The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-02-28

EugnSh history, treat lauShteT.J FROM
the same source the exclamation has gone
forth that they were in the midst Of earth
quakes; that they were trembling and could
not yield. [Laughtcr.] Yes. fellow ci'i
zcns, there is an earthquake coming; there
is grand swelling Of popular judgment and
Indignation. Great applause] The Amer
lean people will speak, and by their instinct
if not otherwise, they will know who are
their enemies. have endcayored to be true
to the people in all the positions which
have occupied, and there is hardly apositior
in this Government which have not at somt
time filled. suppose it will be said thai
this is vanity, laughter but may say thai
| have been in all Of them. l have been in
both branches Of the State Legislature
voice" You commenced tailor"
The President-A gentleman behind me
says began as a tailor. Yes, did begin
as a tailor [applause, and that suggestion
does not discomiit me in the least, for when
was tailor, had the reputation Of being
good one and Of making close fits laugh
teri, and | was always punctual to my Gus
toners and did good work. Applause.
Voices--We will patch up the Union yet.
The President--No, do not want any
patchwork Of it; want original articles
restored. Great applause. But enough
of this Righteousness. l know it may be
said, "You are President and you must not
talk about these things" but, my fellow
citizens, intend to talk the truth, and
when principle is involved, when the exist
ence Of my country is in peril, hold it to
be my duty to speak what think, and
what feel, as have always done on form
er occasions. [Great applause. l have
said that it has been declared elsewhere
that I was guilty Of usurpation which
would have cost King his head, and in
another place l have been denounced for
whitewashing. When and where did ever
whitewash anything or anybody? l have
been an Alderman of town; l have been
in both branches of the Legislature Of my
State; l have been in both Houses Of the
National Congress have been at the head
of the Executive Department Of my State;
have been Vice President Of the United
States and am now in the position which
| occupy before you; and during all this
career, where is the man and what portion
of the people is there who can say that
Andrew johnson ever made q pledge which
promise which he violated? None, none. l
johnson ever acted with infidelity to the
great mass of the people. Great applause.
Men may talk about beheading and usurpa-
ton; but when am beheaded | want the
American people to be the witness. | do
not want it by inuendoes and indecent re-
marks in high places to be suggested to men
who have assassination brooding In their
bosoms. Others have exclaimed that the
Presidential obstacle must be gotten out Of
the way. What is that butt make use Of
a strong word-but melting to assassina-
ton. No doubt, say, the intention was
to incite to assassination, SO that the obsta-
Gle which the people had placed here could
be got out Of the way. Are the opponents
of this Government not yet satisfied? Are
those who want to destroy our institutions
and to change the character of the Govern
ment, not satisfied with the quantity Of
blood that has been shed? Are they not
satisfied with one martyr in this place
Does not the blood of Lincoln appease their
vengeance and their wrath? Is their thirst
still unslaked? Do they still want more
blood2 Have they not honor and courage
enough to seek to obtain the end otherwise
than through and by the hand of an assas-
sin? l am not afraid of an assassin attack.
ing me where one brave and courageous
man will attack another. / only dread him
when in disguise, and where his footstep is
noiseless. If they want blood, let then
have the courage tc strike like mon. know
they IRE willing to wound, but afraid K
strike. If my blood is to be shed because
vindieate the Union, and insist on the pres
ervation of this Government in its original
purity, let it be shed, but let an altar TO the
Union be first erected, and then, if necessa-
ry, take me and lay me upon it, and the
blood that now warns and animates my ex-
istencc shall be poured out as the last liba-
ton as tribute to the Union of these
States. Great applause. But let the op-
ponents OF this Government remember when
it is poured out, that the blood Of the mar
tyrs is the seed Of the church. This Union
will grow, and it will continue to increase
in strength and power, though it may be
cementea and cleansed in blood. have al
ready spoken to You longer than intended
when came out. [Go on. | merely IN
tended to make my Acknowledgements Tor
the honor you have done me; but before
close, allow me to say a word in regard to
the question of amendments to the Consti-
tuition Of the United States. Shortly after
reached Washington for the purpose of be
ing inaugurated as Vice President of the
United States, l had conversation with
Mr.. Lincoln in regard to the condition OF
affairs. We talked particularly in refer
ence to matters in my own State. told
him that we had called q convention, that
we had amended the Constitution, that we
had abolished slavery in that State, which
was not included in his emancipation pro.
clamation. All these things met his appro,
baton, and he gave me words OF encourage
ment. We talked then about affairs gener.
ally, and upon the subject OF amendments tc
the Constitution of the United States. He
said: s.When the amendment Of the Con
stitution now proposed is adopted by three
fourths Of the States, am pretty near done
or indeed quite done in favor Of amending
the Constitution, if there was one Other
adopted" asked him, "What is that, Mr.
President? 81 He said, " have labored tc
preserve this Union. have tried during
the four years | have been subjected (
calumny aud Misrepresentation by grea,
and some desire has been to preserve these
States intact under the Constitution rs they
were before" l asked him anain, " Mr.
President, what amendment is that which
You would propose p "Why," said he
"it is that there should be an amendment
added to the Constitution which would com
pei the States to send their Senators and
Representatives to the Congress of thu
United States" [Great applause. Thu
idea was in his mind that, as a part of ths
doctrine Of the means to break up this Gov
eminent was that the States, il they saw
proper, might withdraw their Senators and
Representatives to Congress But what. Dc
We now find! The Constitution Of thu
country, even that portion Of it which al
lows amendments to the organic law, ex.