Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1866-03-02

Po"eis comDlneu, care not OF Wnat
character they are, cannot destroy the
image of Freedom. They may succeed
for time, but their attempts will be flu
tile. They may as well attempt to lock
up the winds or chain the waves. Yes,
they may as well attempt to repeal it,
Gas it would seem the Constitution can
BED by concurrent resolution but
when tits submitted to the popular judg-
ment, they will find it just as we'll TO in
troduce resolution repeating the law Of
gravitation and the idea of preventing
the restoration of the Union is about as
feasible as resistance to the great law of
gravity which binds all to great COM
mon centre. This great law of gravita-
ton will bring back those States to har-
mony and their relations to the Federal
Government, and all Vaccinations North
and South cannot prevent It. Cheers.
All that is wanting is time. until the
American people can understand what is
going on, and be ready to accept the view
Just as itappears to me- Iwould to God
that the whole American people could be
assembled here to-day as you are. /
SoutA Wioh w hdNC dH ihA EO
enough to contain the whole thirty mil
lions; that they could be here and wit
ness the great struggle to preserve the
Constitution of our fathers. They could
at once see what it is, and how it is, and
what kind of spirit is manifested in the
attempt to destroy the great principles of
free government; and they could UNDER
stand who is for them and who is against
them, and who was for ameliorating their
condition. Their opposers could be
placed before them, and there might DO
regular contest, and in the first tilt tho
enemies of the country would be crushed.
| have detained you longer than | intend
ed; but in this struggle am your in
strument. Where is the man or woman,
in private or public life, that has not al
ways received my attention and my time2
Sometimes it is said, ''that man johnson
is lucky man." l will tell you what
constitutes good fortune. Doing right
and being for the people The people in
some particular or other, notwithstand-
ing their sagacity and judgment, are fire.
quently moderated or underestimated.
but somehow or other the great mass of
the people will find out who a. ssjr them
and who is against them. Yonfhust in
dulge me in this allusion when say I
can lay my hand on my bosom and say
that in all the positions in which I have
been placed-many of them as trying as
any in which mortal man could be put
so far, thank God, have not deserted
the people, nor do believe they will
desert me. What sentiment have I
swerved from? Can my calumniators
put their finger upon it? Can they dare
indicate discrepancy or deviation from
principle?
Have you heard them at any time
quote my predecessor, who fell martyr
to his cause, as coming in controversy
with anything advocated An in
scrutable Providence saw proper to re-
move him to, trust, a better world
than this, and l came into power.
Where is there one principle in reference
to this restoration that | have departed
from Then the war is not simply upon
me, but it is upon my predecessor.
have tried to do my duty. know some
are jealous in view of the White House,
and say that all fummery has as little
influence on me as it had heretofore.
The conscious satisfaction Of having
performed my duty to my country, my
children, and my God, is all the reward
which shall ask.
In conclusion Of what have to say,
let me ask this vast concourse, this sea
of upturned faces, to so with me--or L
will go with you--and stand around the
Constitution of our country; it is again
unfolded, and the people are invited to
read and understand it, and to maintain
its provisions. Let us stand by tho
principles of our fathers, though the
heavens fall; and then, though factions
array their transient forces to give
yitupcration after vituperation in tho
most virulent manner, | intend to stand
by the Constitution as the chief ark Of
our safety, as the palladium Of our civi.
and religious liberty. Yes, let us cling
to it as the mariner clings to the last
plank when the night and the tempest
close around him.
Accept my thanks, gentlemen, for the
indulgence you have given me in my
extemporaneous remarks. Let us go on,
forgetting the past and looking only
upon the future, and trusting in Him
that can control al! that is on high and
here below, and hoping that hereafter
our Union will be restored, and that we
will have peace on earth and good will
towards men.
The President then retired amid
storm of applause and congratulations.
CHANGES IN THE CABINET gen.
orally distrust rumors Of changes in the
Cabinet, and give little heed 10 them