Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-08-30


bled in the United States. EGreat applause.
When ! look with my mind's eye upon that
collection of citizens, coming together vol
unfairly and sitting in council with ideas,
with principles, and views commensurate
with all the States, and coextensive with
the whole people, and contrast it with the
collection Of gentlemen who are trying to
destroy the country, regard it as more
important than any Convention that has sat,
at least, since 1877. Loud cheers.
81 think / may say also that the declara-
tions that were there made are equal to the
Declaration Of Independence itself, and
here to-day | pronunce it q second Declara-
ton of Independence. Cries Of 'Glori-
ous,' and most enthusiastic and prolonged
applause Your address and declarations
are nothing more nor less than reafirna-
ton of the Constitution of the Uaited States.
TCries of "good." and cheers Yes, | viii
go farther, aud say that the declarations
you have made, that the principles you have
enunciated in your address are second
proclamation Of emancipation to the people
of the United States. Renewed applause. ]
For, in proclaiming and re-proelaiming
these great truths you have laid down q
constitutional platform upon which all can
make common cause ard stand together for
the restoration of the States and preserya-
ton of the Government, without reference TO
party. The question only is the salvation
Of the country, for our country rises above
all party considerations or Influences
[Cries of "good" and cheers.
How many are in the United States that
now require to be free that bear the shaokles
upon their limbs and are bound as rigidly
as though they were in fact in slavery |
repeat, then, that your declaration is the
second proclamation to the people of the
United States, and offers a common ground
upon which all patriots can stand
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen--Letm me in
this connection ask you who has done more
for the advancement of the public welfare
than /? / am as much opposed to indul-
gence of egotism as any one, but here in q
conversational manner, while formally re-
ceiving the proceedings Of this Convention,
l may be permitted to ask what have | to
gain in human ambition more than have
gained! My race is nearly run. | have
been placed in high Office which [ occupy
under the Constitution, and may say have
held almost every position from the lowest
to the highest which man may attain in
your Government. I have passed through
every position, from alderman of village
to the Presidency, and surely, gentlemen,
this should be enough to satisfy reasonable
ambition. If wanted office, Or wished to
perpetuate my own power, how easy it
would have been to hold and WELD that
which was placed in my hands by the
measures called Freedmen's Bureaus.
Laughter and applause. With an army,
which it placed at my disposal, could have
remained at the capital of the United States,
and with its $50 ,00O 900 or sec, ZOO, coo of
appropriation at my disposal, with the ma
chinery to be worked by my own hands,
with my satraps and dependents in every
town aud village, and then with the Civil
Rights Bill following as auxiliary,
laughter, in connection with all the other
appliances of Government, | could have
proclaimed myself Dictator. [Cries of
"That's true" and "Three cheers for the
President" But, gentlemen, my pride
and my ambition have been to occupy that
position which retains all power in the
hands of the people. Great cheering.
1t is upon that | have always relied; it is
upon that J rely now. A voice, "And the
people will not disappoint you."] And
repeat that neither the threats nor jeers of
Congress, nor of a eliminating press, can
drive me from my purpose. | acknowledge
no superior except my God, the author of
my existence, and the people CT the United
States. Prolonged and enthusiastic cheer
ing. For the one, | try to obey all his
commands as best can compatible with my
poor humanity; for the other, in a political
and representative sense the high behests
Of the people have always been respected
and obeyed by me. Loud cheers.
MIR. Chairman, 1 have said more than l
intended. For kind illusions to myself
contained in your address and resolutions
adopted by the Convention, let me remark
that in the crisis and at this period Of my
public life hold above all price, and shall
ever recur with feelings of profound graft
fication, to the last resolution containing
ing spontaneously from the great mass of
the people Loud cheers. | hope that
my future action may be such that you and
the Convention may not regret the assur-
ances you have expressed of me. Cries of
"We are sure of it."l Before parting, my
friends, one and all, committee and
strangers, please accept my thanks for the
kind manifestations, for the regard and re-
Specb you nave eXnIOlJeu on InlS OCCASION
Irepeat shall always continue to be guided
by firm and conscientious conviction of
duty, and that always gives the courage,
under the Constitution, which I make my
guide.
At the conclusion of the Presidents re-
marks, three cheers were enthusiastically
given for Andrew Johnson, and three more
for General Grant.
The President and General Grant then
retired arm in arm, and the committee and
audience commenced to disp rise.