The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1866-09-12
PRESIDENT J0HNSON'S SPEECH AT
CLEVELAND.

FELLOW CITIZENS OF CLEVELAND
1t is not for the purpose of making a
speech l came here tonight. 1 am aware
Of the great curiosity that exists on the
part Of strangers in reference to seeing
individuals WHO are here amongst u.s.
Louder You must remember there aro
a good many people here tonight, and it
requires a great voice to reach the utmost
verge Of this vast audience. l have used
my voice 70 constantly for some days past
that | don't know as l shall be able to
make you all hear, but l will do my best
10 make myself heard.
What l am going TO say is There is a
large number here who would like to see
General Grant, and hear him speak, and
hear what he would have to say but the
fact is General Grant is not here. He is
extremely i'll. His health will not per.
mi: of his appearing before this audience
to night. 1t would DO q great pleasure to
me to see him here and have him speak
than to make a speech of my own. So
then it will not he expected that he will
be here tonight, and you cannot SEQ him
on account of his extreme indisposition.
Fellow Citizens In being before you
tonight it is not for the purpose of ma
king a speech, but simply to make your
acquaintance, and while I am telling you
how to do, and at the same time tell you
good bye. We are here tonight on our
tour towards a sister State for the purpose
of participating in and witnessing the
laying of the chief corner stone over a
monument to one Of our fellow citizens
who is no more. 1t is rot necessary for
me to mention the name of Stephen A..
Douglas to the citizens of Ohio. 1t is q
name familiar to you all, and being on a
tour to participate in tho ceremonies, and
passing through your State and section Of
country and witnessing the demonstration
and manifestation of regard and respect
which has been paid me, 1 nm free to say
to you that so far as | am concerned, aud
I think-I am speaking for all the compa-
uy, when l say we feel-extremely gratifed
and fatterod at the demonstration made
by the country through which wo have
passed and in being Aattered, l want to
state at the same time that l don't con-
slider that entirely personal, but as evi.
dence Of what 10 prevailing tho public
mind, that there is o great issue before
the country, and that this demonstration
Of feeling, is moro than anything else, an
indication of a deep interest among the
great mass of the people in regard to all
these great questions that agitate the
public mind. In coming before you to.
night, Icomc before you IS an American
citizen, uud not simply as your Chief
Magistrate. l claim to be a citizen Of
the Southern States, and an inhabitant Of
Of one Of the States of the Union. I
know that it has been said, and conten.
ded for, on the part Of some, that l was
an ALLEN, for l did not reside in any one
Of the States Of the Union, and therefore
| could not be Chief Magistrate, though
the States declared | was. But oil that
was necessary was simply to introduce a
resolution declaring the Office vacant or
depose the occupant, or under some pre-.
text, to prefer articles Of impeachment,
and the individual who occupies the Chief
Magistracy would be dopOscd and do
privcd Of power! Is IS lot.