Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1866-09-15

the patriotism ana TcDuu1lCNH lNcl-
ing of the country, We have been do
nounced in tho sevcrest terms;
slander upon SANDER, vitupcration
upon vitnpOration, Of tho most vii
lainous character, has made its way
through the press. What, gcntc.
mon, has been your and my sin?
What has boon tho cause Of our of.
Tending? 1 will tell you. Daring
to stand by the Constitution OF our
fathers. Approaching Senator John,
son-I consider the proceedings OF
this Convention, sir, rs moro i'm
portant than those of any convon-
ton that ever assembled in the
United States. [Great applause.
When | look with my minds eye
upon that collection of citizens, com
ing together voluntarily and sitting
in council, with ideas, with princi-
pies. and views commensurate with
all the States, and cO-cXtcnsive with
the whole people, and contrast it
with the collection ofgentlemen who
are trying to destroy the country,
| regard it us more important than
any Convention that has sat at least
since 1887. Renewed applause,
| think | may also add that the dec
larations that were then made a'e
equal to the Declaration Of lnde
pendence itself, and L have to-day
pronounced them second Declara
ton of Independence, [Cries of
glorious, and most enthusiastic and
prolonged cheering YouraddreSs
and declaration are nothing more
nor less than a rcatlirmation Of the
Constitution of the United States.
[Cries of good, and applause Yes,
| will 60 farther, and say that the
declarations you have made, that
the principles you have cnunciatcd
in your address, are second proc
lamation of emancipation to the
people of the United States. Re-
newed applause ] For in proclaim
ing and re-proclaiming these great
truths, you have laid down consti-
tuition and platform upon which all
can make common cause, and stand
united together for the restoration
of the States and the preservation OF
the Government, without reference
to party. The question only is the
salvation of tho country, for our
country rises above all party con-
siderations or influences. Cries of
glorious, and applause. How many
are there in tho United States that
now require to be frce?. They have
their shackles upon their limbs and
bound as rigidly as though they
were in fact in slavery. l repeat,
then, that your declaration is the
second proclamation of cmancipa-
ton to the people of the United
States, and offers common ground
upon which all patriots can stand
[ARGplaqss Rpp 3.,2,i ! ,-r-. and non.,on, on
let me, in this connection, ask what
have l to gain more than the ad-
vancement Of public welfare? am
as much opposed to the indulgence
of egotism as any one, but here, in
a conversational manner, while
formally receiving the proceedings
of the Convention, may be permit
ted again to ask, what have | to
gain in consulting human ambition
more than l have gained, except in
one thing? My race is nearly run +;
l have been placed in the high Of
fee which l occupy under the Con-
stitution Of the country; and l may
say that l have held, from the low
est to the highest, almost every
pusition to which It man may attain
in our Government Lave passed
through every position-irom Al
derman Of village to the Presiden-
cy of the United States and sure
ily, gentlemen, this should be enough
to crafty reasonable ambition
If | want authority, or wished to
perpetuate my own power, now
easy it would have been to hold and
WELD what was placed in my hands
by the measure called the Freed
mems Bureau Bill? Laughter and
applause ] With an army which
I was placed at my discretion, | could
have remained at the capitol OF the
nation, and with fifty or sixty mil
lions of appropriations at my dis
posal. with the machinery to be
worked by my satraps and depend
ents in every town and village, then
with the Civil Rights Bill following
as an auxiliary, daughter in con-
nection with all the other appliances
/ of the Government, l could have
proclaimed myself dictator. That's
true, and applause.] But, gentle
men, my pride and ambition have
been to occupy that position which
retains all power in the hands OF
the people. [Great cheeringJ 1t
is>upon that l have always relied
1t is upon that / rely now; a voice
and the people will not disap-
point you, and l repeat that neither
the taunts nor jeers OF Congress, nor
of a subsidized, eliminating press
can drive me from my purpose
TGreat applausc.] 1 acknowledge
no superior except my God the au-
thor Of my existence, and the peo-
ple Of the United States Iprolonged
and enthusiastic cheering, for the
one I try to obey ali his commands
as best / can, compatible with my
poor humanity; for the other, in a
political and representative sense
the high behcsts Of the people have
always been respected and obeyed
by me Applause. Mr.. Chairman
/ have said more than / inasnded to
say. For the kind allusion to my.
II -.-t.--,,1 -. --r.rr oldracr and