The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-02-28

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published and printed in blazing charac.
ters, as though it were in the heavens and
punctuated by the stars, so that all can
read and all can understand. Let us con.
suit that instrument, and be guided by its
provisions; let US understand them, and.
understanding them, abide by them.
tell the opposers of this Government, I
care not from what quarter they come.
East or West, North or South. you that
are engaged in the work of breaking up
the Government are mistaken. The Con-
stituton Of the United States and the
principles of free government are deeply
rooted in the American heart, and all the
powers combined cannot destroy the great
instrument, that great chart of freedom.
Their attempts, though they seem to sue
coed for time, will be futile. They might
as we'll undertake TO lock up the winds or
chain the waves Of the ocean, and confine
them within limits. They might as well
undertake to repeal the Constitution, and
indeed it seems now to be supposed that it
can be repealed by concurrent resolution.
Laughter But when the question is
submitted to the popular judgment, and to
the mass Of people, these men will find that
they might as we'll introduce resolution
to repeal the law of gravitation. The at
tempt to keep this Union from being res.
tered is just about as feasible as would be
resistance to the great law Of gravitation
which binds all to common centre. The
great law of politician gravtation will bring
back these States and restore them to all
their relations to the Federal Government
Cliques, and cabals, and conspiracies, and
Vaccinations North and South cannot pre-
vent this great consummatien. Trcmend
Gus applause.] All that is wanted is time
Let the American people get to understand
what is going on, and they will soon man
ifest their determination. Here, by way OF
explanation, let me say that would to
God the whole American people could be
assembled here to day as you are I wish
there was vast amphitheatre here spaci.
Gus enough to contain the whole thirty
millions, and they could witness the great
Constitution Of their fathers. They would
soon settle the question if they could once
see how things are, if they could see the
kind of spirit that is manifested in the eff.
fort to break up the real principles Of free
government when they. come to under
stand who was for them and who was
against them, who was for ameliorating
their condition, and who for elevating them
by preserving their Government. If the
combatants could stand before them, and
there could be regular set TO between the
respective gladiators, in the first tilt that
might be made you would find that the
enemies Of the country would be crushed,
and the people would sustain its friends,
and the friends Of constitutional liberty.
Great cheering. My fellow. citizens, l
have detained you longer than intended.
90 on, go on. But we are in great
struggle and am your instrument, and
have thought it best to express myself
frankly. When ask you have usurped
authority ? who is it in this country that
have not toiled and labored for? Where
is the man or woman, either in private life
or in public life, that has not always re.
ceived my attention and my time? Some
times it has been said, pardon me for being
little cgotistical, for we arc engaged in a
friendly and familiar conversation, "That
man Johnson is lucky man. Laughter. |
They can never defeat him." Laughter.
Now will tell you what constitutes my
luck. 1t is in doing right and doing for the
people. Great applause The people
somehow or other, although their sagacity
|, anu good judgment are very frequently
| moderated, under, estimated, generally get
to find GU. and understand who is for them
and who is against them. They do it by
instinct if by no other way. They know
their friend; they know in whom they can
conf lie. So far. thank God, can lay my
hand upon my breast and state with heart.
felt satisfaction, that in all positions in
| which have been placed,-in many that
were As trying any in which mortal man
has ever been placed, have never desert
them, nor do believe they will desert me.
| No, TO, Applause Whom have I be.
trayed? What principles have violated?
| What sentiment have swerved from Can
those who assail me put their fingers upon
any one? ["No," MOL In oil the
speeches that have been made, no one has
dared to put his finger upon any principle
[ ever asserted from which have deviated.
Have you not heard some of them, at some
time, attempt to quote my predecessor,
who fell a martyr to his couniry's cause
But they can give no sentiment of his that
is in opposition or in contradiction to any
thing that have done. The very policy
that am now pursuing was pursued by
me under his administration. having
been appointed by him in particular posi-
| ton for that very purpose. Inscrutable
Providence saw proper to remove him from
this to trust better world and came
into his place, and there is not principle
of his reference to the restoration of the
Union from which l have departed. None,
cone. Then the war is not simply upon
me, but is upon my predecessor also. l
have tried to do my duty. know that
some are envious and jealous, and speak
of the White House as having attractions
for the President. Let me say TO you, the
charms of the White House have az little
influence upon me as upon any individual
in this country, and much less upon me
than upon those who are talking about it,
The little that eat and wear does not
amount to much, ana the difference be.
tween what is enough to sustain mo and
my little faInil y--it is very small, for am
not Of kin to many folks by consanguinity
though by affinity am Of kin to every body
i the difference between the little tina,
! suftices for my stomach and back, and
more than enough, has no charms for me-
The proud and conscious satisfsctien5 oil
having performed my duty to my country
to my children and to the inner man, is all
the reward ask. [Great applause IL
conclusion, let me ask this vast concours:
here to-day, this sea of upturned faces, te
come with me, or will 60 with you, and
stand around the Constitution of ori
country. It is again unfolded; the people
are invited to read and understand; to sus
tain and maintain its provisions. Let US
stand by the Constitution of our fathers
though the heavens themselves should fall
Though faction may rage, though taunts
and jeers may come, though abuse and
vituperation may be poured out in the mos
violent form, mean to be found standing
by the Constitution Of my country. Stanc
by the Constitution as the chief ark of oul
safety, as The palladium oil, our civil anl