Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-08-24

PRESIDENT JOHNSON.
His Remarks to tie Committee IF TIE 1HHn-
Gtphia Cvnrcntion.
WAsuiSGroN, August lS-There WAS n grea,
crowd to day to hear the President in response
TO Revrrdy johnson. who prcsented the otiirinl
proceedings Of the Convection. He aad re-
feriine with feeling to the sceue represented Of
South Carolina aud Massachusetts entering the
Convention together, he wus overcome. and
could but conclude that an ovcrruling Provi-
donce was directing us Alright. He suid our
brave men have performed their duties on the
field and have won lnure,s inpeIishnblc; but,
(turning to Gen. Randallj he continued, there
are greater and MOI e important duties to per-
form, and while we have had their co opera
I"n in the field, We now need their efforts to
Perpetupte peace. lArplause.l Tho Execu-
tixe Department had tried TO pour oil on the
wa,era, mud restore the Union but it had not
entirely succeeded. We have seen he said, in
one department Of the Government, every ef
fort to perfect the restoration Of peace aud
harmony in the Cuion. We have seen hang
ing on the verge of the Government, as il
were body called, OF which assumes to he,
the Congress of the United States, while iu fact
it is a Congress Of only pnrt of the Stat y.
We have seen this Congress assume and pre.
tend to be aiding the Union, when it's every
step and act tended to perpe,ualc lisunion and
make disruption Of States inevitable, instead
Of promoting reconciliation and harmony. It's
legislation has partakeu Of the character Of
penalties, retaliation and revenge This has
been the course and the policy Of ono portion
OF Your Government. The humble indiv iLnrl
who is now addressing you stands the reI,resen
ta'ivc Of another department Of III. Govern.
ment The manner in which lie was call-l
upon 10 occrry 'hut position, I s,nI: not allnde
to on this occas on eufice it to say, that he is
here under the Constitution Of III. country.
nnd being here ny virtue Of i's provisions, lie
taxes his stand upon that charter OF our liL,r-
ties as the great rampant of civ il and religions
liberty. Prolonged cheering Having been
taught in my early life to hold it sacrcd, and
having practiced upon i, during my wh"le pub.
TIC Career. l shall ever continue to reverence
the Constitution Of my fathers aud nuke il,
my guide. Hearty applause
The President proceeded und denied the
charge that he had ever been ty,anncal or IL
desPot: but said such charges were simply III.
tended to deceive and dclude the public mind
into the belief that there is some one in power
who is usurpiug and trampling upon the rights
Of the Constitution. 1t is done hy those who
made such charges for the purpose Of covering
their own acts. That's so. and opplause.] ]
have felt it my duty. in vindcation Of the
principles Of the Constitution Of my country,
TO coll the attention Of my countrymcn to these
proceedings. When VIC come to examine who
has been playing tho tyrant bv whom do We
find despotism exerciredl As to myself, the
elements Of my nature, the pursuits Of my
life. have not made me in my feelings or in my
practice, opPressive--my nature, on the con.
trary. is rather defensive in its character; but
will say that, baving taken my stand upon
The broad principles of liberty and the Con-
stitution, there Is not power enough on earth
to drive me from it, loud and prolonged s,,-
Plause.] Having placed myself upon ihat
broad platform, have not been awed, or dis.
mayed. or intimidated by either threats or en-
eroach msnts; nnd have stood there, in copiuuc.
tion with the patriotic spirits, sounding the
tocsin Of alsrn, when deemed the citadel of
liberty endangered Loud and prolonged an.
plau'e--good.] SAID On previous occasion,
and repeat now. that all tina. is necessary in
this great struggle against tyranny ard despo-
tism, ia that the struggle should be sufficiently
audible for the American people to hear and
properly understand. They did hear, looking
ON and seeing who the contestants were, and
what the struggle was about. Determined
that they would settle this question on the
side Of the Constitution and Of principle, pro.
claim hero to day. As have on previous occa.
sions. that my faith is in the great macs Of the
people. IN the midst Of this struggle. when
tt q. eoid. ;0....s .ssmsd to be mos. lowereg
through the clouds. beyond which l saw tha.
all would BE- we'll in the end. My oountry.
men. ve all know that tyranny and despotisi1,.
in tie language Of Thomas Jefferson, can bs
exercised more faithfully by themaDy tI,an
the one. We hsys seen Congress grad
ually eooroaeh. ateP by step and day af
dsmsntal principles Of Government We have
assn Congress that scanned to forget. thst
there was limit 70 tho sphere and scor,a Of
isgislstion. We have seen Congress in =
minesiiY assnue 10 sxereiss power which, if
allowed % Be qarrtsd out. wonld result In des-
Posssm Or n'onsrcby itself T6is b the truth,
psoPes ,so appel % The ps,rioiis and ,repubii-
ssn fsslicg u 10 country. vs have decd de.
neuceSd 80 the asverssi terms 4, Islander unau
sisndsr yitnpsratjon upon sjtaesfaiIon Of .th,s
viIlainous character has madeits vSy through
the psess. What gentlemae, has bsen yours
.our oasndingi I wil tell you. Daring to
stand by thaF COnstiiaflon of 'oue Sfaidassl. 7