The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-08-20
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
MORNING DISPATCHES.

speech 10 the Committee from the
Philadelphia Convention-He Pro.
p0unees the Platform y Second DE.
clarntiOn OF Independence.
WASHINGTON, August 1S.-There was q
great crowd to-day to hear the President
in response to Hon. Reyerdy johnson, who
presented the official proceedings of the
Philadelphia Convention. Referring with
feeling to the scene represented of South
Carolina aud Massachusetts entering the
Convention together, the President said he
was overcome, and could not but conclude
that an overruling Providence was direct
ing us Alright. He said:
our brave men have performed their duties In
the field, and have won iaurels imperishable but
are greater and more important duties 10 perform,
and while we have had their cooperation In the
feld. we now need their efforts to perpstua,e
peace. IApplause. The Executive Department
had tried TO pour oil on the wounds and restore
the Union, but it had not entirely succeeded. We
have seen, he said. in one department OF the 60,
vernment every effort to prevent the restoration OF
peace and harmony In the Union. We have seen
hanging upon the verge OF the Government, as u
were. \ body called, or which assumes to be. the
" Congress of the United States, while, IN fact,
it is Congress Of only part OF the States. We have
Union when Its every step and act tended to per
p.tuate disunion and make IA disruption Of tn"
States inevitable. Instead Of promoting harmony
and reconciliation, its legislation has partken OF
the character of penalties, aion aad rayengs
This has been the course and policy, of one por;
ton of your Government. The humble individual
who is move addressing you stands as the represent
tstive OF another department OF the Government.
The manner in which he was called upon to oc-
cupy that position shall not alluds TO Oh this
occasion Suffice 1t to say that he is here under
the Constitution OF the country, and being here
by virtue OF It's provisions he taxes S his stand upon
of civil and religious liberty. Prolonged cheer,
ing Having been taught in my early life to hold
nsred and hsyng pp6S a at pss
tinue 10 reverence the Constitution of my fathers,
and to make it my guide. Hearty apPiause.l
that he had ever been tyrannical or despot. Such
charges, he said, were simply intended to deceive
and deludc the public mind into the belief that
there is some one in power who is usurpng and
upon rights secured by the Constitution.
1t is done by those who make such charges for the
OF Hs'T e n~h nc g ia rnd
cation of the principles and Constitution OF my
country, to ca the attention Of my counrymen to
who has been playing the tyrant, by, whom do
wc find despotism exercised a.? As to myself,
neither the elements OF my nature nor the pursuits
of my life have made me either in my feelings or
in nv practice oppressive. Ny nature, on the CON
trary, Is rather defensive in its character. But
will say that, having taken my stand gron the
there is not power enough on earth to drive me
from 1t Loud and prolonged applansel Having
not been awed, or dismayed. or inundated, ether
by threats or encroachments, but have stood there,
in conjunction with patriotic spirits sounding the
I1es. Of alarm wien aesgs 'Ie c"lvA
| said on a previous occasion, and repeat now,
that all that was necessary In this great struggle
sufficiently audible for the American people to
hear and properly understand: They did hear,
and looking on and seeing who the contestants
were, and what the struggle was about, they de-
termined that they would settle this question on
the side of tho Constitution and of principle.
proc lain here to- day, as have on previous occa-
sions III at lay faith in the great mass of the people
in the darkest hour of this struggle, when the
clouds seemed to be most lowering-my faith, in
stead of giving way, doomed up through the cloud,
beyond which saw that all would be well in the
end.
BY countrymen, we all know that tyranny and
despotsm, in the language of Thomas Jefferson
can be exercised and exerted more effectively by
the many than by one. We have seen II Congress
gradually encroach step by step, and violate day
tiOnal rights and the fundamental principles Of the
Government. We have seen Congr. 81 that seemed
Ia forget there Il limit to their sphere and scope
OF legislation. We have seen Congress in mi
nority assume to exercise power which, il al
lowed to be carried out would result in despo;ism
ar monarchy itself. This Is the truth and because
others as well as myself have seen proper to APP
peal to the patriotism and republican feeling Of
the country, we have been denounced In the
ton upon vituperaton, Of the most violent charac
ter, has made its way through the press. What,
Rentlrncll, has been your and my sin? What has
been the cause Of our offending? will tell you ::
Daring To stand by the Constitution of our fathers
| consider the proceedings "t this Convention
more important than those Of any convention that
ever assembled in the United States. tGreat APP
plause.l When look with my minds eye upon
that collection Of items. coming together volnn-
tarly, and sitting in council. with ideas, with
principles, and views CONNIE nsurate with all the
States, and co-extensivo with the whole people,
a are trying to destroy the country rsard IT
more important than any convention that has sat
ut least since 1871. Renewed applause. ] think
may also say that the declarations that were
there made are equal with the Declaration Of In
dependence itself: and here to-day pronounced
them second Declaration Of Independence
prolonged applause. Your address and declar.
lions are nothing more nor les than reaihrma
ton of the Constitution Of the United States Yes
go farther, and say that the declarations you have
made, the principles you have enumerated IN your
Sddr.s, are SseSn al OF
applause For in proclamns and reproc tanning
these great truths you have laid down conStitu
cause and stand united together for the restoration
Of the states and the preservation If the Govern
ment without reference to party. The only ques
try rises above all party considerations or inlu-
eiccs How many are there in the United States
shackles upon their limbs and are bound y, rigdly
though they were In fact in slavery. | repeat.
then, that your declaration Is the second procla-
nation OF emancipation 10 the people of the United
States, and offers a common ground upon which
all parties can stand tApplause.l
Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, let me, in this
the advancement Of the public welfare? am -
much opposed to the Indulgence Of eg"tism as any
one; but here, In conversational manner, while
formally receiving the proceedings Of this Con
yention. ] may be permitted again In ask what
have to gain, by consulting human ambtioH. more
ia | have laau IA ca1 n hp iyha off ra
which occupy under the Constitution of the coun-
try, and may say that have held, from the
xes 10 ny aEn ou
surely, gentlemen, this should be enough to crafty
reasonable ambition. If wanted authority, or
il would have been to hold and WELD that which
was placed IN my hands by the measure called 1.-The
s
could have remained at the capital of the ma
tion, and with nifty sixty millions Of appropriations
by my saraps and dependents in evsry town and
village; and then, with the Civil Rights bill fol-
lowing M an auxiliary [laushterl, In connection
could have proclaimed myself Dictator. But,
gentlemen, my pride and my ambition have been
TO occupy that position which retains all power in
always relied. 1t is upon that rely now !; and !
repeat that neither the taunts nor jeers az Con-
gress, nor OF d subsdzed, calumniating, press ian
acknow ledge no superior except my God, the an
thor OF my ex stence and the people OF the United
States. Prolonged and enthusiastic cheering
For the one, Try to obey all His commands as best
can compatible with my poor humanity. For
the high behests Of the people have always been
respected and obeyed by me; Applause.
Mr.. Chairman. have said more than had In
tended to say. For the kind allusion to myself
contained In your address, and in the resolutions
adopted by the Convention, let me remark that, In
this crisis and ut the present period OF my public
with feelings Of profound qualification, to tho las,
resolution, containing the endorsement of Il Con-
vention emanating spontaneously from the grea,
mass Of the people. | trust and hope that my fu-
tura action NAV he auch that Won and tina COnyan-