oak stricken in the for
est, when he was driven from home and
his family were scattered. stood by him
then, and / stood by him as candidate
of the Republican party in the last cam
paign. | helped TO elect him. would
be glad, sir, to'say that endorsed every
act of bis Administration i do not, and
| cannot.
came here as anxious as my friend
from Illinois that we should be united !;
that the President and Congress should
stand together in this great issue. ]
knew the assaults we had to meet from
the Democratic party. / knew they were
thirsting for the loaves and fishes. |
knew they would use every effort to Sc
cure possession of the Government. l
was anxious that we should stand upon
the platform of the party which would
save us from this humiliation and dis
grace. / did all man could do to stand
by the President, and as some of my
friends know, / subjected myself to sus-
picion and reproach from some ofmy rad
ical friends, because I did not indorse all
their policy. regretted to hear the
President abused in the early part of the
session. / was anxious we should be
kept together; but after his speech on the
22d of February, and after his veto of the
civilrights bill, found l could not 90
his whole policy without degrading my
self and loosing my own self respect.
And | say here, in the presence of the
nation, that my district that voted for
him was in favor of sustaining his admin
istration until by some of his own acts,
and By means Of the Copperhead party all
over the land, he succeeded iu destroying
that confidence which l desired to cult.
vate and to-day have the qualification
to know, although | represent doubtful
district, that the President, by the re-
moval of pure, honest and patriotic men,
and by pardoniDg men covered all over
with crime. who have been guilty of treas
on to the country, and by suffering him.
self to be led astray by our opponents,
has made it necessary for the Union men
to stand together in support of the gener.
al policy we sustain here, and they are as
earnest and as powerful as when they
sustained Andrew johnson for the Vice
Presidency of the United States. They
stand in opposition to the general policy
Of the President, and in favor of the gen.
eral policy pursued by the party in Con
gress, and stand there with them. am
not going to abandon M principles tc
follow the lead Of any man. l was vii.