New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-08-23

| puDiII SefFdnL whose 1odl ASSASSINATION touched
the heart of the civilized world with grief and
horror. You have been false if you have not
| eneeayored to carry out the same policy: and,
| judged now by the opposite one which Congress
has pursued, its wisdom and patriotism are vindi-
Gated by the fact that Congress has but continued
a broken Union by keeping ten Of the States in
which at one time the insurrectiOn existed cause
| you t. adhere if possible with even greater firm
ness to the course which you are pursuing, by sat
lstyng you that the people are with you, and that
tine wish which lies nearest to their hearts, is that
! perfect restoration of our Union at the earliest
moment be attained, and a conviction that that
! result can be only accomplished by the measures
WDlCn you are pursuing, andin discharge Of duties
which these measures deYOlve, we as it did every
member os the convention, again, for ourselves
Individually, tender our profound respect and as
surance OF our cordial and sincere support. With
! a reunited Union, with no foot but treedmans to
be permitted to tread on our soil, with industry
| redeemed, with a naton's faith, pledged forever
to strict observance of all Obligations, with the
| kindness of eternal love everywhere prevailing
| the desolations of war will soon be removed,
its sacrifice of life sad, as they have been
will with christian resignation be preferred
to provdential purpose of fixing our bereaved
country firm and endurable-whiGh will forever
place our liberty beyond reach of peril. Thenand
forever will our government challenge the admira-
ton and receive the respect Of the nations of the
| earth, and be in no danger of any efforts to i'm
peach our honor. Permit me, sir in conclusion
to add that great as is your soicitude for the re-
to that end, you have also WatChful eye to the
rights of the nation, and every attempt by an as
sumed or actual foreign power to enforce an ile-
gal blockade against the government or good citi-
zens Of the United States, 10 use your own mild
but expressive words, " will be disregarded.n In
this determination am sure you will receive the
unanimous approval of your felow-citizens.
Now, as the chairman of this committee and in
behalf Of the convention, / have the honor to
present you with an authenticated copy Of its
proceedings.
The allusion in the above address to the deter
mination of our government TO disregard the at.
tempt of an assumed or actual foreign power to
enforce an illegal blockade caused loud and con
tinued cheering. On the conclusion Of Mr.
Johnson's address, the president, received the au
thenticated copy of the proceedings OF the con
yenton. and said:
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen of the convention
Language is inadequate to express the emotions
and feelings produced by this occasion. Perhaps
/ could express more by permitting silence L
speak, and you to infer what [ ought to say.
confess that notwithstanding the experience hay
had in public life the words yoHhave addressed L
me on this occasion, and this assembage, ar
well calculated to and do OYerwhelm me. As
have said, have not language to convey ade
quately my present feelings and emotions. Il
listening to the address which your eloquent am
distinguished chairman has just delivered, the pro
ceedngs of the convention as they transpiret
recalled to my mind seemingly and partool
of the inspiration that prevailed in the con
vention. When l read a dispatch by two of it
distinguished members conveying in terms til,
scene which has just been described of South Car
olna 7and Massachusetts,, arm and arm marchiuE
into the vast assemblage, and thus giving evidence
that the extremes had come together and that fO
the future they We're united as they had been il
the past for the preservation of the Union: whel
the dispatch informed me in that vast body Of mel
distinguished for intellect and wisdom, every on
was sufused with tears on beholaing the scene,
could not tnishreadng the dispatch to one so asso
catedwith me in the office, for my own feeling
I {plNh flNT
cude, are moving under proper inspire
/ ton, and that we need not be mistaken, an
that the favor Of an overruling and unerriDg Prov
dence is in this matter. cloud cheers.) We hav
2 Just passed through a mighty, bloody and
momentous ordeal. Yet we do not find ourselve
free from the difficulties and dangers that at firE
surrounded us. While our brave men have pc
formed their duties, both officers and men, (turl
b ing to Gen. Grant, who stood on his right) Will
t, they have won laurels imperishable, there al
n still greater and more important duties to perform
e and while we have had their cooperation in tn
l. field we now need their support in our efforts
e perpetuate peace. cloud Cheers) So far as til
ls executive department of the government
. concerned, the effort has been made to restore tn
n Union, to heal the breach, to pour oil into tn
I wounds ,Whichiwere consequent upon the struggle
Y and to speak in common phrase, to prepare as I'll
+ learned physician would, plaster, healing
it character and co-eHtensive withIthe wound. (4Ou
: cheers.) We thought, and yet think, we had pa
e tally succeeded But as the work progressed, {
SetUlGu 10 De lahlp pldtt, anu I'll
e country becoming united, we found disturbn
n and warning element opposed to us. In alludn
to that element shall go no further than did yol
convention, and the distinguished gentIema
h who has delivered, to me the report Of i
e proceedings. | shall make no reference to
r that l do not believe the time and the o.
G casion justly. We have witnessed in one depar
it ment the government every effort, as it were,
e prevent the restoration Of peace and harmony
e the Union. We have seen hanging upon the verg
h Of the government as it were, body called
l. which assumed to be, the Congress of the Unite
is States and in fact Congress OF only part of IL
of States. We have seen this Congress assume al
o. pretend to be for the Union, when its every ste
a. and act tended to perpetuate dsunion and NAL
,e a disruption of the States inevitable. Instead
III promoting reconstruction and harmony, its legi
d lation has partaken of the character OF penatie
ly retaliation and revenge. This has been the cur
IL and policy of one department of o
&c government. The humble individual W
at is now addressing you stands tue repl
n, sentative of another department of the goyel
Id ment. The manner in which he was called up
r TO occupy that position, shall not allude to
tn this occasion, Suffice it to say that he is here und
ne the Constitution of the country, and being here
On virtue Of its provisions, he takes his stand up
d. the charter of our liberties as the great rampi
of of civil and religious liberty. prolonged che
lg ing.) Having been taught in my early life
g, hold it sacred, and having practised upon it d
of ing my whole public career, shall ever Contin
IT, to reverence that Consttution-the CONSTITUTE
e. guide. Enthusiastic oheers.) / know it
ry been said, (and must be permitted to indulge
en- the remark) that the executive department
ld the government has been tyrannical Let me a
he this audience of distinguished gentlemen arou
eir me here to-day, to point to vote ever gave,
ng to speech | ever made, to single act in
I'd whole public life, that has not been against I
x tyranny and despotism which has been exercise
N AS to myself, the elements of my nature, or
es pursuits of my life have not not made me, eitl
he in my feelings or in my practice, aggressive.
ry m ture the contrary, is rather defensive in
re character. But will say that, having taken
Dr. stand upon the broad principles of liberty and
or, Constitution, there is not power enough on ea
It's to drive me from it. prolonged cheeringD HI
Ier ing pledged myself on that broad platform
nd have not been awed, dismayed or inti
et dated by either threats or encrOaChmen
so but have stood there in conjunction W
er, patriotic spirits, sounding the t0csin Of ala
to whenever | deemed the citadel of liberty in d
lp- ger. Great appause) said on previous
ch casion, and repeat now, that all that was nee
md sary in the great struggle against tyranny
lty oppressian was that the struggle should be 81
of ciently audible for the American people to
md and understand. They did hear, and looking
,ur and seeing who the contestants were, and W
in that struggle was about, they determined t
the they would settle this question on the side of
our Constitution and of principles. (Cries of th
ldd so and applause.) / proclaim here to-day, Q
but have other occasions, that my faith is abld
of in the great masses Of the people. In the dark
ces moment of the struggle, when clouds seemed
ng be most lowering, my faith, instead of giving W
lts, looked up through the dark clouds. Far hey
est, saw that all would be safe in the end. (Chee
, is NV countrymen, we all know that, in the