The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-01-25
LINCOLN AND JOHNSON.

In response to one of the toasts offered
at the celebration of the battle of New
Orleans, Hon. Montgomery Blair said
| shall only remark that it is time
when all the friends of the Constitution
should pledge themselves to the MAIN
tainance of one Of the plaincst clauses Of
that instrument, and the overthrow of
which is one of the breaches through
which the enemies of the Government
are seeking to overthrow it. How rap
id have been their strides Already
they have struck down the States; al
ready they speak Of striking down the
courts in the same moment. AS we are
now speaking in this hall, they are lev
cling their shafts against the President
Of the United States. The States, the
courts, the President, the Constitution,
all branches of the Government are to
be swung from their positions, over
turned, destroyed. But, my friends,
am not one of those who despair. l do
not believe that the people of this cOun-
try are ready to tear down the flag, the
the Constitution, and see them tramp
led under foot; to see the plainest limi-
tations set at naught, and all power
centercd in the hands of an irresponsi-
bic rump Congress. Cheers did
not intend to say rs much, but let me
recall to you and to the world that Mr..
johnson is threatened with impeach-
ment for standing by his oath to sup
port the Constitution, and to support it
in that sense in which he and his illus
trious predecessor understood it, when
they were knowingly elected by this
same revolutionary party cheers who
then promised to stand by him.
I mean to commit a breach of conf
dence here tonight. | want to read
you Il telegraphic dispatch. Here it is,
from Andrew Johnson to Montgomery
Blair, in the year of our Lord 1868:
NASHVILLE, Nov. q, 1868.
Received Washington, November
%, lsG3 70 the Hon. Montgomery
Blair, Post Master General. Marked
confidential.
hope the President will not be COM
]
lupsing into Territories, and hold them
as such, If he steers clear of this ex-
tremc his election to the Presidency is
without reasonable doubt. | expected
to have been in Washington before this
time, when We could have conVersed
fully and freely in reference to the poll
cy to be adopted by the Government.
Lincoln was in the habit of consult
ing the Military Governor, Andrew
johnson about his policy.l tCheers.l
But it has been impossible for me to
leave Nashville. will be there soon.
The institution of slavery is gone, and
there is no good reason now for des-
troying the States to bring about the
destruction of Slavery.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
That message was delivered by me to
the President, November 26, 1866.
Is it not n matter Of history? Did
not every man who hears my voice
know that advice was adOpted--a recon-
struction adopted and proceeded upon
by Abraham Lincoln upon the doctrine
laid down in that dispatch and now,
when he is called hence, killed by the
hand of an assassin, his successor, who
gave him the advice he carried out is
to he impCachcd fora faithful adherence
to the doctrines, principles, and prac-
ticc which Abraham Lincoln was elect
. cd upon, which he praCticod in his life
,imc. and which Mr., Johnson, rs an
honest and faithful man, is struggling
TO carry out! DO not despair. No, my