The Placer herald., 1866-03-03
PRESIDENT JOHNsON's SPEECH ON
THE .22ND FEBRUARY.
He Denounces the Radicals,

A large meeting of the citizens of Washington
City was held at Growers Theatre on the 22nd
of February, at which the Presidents veto of the
Frcedmels' Bureau Bill was indorsed. The
meeting then adjourned to the White House. to
present the resolutions to the President. About
| two thousand persons assembled in front of the
White House, and upon being called ont the
President said:
at is extremely gratifying to know that so
large portion OF my fellow citizens approve
the policy adopted, and which intend to carry
out. The day is peculiarly appropriate for the
| Endorsement of policy whose object is the res
toration of the Union, as designed by the Father
of his Country. ] stand here to day, as stood
| in the Senate in 1860 and 1861, when denoun-
ced traitors who were trying to break up the
Government. There were two parties--one of
which was determined to destroy the Govern
mcnt to save slavery, while the other, almost as
dangerous, was equally willing to break up the
Government to destroy slavery. Whether dis
unionists come from the South or North. l stand
now as did then, vindicating the Union and
Constitution Tremendous appause.] The
| Government has stretched forth its strong arm,
and with physical power put down treason in the
| field. Their armies have been disbanded, and
they come forward now. in proper spirit and
say: we were mistaken; we made an effort to
|
solve the Union In that we have failed. We
have traced this doctrine to its logical and phys
| cal results, and find we were mistaken. We
acknowledge the flag of our country. We are
willing to obey the Constitution and yield to the
supremacy of the laws [Great applause.]--
Coming in that spirit, say to them: When you
have yielded to law, when you have acknowl
edged allegiance will. as far as can open the
door of the Union TO those who have erred and
strayed for time [Great appausel The
spirit of revenge is not the spirit in which to
deal with whole people. know there has
been a great deal said about the exercise of the
pardoning power. There is no one who has Ia
| bored with more earnestness than myself to have
the principal, intellgen and conscious traitors
brought to justice, the law vin1icated. and the
great fact judicially established, that treason is
crime. [Applause.] But while the conscious,
leading and intelligent traitors are to be punish
ed should whole communities. States and people
be made to submit to the penalty of death? No.
no; let those who have erred be punished; but to
the great multitude. forced into the rebellion. |
| say leniency and kindness. We put dOwr the
rebellion in order to prevent the separation Of
the States, but when the struggle on our part is
successful, we find an effort to concentrate all
power in the hands of few at the Federal head,
and thereby establish new principle, equally as
Objectionable as separation The Government
| may be revOlutOnZed without war; and this is
most dangerous, because its progress is not so
easily watched. What is now being proposed?
We fnd in point of fact, that nearly all the pow
ers Of Government are assumed by an irresponsi
BILE central directory which does not even consult
the Legislative or Executive Department. In
Committee it seems that practically all legisa
lative power is now vested The great principle
which authorizes each branch of the Legislative
| Department to judge for itself of the qualiica-
tions of its members has been virtually taken
away from the two branches and conferred upon
a Committee. fought traitors and treason in
fl,a Cnuth Nnyr hop }nrp ,p1o op1 G,l
l care not by what name you call them, still op-
posed TO restoring the Union, am free to say to
you that am still in the field" [Great ap-
plause1
Voices--"Name them! Who are they?"
| President--"You ask me who they are. say
Thaddeus Stevens, of Pennsylvania, is one. Sum-
ner Of the Senate, is another and Wendell Phil
lips is another" [Long continued appause.]
Voces-"Give it to Forney."
President--"In reply to that will simply say
do not waste my ammunition ON dead ducks.
Laughter and applause.]
stand for my country. stand for the Con-
stitution. There have placed my feet from my
advent into public life. They may traduce, they
may SANDER or they may vituperate me- but let
me say to you all that il has no influence upon
me. [Appause] Let ME say further that do
not intend to be overawed by real or pretended
friends, nor do mean to be bullied by my ene-
mics. Tremendous applause.] Honest convic-
| tion is my courage. The Constitution is my
| guide. know my countrymen. 1t has been in
sinuated--no not insinuated--it has been said di.
rectly in high circles that if such usurpation of
power as am charged with had been exercised
some two hundred years ago. it would have cost
the individual his head. OF what usurpation has
Andrew johnson been guilty? [Nonc--none!]
Is it usurpation that stand between the people
and the encroachments Of power from the same
source? Exclamation has gone forth thlt they
were in the midst of earthquakes. that they were
| fremhlinu and cOuld not via1d oil oit H.
zens, there is an earthquake coming. There is q
grand swelling of popular Judgment and indig-
nation. [Applause.] The American people will
speak and by their instinct, if not otherwise, will
know who are their enemies. l have endcavorcd
to be true to the people in positions which have
occupied, and there is hardly position in this
Government have not at some time filed.
suppose it will be said that this is vanity
[Laughter] But may say l have been in all of
them. | have been in both branches of the State
Legislature"
Voice--"You commenced tailor"
Presidential gentleman behind me says
began as a tailor. Yes, did begin as tailor
(Applause.) That suggestion does not discomit
me in the least, for when was tailor had a
reputation of being good one. and making coats
my customers, and did good work" [Applause.]
Voice-"We will patch up the Union yet"
The Presdent-'No, l don't want any patch
work; want the original articles restored.--
Point to the man who can say President johnson
ever acted with nfidelty to the great mass Of tho
people. [Great Applause] Men may tax about
beheadng and about usurpation but when l am
beheaded want the American people to be the
witnesses. l do not want it, by inucndoes and
indecent remarks in high places, to be suggested
to men who have assassination brooding in their
bosoms Others have explained that the present
obstacle must be got out of the way. What is
that butt make use OF strong word--but inct-
ing to assassination! No doubt, say, the inten-
tion was to ncite to assassination, that the obsta-
Gle which the people had placed here could be
, got out Of the way Are the opponents Of the
government not yet satisfied? Are these, who want
to destroy our institutions and change the char
acter Of the Government, not satisfied with the
qzantity Of blood that has been shed? Are they
not satisfied with one martyr in this place? II
nv blood must be shed because l vindicate the
Union. remember that the blood Of the martyrs is
-. I,,,:lI Il