The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-03-12

warns and anlmateS my existence snail DC |
poured out as last iibation of tribute to the
Union of these States. lGreat applause.]
But let the opponents of this Government re-
member that when it is poured out, "the blood
of the martyr will be the seed of the church"
[Cheers.]
Gentlemen this Union will grow, twill con-
tinue to increase in strength and power, though
it may be cemented and cleansed with blood.
1 have talked longer now than intended to
speak Let me thank you for the honor you
have done me. So far as this Government is
concerned, let me say one other word in refer
ence to the amendments to the Constitution of
the q nitad States When reached Washing
ton for the purpose of being inaugurated as
Vica President OF the United States 1 had
conversation with MIR. Lincoln. We were talk
ing about the condition OF affairs, and in refer
ence to matters in my own State stated that
We had called convention, had amended our
Constitution by abolishing slavery in the State
"a State not embraced in his proclamation.
All this met his appreciation and gave him en-
couragement, and in talking upon the amend
ment to the Constitution he SAID when the
amendment to the Constitution is adopted by
three fourths OF the States we shall have done
all or pretty nearly all L am In favor OF in
amending the Constitution, II there was one
other adopted" Said l, what is that, Mr..
President 2" Said he, Il have labored to pre-
serve this Union, have toiled tour years, l
been subjected to calumny and misrepresenta-
ton, yet my great desire has Deen TO preserve
the Union OF these States intact, under the
Constitution, as they were before. But,"
said L, Mr.. President, what amendment do
you refer to 2" He said he thought there should
be an amendment added to the Constitution
which would compel all the States to send their
Senators and Representatives to the Congress
of the United States. Yes, compel them. The
idea was in his mind that it is part OF the doc
trine OF secession to break up the Government
by States Withdrawing their Senators and hep
resentatives from Congress, ana, therefore ne
desired constitutional amendment to compel
| them to be sent. How now does the matter
| stand In the Constitution of the country,
even that portion OF it which provides for the
amendment of the organic law says that no
State, without its consent, shall be deprived OF
its representation And now what do we lind :?
| We lind the position taken that States shall
not be represented, that We may impose taxes,
| that we may send our tax-gathererSto every re-
| gi0n and portion of State, that the people are
10 be oppressed with taxes, but when they come
here to partic'pat in the legislation OF the
country, they are met at the door and told no;
you must pay taxes, you must bear the burdens
| OF tine Government, but you must not particle
pate in the legislation OF the country, which is
to affect you Tor all time" Is this just? l"No,
no."I Then l say let us admit into the coun-
ellis of the nation those who are Enthusiastically
and unqueStionabiy loyal; those men who ac-
knowledge their allegiance to the Government,
| AMI swear to support the Constitution. 1t is
| all embraced in that The application of an
OaGn max IS no QluofeuCe II man Is uOG loyal,
but you may adopt whatever test oath you
| choose to prove their lOyalty-that is a matter
| of detail tor which care nothing = let him be
| unquestionably loyal, owning his allegiance to
| the Government, and willing to support it in
| its hour of peril and of need, and am willing
| to trust them. know thatsome do not attach
SO much Importance to this principle as 1 do,
but one principle we carried through the Revo-
| luGion was that there should be no taxation
without representation. hold to that princi-
pie laid down as fundamental by our fathers. If
it Was good then, tits good now. Ii it was a
rule to stand by then, it is rule to stand by
now. 1t is a fundamental principle that
should be adhered to as long as free Government
lasts.
know that it was said by some during the
rebellion that our Constitution had been rolled
up as piece Of parchment and laid away; that
in the time of war and rebellion there was no
Constitution. Well, we know that sometimes
from the very great necessity of the case, from
great we IN ust do unconstitutional
things in Q. der to preserve the Constitution it.
self. But, if while the rebellion was going on
the Constitution was rolled up as parchment;
| II 1t was violated in some particulars to save
Government, there may have been some excuse
to justify it,. But now that peace has come;
now the war Is over, we want a written Con-
stitut0n; and l say the time has come to take
the Constitution down, unroll it, re-read it, and
understand its provisions. Now, if you have
saved the Government by violating the Con-
siitution in war. you can only save it in peace
by preserving the Constitution, and the only
way to preserve it is by strict adherence to
the Constitution of our fathers as it is now IN
folded. 1t must now be read and understood
by the American people. I come here to-day,
as far as can, in making these remarks, to in.
dicate the Constitution and to save il, for it
does seem to me that encrOachment after en-
| croachment is proposed. I stand to-day pre-
pared so far can to resist these encroachments
upon the Constitution and tho Government.
Now that we have peace, let us enforce the
Constitution; let us live under and by its pro-
visions let it be published; let it be printed in
blazing characters, as If it were in the heavens,
punctuated with stars that all may read and
understand; let us consult that instrument: let
US digest its provisions, understand them, and,
understanding, abide by them. I tell the OPP
ponents of this Government, Il care not from
what quarter they come, whether from the
East West, North, or South,) you who are en-
gagged in the work of breaking up the Govern
ment by amendments to the Constitution, that
the principles of free government are deeply
rooted in the American heart. All the powers
combined, ! care not of what character they
are, cannot destroy that great instrument
that great chart OF freedom. They may seem
to succeed for a time, but their attempts will be
futile. They might as well undertake to lock
up the winds or chain the waves of the ocean,
and confine them to limits. They may think
now 1t can De done by noncurrent resolution;
but when it is submitted to the popular iudg-
ment and to the popular will, they will find
that they might as well undertake to introduce
resolution to repeal the law of gravity as to
keep this Union from being restored. tits just
about as feasible to resist the great law of
gravity which binds all to common centre, as
that great law of gravity which will bring back
these States, and replace them in their rela.
tons. All these conspiracies and Vaccinations,
North and South, cannot prevent it. All that
IS wanted is time until the American people
can get to know what is going on. would the
whole American people could be assembled
here to day as you are. l wish we had an am
phitheatre capaeious enough to hold these 80,
100000 Of people, that they could be here and
witness the struggle that is going on to preserve
the Constitution of their fathers. They would
settle this question. They could see who it is,
and how it is, and what kind of spirit is mani
tested in breaking up this great principle of
free Government. Yes when they came to see
who against them, if you could make them
perform the part Of gladiators, in the first tilt
you would find the enemies of the country
crushed and helpless. .' ~
I have detained you longer than intended.
["Go on We are in great struggle I am
your instrument. Who is there have not
toiled or labored for !? Where is the man or
woman either in public or private life who has
not always received my attention or my time
Pardon the egotism, they say that man john
son is lucky man; that no man can defeat
me- will tell you what constitutes good luck.
1t is due to right, and being for the people; that
is what constitutes good luck. Somehow or
other the people will find out and understand
who is for and who against them. have been
placed in as many trying positions as any NOR
tai man was ever placed in, but so far 1 have
not deserted the people, and believe they will
not desert me. What principle have viola
ted What sentiment have swerved from
Can they put their finger upon it Have you
heard them point out any discrepancy Have
you heard them quote my predecessor, who fell
martyr to his countrys cause, as going in OPP
position or in eontradistinction to anything
that have done ? The very policy which
am pursuing now was pursued under his ad-
ministration, was being pursued by him when
that inscrutable Providence saw fit to remove
him, 1 trust, to better world this. Where is
there one principle adopted by him, in refer
ence to this restoration. that I have departed
from? ["None none ri The war, then, is
not simply upon me, but upon my predecessor.
/ have tried to do my duty. know that some
people in their jealousy have made the remark
of tha IN 20 Lad