Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-03-02

ART. -. II at sal Andrew johnson Presi-
cent OF the United States, unmindful of the
hsgh duties of his office aud the dignity and
proprieties th' reof, and of the harmony and
conrtesies which ought to exist and be man.
tanned between the executive and legislative
branches of the Government of the United
States, designing and inteading TO set aside the
rghtfol authority and powers Of Congress, did
atte mpt 10 bring into disgrace, rdcule, hatred,
contempt and reproach, the Congress of the
United States, and the several branches thereof,
10 impair and destroy the regard and respect OF
all the good people OF the United States for the
Congress and Legislative power thereof,) which
all ON GERS of the Government ought inyiO-
lably 70 preserve and maintam,) and to ex-
cite the odium and resentment of all the
good people of the United States against
Congress and The laws by il duly and consti-
tutionally enacted; and in pursuance of his said
IGN and intent openly and publicly, and
before divers asseInbiages Of the citizens of the
United States convened in divers parts thereof
to meet and receive said Andrew johnson as
the Chief Magistrate of the United States, did,
on the eighteenth day of August, in the year of
our Lord ore thousand eight hundred and
sixty-six, and on divers other days and times
as well before As afterward, make and deliver
" jth a loud voice, certain intemperate, infiam-
matory and scandalous harangues, and did
therein utter loud thr ats and bitter mehaces as
well against Congress as the laws of the United
States duly enacted thereby amid the cries,
jeers and laughter of the multitudes then as.
sembled and in hearing, which are set forth in
the several specifications hereinafter written
in substance and effect, that is to say:
SPECIFICATION FIRsT.-In this, that at
Washington, in the District of Columbia, in
the Executive Mansion, to a committee of citi-
Zens who called upon the President of the
United States, speaking of and concerning the
Congress Of the United States, said Andrew
johnson, President of the United States, here
tofore, to wit, on the eighteenth day of August
in the year OF our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and 81 ixty-six, did, in loud voice de-
clare in substance and effect, among other
things, that is TO say:
Go for thaI r.
Government is concerned, the effort has been
made TO restore the Union, to heal the breach,
10 pour oil into the wounds which were conse-
quent upon the struggle, and 10 speak in COM
mon phrase) to prepare, as the learned and wise
physician would, a plaster healing in character
and coextensive with the wound. We thought,
and we think, that we had partially succeeded;
but as the work progresses, as reconstruction
seemed to be taking place, and the country was
becoming reunited, we found a disturbing and
marrlng element opposing us. In alluding to
that element, shall go no further than your
convention and the distinguished gentleman
who has delivered to me the report of the pro-
ceedings. i shall make no reference to it that
do not believe the time and the occasion Justify.
We have witnessed in one department of the
Government every endeavor TO prevent the
restoration of peace, harmony, and Union, We
have seen hanging upon the verge of the Gov
eminent, as it were, a body called, or which
assumes TO be, the Congress Of the United
States, while in fact il is Congress of only q
part of the states. We have seen this Congress
pretend TO be for the Union, when its every
step and act tended TO perpetuate disunion and
make a disruption of the States inevitable. =
We have seen Congress gradually en-
croach step by step upon Constitutional rights,
and VIOLATE, day after day add month after
month, fundamental principles of the Govern
ment. We have seen a Congress that seemed TO
forget that there was a limit to the sphere and
scope OF legislation. We have seen a Congress
In a minority assume 10 exercise power which,
# allowed TO be consumated, would result in
despotlsm or monarchy ITSELF
SPECIFICATION SECOND. In this, that at
Cleveland, in the State Of Ohio. heretofore, to
wit, on the third day of September, in the year
OF our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
sixty-six, before a public assem- blage of citi-
zens and others, said Andrew johnson, Pres
ident OF the United States, speaking of and con-
ceTnlng the Congress of the United States did,
in a loud voice, declare in substance and effect
among other things, that is to say:
81 will tell you what l did do. l called
upon your Congress that is trying TO break up
the governmentn
In conclusion, beside that, Congress had
taken much pains to poison their constituents
against him. But what had Congress done |,
Have they done anything to restore the union
of these States No: on the contrary, they had
done everything to prevent it: snd because he
stood now where he did when the rebellion
commenced, he had been denounced as a traitor
Who had run greater riskes or made grea er
sacrifices than himseifl But Congress, fac
tiOus and domineering had undertaken to poi-
son the minds of the American people"
SPECIFICATION TRIRD.-In this, that at St
Louis. in the State Of Missouri heretofore to
Wit, on the eighth day Of September, in the year
OF our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
sixty-six, before a public assenblage of citizens
and others, said Andrew johnson, President of
the U nited States, speakip z OF and cor cern ing
the Con gress of the United States. did. in loud
voice, declare, In substarc ce and effect, among
ether things, that lis TO say:
.Gs on. Perhaps if you had 8 word or two
on the subject of New Orleans you might un-
dsrstand more about IL than you do And if you
will 20 back-if you will go back and ascertain
the cause of the riot AT New Orleans, perhaps
yon VIII not be so prompt in calling out New
Orleans II you will take up the riot at New
Orleans and trace II back to ITS ce OF It's i'm
mediate cause, you will find out who was re-
sponsibie for the blood that was shed there Ii
you Will take up the riot at New Orleans and
trace II back 10 the radical Congress, you will
nDd that the not at New Orleans was substau.
tally planned II you will take up the proceed
lngs IN their c.ucuses you will understand that
they there knew that a con nvention was to be
called which was extinct Dy its power having
expired; that II was said that the intention was
that new government was TO be organized,
and on the organization of that government the
lntestlon was TO enfranchSe one portion of
the population, called the colored population
" no had just been emancIpated, and az the
same time dlsfranchise white men. When
you design TO talk about New Orleans you
ought 10 understand what you you are talking
about When you read the speeches that Were
made, and take up the facts on the Friday and
Saturday before that con nvention sat, you will
diary IN their character, exciting that portion
OF the population the black population, TO arm
themselves and prepare for the shedding of
blood You VIII also find that that convention
dld as semble In violation of law, and the inten.
ton OF thar convention was TO supersede the
reorganiZed authorities IN the State government
OF Louisiana, which had been recognized by the
Government Of the United States; and every
m nin engaged in that rebellion in that con ven-
ton with the intention OF superseding and M.
turning the civil government which had been
recognized by the Government of the United
States, L say that he was a traitor 10 the Con.
stltutIon of the United States, and hence Won
find that another rebellion was commenced
kacTng tts origin in the radical CongTess' n . 4
$50 much tor the New Orleans riot. And
there was the cause and the origin of the blood
that was shed; and every drop of blood that
was shed is upon their skirts, and they are re-
sponsible for IT 1 could test this thing little
closer, but will not do il here Tonight. But
when you talk about the causes and conse-
quences that resulted from PROCEEDINGS of that
kind, perhaps, as have been intr cd u ced here
and you have provoked questions Of this kind,
though IL does not provoke me, will tell Won
few wholesome things that have been done
by this radical Congress in connection with
New Orleans and the extension of the elective
franchise.
Il know that i have been traduced and
abused. 1 know II has come In ad vance of me
here as elsewhere--that i have attempted 10
exercise an arbitrary power in resisting laws
that were intended TO be forced upon the gov
eminent that had exercised that power, that
L had abandoned the party that elected me, and
that was a traitor, because exercised the
veto power In attempting and did arrest for q
ume Dill that was called "Freedman's
Bureau" bill; yes, that i was traitor. And
nd ha boa,