The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-08-30
Tho Prcsldenrs Sueech.

We have como to the conclusion
that we can occupy our columns to
better advantage than by publishing
the whole Of the Presidents speech
made on the occasion of his reception
OF the proceedings Of the Philadelphia
Convention. Ono or two notable ex.
tracts. however, it will not be amiss 10
place on record. In the course Of bis
speech the President said
"We have witnessed in one depart.
ment OF the Government, every effort
as il were, TO prevent tho restoration
Of peace and harmony in the Union
We have seen hanging on the verge
oi tho Government, as IL we've, u body
called, or which assumed TO be. the
Congress OF the United States, n0d in
fact, Congress oi only part OF the
States. We have seen this Congress
assume anu pretend To be tor the I'm.
ion, when its every step and act tend
cd to perpetual disunion and make Il
disruption OF the States inevitable. IN
stead OF promoting reconciliation and
harmony. It's legislation has parta.
ken OF the character oil penalties, re-.
taliation and revenge. This has been
the course aud policy OF one depart.
ment OF our Government"
The acts OF this body, "assuming to
be" Congress, at its lato session,
amounted to several hundred in mum
ber-of which, wo believe, just fire
were met by the Presidential Veto
and this Notwithstanding tho Presi
dent says "ils EVERY step and act tend
cd 10 perpetual disunion," &c. 1.-The
believes what he said, he ought to have
vetoed every act OF the late session OF
Congress. But he gives his olIicial
approva! 10 them all except some hall
dozen, and then turns round and dc.
nounees the whole Of its legislation as
partaking os "the character of penal.
ties, retaliation and revenge" The
dangerous tendency Of tho Presidents +
talk about tho present Congress as be.
ing a body changing on the verge OF
The Government us il were" and eyi
IDENTIFY, in his opinion, to be shaken of
at the first opportunity, need not be
dwelt upon.
Ono moro extract
"My race is nearly run, have
been placed in the high Office which
occupy under the Constitution of the
country, and | may say have held
from lowest to highest, almost every
position to which man may attain
in our Government, | have passed
through every position from an alder,
man Of village to tho Presidency
and surely, gentlemen, this should be
enough to CRAFTY reasonable ambi.
ton. II wanted authority, or ii
wished to perpctuate my own power
how easy II would have been to hold
and WELD that which was placed in
my hands by measures called Freed.
mems Bureau bills. With an army
which it placed ut my discretion, /
could have remained ut tho capital o.
the United States. and with its fifty OF
sixty millions OF appropriations ut my
disposal, with tho machinery to b,
worked by my own hanis, with my
satraps and dependants in every town
and village, and then with the Civil
Rights bill following as an auxiliary il
connection with all the other applian
ces OF tho Government, | could hay,
proclaimed myself Dictator.
Thee limitations about what the
President could have donO under the
circumstances ramed II he had "want.
cd authority" or "wished to pernc,u.
Pstuate" his "own power" are very
suggestive. The INIT in relation 10
an army at his discretion, millions O,
appropriations at hin disposal, ma,
chinery TO he worked by his owr
hands, and bis Satraps and dependant,
In every town and village, is not hard tc