The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-03-02
EXTRAORDINARY SPEECH OF PREsI.
DENT JOHNSON.


unless in the character ot arcportcr or locker
on. twas massing of all the coPpcrhcads
and traitors who could be gathered in Wash
inston, and was engineered by those who did
their utmost to throw the issue Of war into
the hands Of the rebels. Sixteen resolutions
were adopted that would have been appropri.
ate ten years ago, IL made by q South Carolina
Convention Of Democrats. Report, which we
are slow to believe, says they were submitted
to Mr.. johnson and were not vetoed. The
rabble then adjourned to the White House,
when Mr.. johnson appeared and addressed
them substantially as follows:
lie said he stood before them to day rs he did
in the Senate in 1870, to denounce traitors. Then
there were two parties, one Tor destroying the
Government To preserve slavery, and the other TO
break up the government To destroy slavery. The
objects To be accomplished were different, IL Is
true. but they agreed in one thing that was the
breaking up OF the government. They agreed in
the destruction of the government the precise
thing which have already stood up to oppose,
whether the disunionists come from the South or
the North Istand now where did then, TO vim
dictate the Union Of these States aud the Constitu-
Referring To tn, close Of the war, and disband-
ing of the Rebel armies, he said that they come
forward now in spirit OF magnanimity, and say
thatthcy now acknowledge the flag of our country,
obedience to the constitution and the supremacy
Of the Law.
| say then. when you have yielded to the law.
when you acknowledge your allegiance to the
government. am ready to open the doors of the
Union and restore you to your old relations to the
government of our fathers Let them repent, and
let them acknowledge their allegiance. Let them
become loyal and willing supporters and defend
OF our glorious stripes and stars and the con-
ststutOn of our country.
Let their leaders, the conscious intelligent trai.
tors, suffer the penalty OF the law, but for the
great mass, who were forced into the rebellion,
AID misled by their leaders, ! say leneney, kind
ness, trust and confidence. We find that By an
irresponsible central directory nearly all the pow
ers of government are assumed without even con-
sulting the legislative or executive departments
OF the government. Yes, aud by resolution re-
ported committee upon whom all the legislative
powers OF government have been conferred, that
principle in the Constitution which authorizes
and empowers each branch Of the legislative de-
partment to be judges of the election and qualiii-
cations of its own members, has been virtually
taken away from those departments AMI confer
red upon n committee who must report before
they can act under the constitution, and allow
members duly elected to take their seats.-By
this rule they assume that there must be laws
that there must be recognition In respect To n
State in the Union with oil its practical relations
restorcd-be!Ore the respective Houses of Con.
gress, under the Constitution, can judge OF the
election and qualifications of its own members.
l am free 10 say TO you as your Executive am
not prepared to take such position. said in
the Senate. in anticipation Of the rebellion, that
these States had no right to GO out. The question
has been settled. cannot turn round and give
the lie direct. (Applause.) say, when they
III Al n -.
evidence of loyalty, and can be trusted aud yield
obedience to law, l will take by the right hand of
fellowship aul let peace and the Union bc restOr
ell. (Applause) AS one who has swaycd round
the circle, have opposed tho Dayises aud the
TOombscs and the Slidels. and now when l turn
round the other end of the line find mcn-l
care not by what name you call thcm-opposed
to the Union of States, but am now, as hereto.
tore, for the Representation Of these States and
tho restoration OF the Union, and am in favour Of
this Government "a voice in the crowd said
something not clearly audible TO the reporter, To
which the President rcpled.) might mention q
n great many names, and suppose may be called
upon, as the President of the United States or rs
n citizen, TO say who are the most prominent In
hbOring to destroy the government. | mention
three of them-rhaddcus Stevens. of Pennsylya.
MIA, Charles Sumner, Of the Senate, and Wendell
Phillips. (Long aul continued chccriug.)-
(Voice-"Give it to Forney!0 In reply to that,
| will simply say. | do not waste my ammunition
ON dead cocks. (Grcat laughter and applause.)
stand by my country. (Yoices-"We know
you do; you always have; bully for you.) Island
by the Constitution, where placed my foot when
I entered into public life, and no traducing and
SANDER and yituperation shall influence my fu
turc conduct. In addition TO this, do not intend
TO be oyerawed hy real or pretended friends, nor
do l intendto be bullied by my enemies (applause)
for expressing an honest conviction ofmy judy
mcnt in reference to amendments to the consti.
tuition. IL was not only insinuated but said di'
rectly in a high place. that IL such usurpation
of power had been exercised about two hundred
years ago by n sovereign in England, he would
have lost his head. (Laughter.) What usurpa
ton has Andrew Johnson been guilty Off (Voi
ces. "None, none. The only usurpltiOn OF
which he Is guilty is standing between the people
and encrOachments or power-(applause)- land
because darei say in conversation with SEN
atOr that thought amendments To the cOnstitu-
ton ought not 10 be 80 frequent, and that was
opposed to them because the original instrument
might be weakened IL not destroyed, was charg-
ell with an usurpation of power such rs would
have cost king his head; (laughtcr)-and it was
subsequently, said by the same gentleman that the
earth quakel around him and he coald not yield.
CLauchter.) Yes, my cOuntrymen there is an
earthquake coming.
He challenged assertion that he had ever actel
otherwise than in fidelity to the great mass Of the
people, ard added They may talk about beheaa
ing and uSurpatiOn, but when | am beheaded
want the American people 10 WItucss ls 40 uOt
want by inuendoes, By Indirect remarks, in high
places. 10 see the man who has assassination
broodng in his bosom. excaim, this PresiJen-
tial obstacle must be gotten out Of the way and
| make use of very strong expression when say
that have no doubt the intention was to incite
assassination. and So get out OF the way the OBJ
stacle from place and power. Whether by nssas-
snatiOn or not, there are individuals in this Cow
ernmeut who want To destroy our institutions,
and change the character Of the Government.
Have they not got honor enough TO attain their
objects otherwise than by the hands Of the as
slssin!
No! No! lam not afraid OF assassius attack
Ing me where brave and courageous man would
attack another. only dread him when he would
go in disguise, his footsteps noiseess. IL II Is
blood they want, let them have courage enough
10 strike Ike men. They are willing to wound
they are afraid to strike. IL my blood is to be
shed because yindicate Union and preservation
of Government in its original purity and charac-
ter let il be she'd Let an altar To Union be erect
cl. and then il il is necessary, take me and lay
me upon IL, and the blool that now warns and
auimates my existence shall be poured out rs fit
libation To the Union of these States. hut let op
moments Of Government remember when IL is pour
ell out, "The blood of the martyrs will be the seed
of the church." This Union will grow, II will
continue To increase in strength aud power,
though il may be cementci aud clcansed with
blood.
ANOTHER WITNESS FROA Illr Sorru. - y
Washington correspondent says that Gen.
Grants unst trustel aid Col, Eli Parker. the In