Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-03-09

upon to name their acts at the other
end of the line. | am talking to my
friends and fellow citizens who are in
terested with me in this Government,
and presume [ am free to mention
to you the names of those whom [ look
upon as being opposed to the funda-
mental principles of this Government,
and who are laboring to pervert and
destroy it.
Voice. Name them! Who are
they?
The President. You ask me who
they are. | say Thaddeus Stevens, of
Pennsylvania, is one; I say Mr.. Sum-
ner, Of the Senate is another; and
Wendell Phillips is another. Long
continued applause
Voice "Give it to Forneyr'
The President. In reply to that |
will simply say lido not waste my am
munition upon dead ducks. (Great
laughter and applause.) [ stand for
my country. stand for the Consti-
tuition. There | have always placed
my feet from my advent into public
life. They may traduce, they may
slander, they may vituperate me, but
let me say to you all this has no in
Huence upon me. Great applause.) J
Let me say further that | do not in
tend to be Overawed by real or pre-
tended friends, nor do | mean to be
bullied by my enemies. tremendous
applause Honest conviction is my
courage, the Constitution is my guide.
| know, my cOmtrymen, that is has
been inSinuated-nO, not inSinuated,
it has been said directly in high places
that if such a usurpation Of power
as | am charged with had been eXer-
cised some two hundred years ago in
particular reign, it would have cost
an individual his head. Great laugh
ter.) Ofwhat usurpation has Andrew
johnson been guilty? None! Is it
a usurpatiOn to stand between the
people and the encrOachments of pow
er, because, III a conversation with a
fellow citizen who happened to be a
Senator. said that | thought amend
ments to the Constitution ought not
to be so frequent-that if it was CON
tinually tinkered with it would lose
all its prestige and dignity, and the
old instrument would be lost sight of
altogether in a short time; and be-
cause, III the same conversation, hap
pened to say that if it were amended
at all, such an amendment ought to be
adopted, it was charged that | was
guilty Of an usurpation of power that
would have cost a king his head in a
certain period Of English history
(Great laughter.) From the same
source the exclamation has gone forth
that they were in the midst Of earth
quakes-that h ey were trembling.
and would not Weld. daughter. }
Yes, fellow citizens, there is an earth
quake coming; there i 5 a ground
swell rising of popular Judgment and
/ indignation, (Great applause.) The
American people will speak, and by
their instinct, if not otherwise, they
will know who are their friends, and
who are their enemies. | have en-
deayored to be true to the people in
all the positions which | have occupied
and there is hardly position in this
I Government which nave not at some
time filled. | suppose it will be said
that this is vanity, (laughter) but
may say that | have been in all o
them. | have been in both branches
Of the State Legislature.
Avoice. you commenced tailor.
The President A gentleman be
hind me says | began a tailor. Yes,
did begin tailor, applause, } and tina
suggestion does not discomfort me il
the least, for when | was tailor
had the reputation of being good ont
and ofmailing clothes fit. Laughter.
was always punctual to my custom
ers, and gave good work. (applause.
! Voices. 1--WE will patch up th
! Union yet"
The President. No; Idonot wan
any patch work of it. l want th
original article restored. (Great ap
plause.) But enough of this facetious
ness. | know it may be said-"Yo
are President, and YOU must not tai
about these things" But, my fellow
citizens, intend to talk the truth, an
| when principle is iRvolved-when til
, existence ofmy country is in peril
hold it to be my duty to speak wha
, | think, and what | feel, as | have a
ways done on former OCCASIONS
Great applause.) have said it ha
: been declared elsewhere that | wa
: guilty Of usurpation which would hay
D cost a King his head, and in anothe
i place have been denounced for "whit
n Washing" When and where did
d ever whitewash anything or anybody
e | have been an Alderman Of a tow
} | have been in both branches of tt
T Legislature of my State, | have bee
: in both Houses of the National Co
h gress, | have been at the head OF tt
+ Executive department of my State,
y have been Vice President of the Unite
n States, and | am now in the positic
1t which now occupy before you; al
0, during all this career where is L
d man, and what portion of the peop
l. is there, who can say that Andre
1t Johnson ever made pledge which
L did not redeem, or that he ever ma
le promise which he violated? "Non
rs NoneW Point me to the man W
" can say that Andrew johnson ev
L acted with infdelity to the great ma
If of the people. (Great applause. J
at Men may talk about beheading, a
I'd about usurpation, but when am
he headed | want the American people
to be witness, | do not want it by