The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-24

and because happened to say In conversation
that thought that such and such an amend
ment was all that ought to be adopted, IL was
said that had suggested such a usurpation
of power as would have: cost king his head
In certain periodH In connection with this
subject, one has exclaimed that we are in the
.midst of earthquakes, and he trembled."
Yes, there Is IN earthquake approaching, there
Is ground-swell coming of popular judgment
and Indignation. The American people will
speak, and by their instinct, If in no other
way, know who are their friends: when and
have occupied many positions in the Govern
ment, going through both branches OF the
Legislature. Some gentleman here behind me
says, "And was a tailor" Laughter Now,
that don't affect me in the least. When l
was tailor always made close At, and was
always punctual to my customers, and did
good work.
A Voice. No patchwork.
The President. No, did not want any patch
work. But we pass by this depression Init
principles are involved, and the existence Of
my country imperilled, will, as on former
occasions, speak what | think. Yes cost
him his head Usurpation When and
where have been guilty of this? Where is
the man, in all the positions | have occupied,
from that of Alderman to the Vice-Presi-
dency, who can say that Andrew Johnson
ever made pledge that he did not redeem, or
that he acted with falsity to the peoplef
They may talk about beheading, but when
am beheaded want the American people
TO be the witness. [Cheers.l do not want,
by inundoes of an indirect character in high
places, to have one say to man who has
assassination broiling in his heart " there is
fit subject and also eXclaim that the
" Presidential obstacle must be got out of
the way, when possibly the intention was to
institute assassination. Are those who want to
destroy our institutions and change the cha
racter the Government not satisfied with
the blood that has been shed2 Are they not
satisfied with one martyr Does not the blood
of Lincoln appease the vengeance and wrath
of the opponents of this Government Is their
thirst still unslaked? Do they want more
blood Have they not honor and courage
enough 10 effect the removal OF the Presiden-
tial obstacle otherwise than through the hands
of the assassin am not afraid of assassins ;
but if it must be, / would wish to be encoun-
tered where one brave man can oppose another
hold him in dread only who strikes cowardly.
But if they have courage enough to strike like
men q know they are willing TO wound, but
they are afraid to strike); if my blood is TO be
shed because l vindicate the Union and the
preservation of this Government in its origi-
nal purity and character, let it be so but when
it is done, let an altar of the Union be erected,
and then, if necessary, lay me upon it, and
the blood that now warns and animates my
frame shall be poured out in last libation as
tribute to the Union, [great cheering; j and
Der that when it is poured out, the blood of the
martyr will be the seed of the church The
Union will grow. 1t will continue to increase
in strength and power, though it may be &C.
mented and cleansed with blood.
have talked longer, my countrymen, than
intended. With many Acknowledgements for
the honor you have done me, 1 will say one
word in reference to the amendments to the
Constitution OF the United States. Shortly
after reached Washington for the purpose of
l,o;,, ,,,ar tod hoH n
conversation with Mr.. Lincoln. We were
talking about the condition of affairs, and i'll
reference to matters in my own State. l said
we had called a convention and demanded
constitution abolishing slavery in the State,
which provision was not contained in the
Presidents proclamation. This met with his
appreciation, and he gave me encouragement.
In talking upon the subject of amendments to
the Constitution, he said, " When the amend
ment to the Constitution now proposed is
adopted by three fourths of the States, /
should be pretty nearly or quite done as
regards forming amendments to the Constitu
tion-if there should be one other adopted"
I asked what that other amendment sug-
gested was, and he replied, 81 have labored
to preserve this Union. L have toiled four
years. l have been subjected to calumny and
Misrepresentation, and my great and sole desire
has been to preserve these States intact under
the Constitution, as they were before; and
there should be an amendment to the Constitu
ton which would compel the States to send
their senators ana representatives 10 the IOn-
gress of the United States" He saw, as part
of the doctrine of secession, that the States
could, if they were prepared, withdraw their
Senators and Representatives; and he wished
to remedy this evil by the adoption of the
amendment suggested. Even that portion OF
the Constitution which differs from other
organic law says that no State shall be deprived
of its representation. We now find the posi-
ton taken that States shall not be recognized
that we will impose taxation and where
"a N ba 40 tn
elect from thence are met at the door, and
told, "No; you must pay taxes, but you can
not participate in Government which is to
affecLyou for all time Is this just3 Voices
" No! "No !"1 We see then where we are
going. / repeat that l am for the Union. l
am for preserving all the States. They may
have erred, but let us admit those into the
councils of the nation who are Enthusiastically
loyal. Let the man who acknowledges allie
glance to the Government, and swears 10 sup
port the Constitution, he cannot do this in
good faith unless he is loyal no amplification
of the oath can make any difference; 1t is
mere detail, which i care nothing about let
him be unquestionably loyal to the Constitu-
ton of the United States and its Government,
and willing TO support 1t in its peril, and am
willing to trust him. / know that some do not
attach so much Importance TO the principle ms
do. One principle that carried US through
the revolution was, that there should be no
taxation without representation. hold that
that principle which was laid down by our
fathers for the country's good then is impor-
tant TO its good now. If it was worth bat
thing for then it is worth battling for now. 1t
is fundamental, and should be preserved so
long as our Government lasts. know Ii was
said by some during the rebellion that the
Constitution had been rolled up rs piece of
parchment, and should be put away, and that
in time of rebellion there was no Constitution.
But 1t is now unfolding; ii must now be read
and adjusted and understood by the American
people.
come here to-day TO vindicate, in so far as
can in these remarks, the Constitution Ito
save it, as / believe for it does seem that
encroachment after encroachment is TO be
pressed and as resist encroachments on the
Government, stand to-day prepared TO resist
encroachments on the Constitution, and
thereby preserve the Government. 1t is now
peace and let us have peace. Let us enforce
the Constitution. Let US live under and by its
provisions Let it be published in blazoned
characters, as though IL were in the heavens,
so that all may read and all may understand
it, Let us consult that instrument, and,
understanding its principles, let US apply them.
l tell the opponents of this Government,
and / care not from what quarter they
come, east or west, north or south, lyon that
are engaged in the work of breaking up this
Government are mistaken. The Constitution
and the principles Of free government are
deeply rooted in the American heart" All
the powers combined, ! care not OF what
character they are, cannot destroy the image
of Freedom. They may succeed for time,