The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-09-04
to the name of Stephen A. Douglas, Of II


linois
Even since we commenced this Journey al
lusions have been made, and charges have
been published that the President, the Secre-
tary Of State, aud the officers of the cabinet,
and even some of the officers who are engaged
in the army and navy, are traitors, and men
who have turned against their country.
(Shame Who would believe for one single
moment that your feilow-citizen turning to
Mr.. Seward is traitor. | have no flattery
to lavish upon him. He needs nothing from
me nor | from him. | have no favors to ask
OF him and he has none to ask of me; but !
take into consideration his connection with
the rebellion from the beginning, up to the
period that Mr.. Lincoln was assassinated, and
his assassination was attempted. That he
was mangled; that he was wounded and to
use a strong expression, he was all chopped
in pieces, as if he had laid upon the butchers
block and was to be cut to pieces with
butchers cleaver. Because he is for the res
toration of the Union when the rebellion has
been suppressed, he has been denounced as
traitor to his country. ('Shame shame y
And the humble individual who stands be-
fore you, from the beginning of the rebellion
to its very close, at the peril of his property,
reputation, home, and everything that was
sacred and dear; driven as it were from the
limits of his State, staketl every thing upon
the issue of the rebellion and upon the pre-
servation of the government; and when that
was done, and the rebellion was put down,
and now that he, IN connection with others,
is in favor Of restoring the government, re-
storing peace, and harmony, and prosperity to
the country, he is denounced as traitor
(Shame) My countrymen, do stand before
be a traitor | ask you? Do not call me
vain. love the appreciation of the people
do love it, and when have discharged my
duty; when | have perilsd my life and my
blood to promote and advance their interests;
when they give me their appreciation | am
free to say / love it. For / like reward for
conscientously discharging my duty. (Ap-
plalise.) But | ain traitor No, no.)
Why should be a traitor? What traitoroils
acts have committed? (None)
Why, my countrymen, it was but the other
day l commenced as an Alderman of one the
small towns OF this nation; | went from that
to Mayor; from that to the Legislatures from
that to Senator of the State Legislature; from
that to the House of Representatives, where
served ten years consecutVely; from that to
the Senate oftha United States, and was there
when the rebellion commenced NY record
Is made, and my course has become public
and understood by all. CA voice, $50 it is. y
L left my place in the Senate where was out
of danger; where received more emoluments;
where | occupied position that considered
second to none in this Government | have
always had an exalted idea of the position Of
Senator Of a great people, but, NOTWITHSTANDING
ing was placed upon the ticket for the
Vice Presidency. | am free to say here to-
day did not seek the place, but friends of
the country-inends that were personal to
me, were anxious that | should be placed
upon the ticket ! was placed there--l &C
cepted 1.-THE race was run, the victory was
obtained, and was made Vice President of
the United States. Cant You see the grada-
ton comes along regularly? And then, by
the Constitution of the Country was made
President am glad fit Now / will go
back to the reasonable part of the subject
have been all the people of the United States
can make me. have occupied all the places
from Alderman up to the position | now oc-
cupy-the President Of the United States
lApplausel Why then should be a traitor?
Even i ny ambition lnauea
talheu IL All; the measure OF my ambition as
far as political preferment is concerned, has
been filled TO overlooking.
In conclusion the President said:
, What has Congress done all that time to
restore the Government? If the policy that
} was adopted was wrong, could not they un-
do it in eight months, and substitute proper
one? Has this Congress done or attempted
one single thing during the last eight months
) for the restoration OF the government of these
? States? On the contrary, they have thrown
+ every impeachment, every difficulty in the way
: that was possible to be thrown in the way
The American people must look into this
question, and they may cry TRAITOR You
may think 1t vain, but if it could be SO ar
ranged would take this Cabinet and those
gentlemen who have baen associated with me,
and discuss the matter with the one hundred
and eighty-two members of Congress, and
would make up canvas and discuss the cues
tlon before the American people with them
Let them come without regard to slavery
without regard to subsidized press without
regard to mercenary hirehngs because they
think them placed in power and dependent
upon their influence. Let them come and we
will meet them. We have the argument and
the Constitution and right on our side.
"Ihrlce is he armed that hath his quarrel
just. My confidence is now, as it always has
been, in the great faith of the American peo-
pie Mr. Seward at this point became ex-
ceedlngly alarmed, lest the Lalcony would
break down, and personally went around to
cause some of those on it oretire, He also
suggested to Mr.. johnson that it would be
well to shorten his speech and retire from the
contemplated danger. Mr.. johnson, there
fore, concluded, with briefly recapitulating
his thanks for his cordial welcome, hoping
that the nation would yet stand Il, deemed,
regenerated and disenthraned.
Mr. Seward then made a speech, and a
grand ball was given at night
The Regulations OF the Presidential
Trains.
From Detroit to Chicago pilot e. CINE will
| nreceda the President's train Ton ,oa;r,,t.. .