Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-25
the rRxsrDENT-s SPEECH.

TILE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
The President has spoken again. The
occasion was the meeting of the Washington
Monument Association, on the 22d inst
the President Of the United States being cr
otEcio, the President Of the Association. We
E presume that few reading men in the cOun-
try Gail TO know, even in this brief lapse Of
time what he said, and the manner Of its
saying. 1t is one Of that species Of deliy-
erances which make their mark, and
affect alike the present and the future II
Is key note ringing clear and loud, for the
gathering Of the clans. 1t is the pibroch
sounding over the hills, and the chief al
ready hears the tramp of the coming
thousands.
We are for preserving intact the dignity
Of the Presidency Of this great government,
and will be slow to give countenance to any
thing that viii impair it. There may be
those who think that this bold and decisive
utterance by President JOHNSON was alike
untimely and iII-tempered, but not SO do we.
When all the circumstances are reviewed,
fastidious criticism will waste itself in vain
against the time, the temper, and the style Of
this remarkable address
The occasion was ct for the seven
teenth President to reannounce as the guild
ing principles Of his administration the
precepts Of the first; the condition of the
country justifes the freedom and unreserve
which characserizes il the solieitude Of the
people regarding the posture Of affairs rem
ders its plain speaking acceptable; the ext
gency demands the emphasis ofits language.
The sagacity Of the speaker had noted all
these considerations, and the good sense of
the people win vindicate it.
This speech will exert an influence
throughout the country. II win destroy the
trade of time-serving tricksters in politics,
and require an outspoken esponsal Of sides
in the great conflict which it proclaims. In
this respect it is as significant as the call for
troops in April, 1861. The factious element
in Congress have been abusing their acct
dental power TO the destruction Of the Con-
stitutisn, and have set on foot a mutiny
against the principles Of popular liberty.
The President has reasoned and demonstrated
with them, but their andaciousavowals leave
him no alternative bui that he has adopted.
The struggle was virtually commenced in
December, when, forestalling the message Of
the Executive, the revolutionary leaders as
sumed TO judge for themselves OF the state of
the nation, and have since persisted in their
selfish and ambitious views. The wise and
conservative suggestions fthe message were
Their thrown to the winds-the sense Of the
people manifested in various ways has since
been treated opr naught-the constitutional
interposition Of the Executive veto has
lately been denounced as usurpation-the
arrogan. leaders Of faction have threatened
impeachment Of the Chief Magistrate, and
limited at historical parallels which mean a
bloody and more summary punishment for
his contumacy-a blinded with malice
and passion they seem determined to
assume imperial power over the people, and
convert the Government into despotism.
The President, invested with responsible
ties which have seldom fallen to the lotofa any
one man, has labored earnestlr- to avert the
state Of things which he so powerfully points
out in his late speech. Every human motive
impelled him to desire a sincere and cordial
cooperation with the legislative branch of the
Government. When he assumed the helm
Of State the war had ceased, and he fell heir
10 the work which was first in the mind OF
his predecessor, for all win now concede
that the last throb of Mr.. Linooln's heart
beat for restoration--a restoration having its
basis in the attachment and affection of the
people for the Government Perhaps they
both feared that the most difficult feature Of
their task would be the reconciliation of the
people. If so, the sequel has shown that
they were mistaken. The spectacle exhibited
by the lately recusant portion Of the
American people is the most sublime in the
annals Of history, and win be 50
pronounced when the passions of the hour
have passed away. The philosophic stu
dent of government may note their conduct
as perhaps the most striking exempi6cation
yet given Of mans capacity for sclf-govern-
ment President JOHNSON has seen brave
and high-spirited people impressed with
the Justice OF the cause in which they fought,
surrender and accept the conditions of de-
feat and tender to the government their