The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-04-08
Ex.President .Johnson's Reception
at Knoxville.
HIS SPEECH.
Special Dispatch to the Memphis Avail
anche.

Special Dispatch to the Memphis Ava
anche.
KNOXVILLE. April 3.-The city is cDwdt
with the old friends of Andy johnson. !
an early hour this morning they assemble
IN little knots on the streets, talkin,< abol
Andy's old trfumphs. Special trains on II
railroads brought crowds TO the city. an
the eleven A. NJ. special train which arrive
from Greenville with Mr.. johnson, va
greeted at the depot by delegation OF CT
liens with bands of music, and from whenC
he was escorted TO the Lamar House in
barouche, in company with Colonel Nelso
and John NJ. Fleming. OF the Press and Hell
aid. After a short delay Mr.. johnson wa
introduced to the assembled crowd, number
ing about five thousand people, by the Hor
! 7. \. r. Nelson, who referred TO his ow
political differences with the Distinguish
gentlemen before them, and to their argu
ment upon the vital question of union, rela
| ted the prosecutions inflicted upon MI
Johnson for Union sentiments; eloquent.
| described his patriotic course during tn
war, and alluded TO his wise and conciliato
| ~ policy of reconstruction.
Mr.. johnson. after returning thanks 70
| the cordially of his welcome, said he hal
| endeavored to protect the Constitution. ant
| all he asked for, was fair examination o
| his record. He intended to devote the re
! mainder of his life as a private citizen Il
| the vindication of his official life and hi
native State from the foul obloquy which
! had been heaped upon him and her; though
| bent he had not been broken down by the
storm which had nearly wrecked the ole
ship of State; he had seen in the newspa
pers his own obituary and supposed he
might be as one risen from the dead, and
he thought the belief should be placed in a:
one coming from the grave. Voice, not sc
dead got.
The Constitution divides the Government
into three Departments, and when the Con-
gress of the United States, excited by inter
est and a spirit of tyranny, transcribed the
Constitution, he vetoed their bills and sent
them back. Let us see how these depart
ments operate. Each is confined TO its
sphere. Let us reason together. Where is
the danger in the Government! tell you
here to-day, and as one speaking from the
dead, it is in the legislative department.
mean in federal government. Why, can
the Executive make laws? He has only
negative power. The Judiciary can only
eXpound law, but the Legislature can pass
laws of most arbitrary character, and under
pretense of law trample on the liberties OF
the people. Those who are trying to under
mine the Constitution have give the impress
sion that two-thirds majority has the
power OF the Constitution. Then they can
go on until Congress. yes caprlclouS Con-
gress, yes, despotic Congress- usurping
Congress will take away the liberties OF the
people. But | feel that | stood as break
water st the head of the American Govern
meut and arrested its progress. tor time at
least, until the people knew what was going
on, and while others may boast of having
established the Government, feel that can
without egOtism, claim credit OF having
been efficient in its preservation. The
time has come to talk about the first princi-
pies of government. Take away restraints
which held Congress and you have a des-
potic Government and you have Congress
with its discretion, or perhaps ] should say,
its iHdiscretiOn. the measure of its power
Jefferson describes such body as this the
exact embodiment ofdespoism. And let me
tel! you here, that wise and good Prince is
INFINITELY better than uSurping Congress.
(Noice-that's so, Andy. Go it,
Look at the course of Great Britain to-
wards the Colonies, and compare it with
that of Congress. Look at the Declaration
of independence, and see how the acts of
Congress are similar to the course of Great
Britain. Then when that declaration was
made and the people saw their wrong, they
were aroused to gain their freedom. Now
look at our condition--the great writ of
hdbedS corpus suspended, and when citizen
of the United States appealed to the Su-
preme Court an arbitrary Congress took
from him the right of appeal and deprived
him of his liberty. He alluded to the
charge of treason TO party, and asked when
had he been false to the platform on which
he was nominated. He then took up the
accusation about his being Moses
W
groes in Tennessee. Freedom was only lib
erty to work, it was not to build up a mis-
cradle lazarOni, to be supported by the
Government. Let me tell you, colored men.
and l have never deceived white man or
black, that these men who talk about your
old masters have only delivered Won UP to
new masters-you are slaves to the league
Let me say to you as | said to my old SER
want; as | told him when / came back:
sam, the only difference between us is that
on the 4th of March," SO you
see l am addressing you as a freedman
laughter As evidence of his loyalty he
read paper signed by William c.. Brown
low, acknowledging the receipt of fifteea
hundred dollars to establish a Union press
at Knoxville and defray Brownlow's expen-
ses in escaping from secession oppression.
The time is full of alarming portents the
country is in danger, and let me lift my
voice.
Look at the taxes of the State and of
The Federal Government. The Federal
collects one hundred
and fifty millions, three times as much as
was necessary few years ago for the whole
expenses of the Government, to pay the
Oondholders. You black men might as well
know this. that while they have been enfran-
chising you and DISTINGUISHING whites, they
have been making you slaves. Yes, you are
all slaves together to bondholders who new
er shed a drop of blood. l would to God
that the Government had not credit to Dor
row a dollar to carry on the war. 1.-THE peo-
pie had beforehand to pay the cost of the
var. we should never have had one.
Thank God my march has not been
through GOlgetha; my honors have not been
gained by blood. The widows and one arm
ID soldiers cannot attribute their wrongs to
ne. l stand here vindicating the Constitu-
ion as it was handed down to me; and
here. in the last hours of life / call on you
N n fry
n the mariner clings to his compass.
He spoke about two hours. and was listen
ID TO with the closest attention, and on re-
iring was applauded. He was at once Sar-
'ounded by old friends, and several hours
we're passed in interchanging reminiscent
'es. In conversation he spoke without re-
erve of Grant-whom he characterized as a
bundle of prejudices-and his gift-enterprise
cabinet, as he called it.