Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet., 1866-03-01
The Presidents Late speech.

very large concourse OF his fellow
citizens at Growers Theatre in Wash
ington on the 22d inst. His speech
was reiteration, in more forcible
and unmistakable language, if posi-
BILE, than he had ever given utterance
to before, of his views and opinions
upon the prominent political ques
tions engrossing the attention of the
people. 1t was masterly and tell
ing effort of statesmanlike ability
and elected the most enthusiastic ap
probation and applause.
The President most nobly and
manfully takes up the gauntlet
thrown him by the Radicals in as
well as out of Congress, and plainly
tells them that their course is revolu-
tionary. He stands by his princi-
pies and policy of Union restoration,
and denounces the Radical pro.
gramme OF Legislation with all of its
specious attempts at Constitutional
emendation, as tending plainly to
disunion, strife and anarchy. He
said
| stand to-day prepared as far as I
can to resist these encroachments up.
on the Constitution and Government.
| tell the opponents Of this Govern
ment care not from what quarter
they come, you who are engaged in
the work of breaking up the Govern
ment by amendments to the Consti-
tuition, that the princip Piles of free
Government are deeply rooted in the
American heart. All the powers,
combined, I care not of what charac.
ter, cannot destroy that great instru-
ment-the great character of free
dom. They may seem to succeed
for time, but their attempts will be
futile. They may think now that it
can be done by concurrent resolu-
ton, but when it is submitted to the
popular will, they will find that they
might as well have undertaken to
introduce resolution to repeal the
laws of gravity as to keep this Union
from being restored. 1t is just about
as feasible to resist the great law of
gravitation, which binds all to COM
mon centre as that great law which
will bring back these States to their
relations with the Union. IA
In alluding to those who were en-
acting the part of leaders in the
Radical ranks, he was called upon to
give names, which he proceeded to
do in no mincing manner:
A gentleman calls for their names.
Well, suppose | should give them.
"a voice-We know them [ look
upon them, l repeat it, President or
citizen, opposed as much to the fund
amental principles or this Govern
ment, and believe they are as much |
laboring to prevent or destroy them
as the men who fought against us. |
"a voice-Who are their names p |
| say Thad. Stevens, of Pennsylva- |
MIA, Tremendous applause) / say
Charles Sumner (Great applause,) 1 |
say Wendell Phillips and others of |
the same stripe are all amongst them.
"a voice-Give it to Forney.) EE |
Some gentlemen in the crowd says
"give it to Forney." I have only to
say that | do not waste my ammuni-
ton upon dead ducks. Laughter
and applause.) I stood for my coun-
try. l stand for the Constitution,
whereon placed my foot from my
entrance upon public life. They
may slander. They may vituperate,
but let me say to you that it has no
effect upon me. Cheers.) Let me
say in addition, that I do not intend
to be bullied by enemies. (Applause,
and cry "the people will support
you.")
He insists upon the constitutional
right of all the States to equal repre-
sentation, as illustrated by the re-
fusal of Congress to admit loyalm
bers from the Southern States, whilst
laws are enacted and enforced to
compel the people of those States to
pay taxes in support Of the Govern
ment.
The Presidents speech has fallen
like bombshell in the ranks of the
ultras. The lofty position he has