Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-06-12
SYNOPSIS OF Ex.PREsIDENT JOHN.
SONS SPEECH.

SYNOPSIS or Ex.PREsIDENT JOHN
SONS SPEECH.
When the Ex-President appeare
upon the stand accompanied by Eek
Gov. Chas. Anderson of Ohio, (nOy
citizen of Kentucky, and Senate
Fowler, he was greeted with loud an,
prolonged applause. He was intro
dued to the audience by Hon. Gusta
vus A. Henry who saId 1t gave hin
great pleasure to present the dis
tinguished speaker. His feature
were not unfamiliar to the people wht
looked on him, and his fame was tn,
property of the nation. They hav,
seen him here before In political jousts
Here he had met Gentry in time'
that were past; and If he might b
pardoned, he would say that here HI
had met him Henry also; ant
he might well say of that com
bat, "Great let me call him, fol
he conqured me-" Laughter anG
applause Mr.. johnson had since
passed through trying scenes and
had filled the most exalted posi-.
lions. He came to speak to them OF
weighty matters, and.would speak
words of wisdom and craftsmanship.
He invoked in his behalf, and of the
great cause of constitutional govern
ment which he came to plead, pa
tient and attentive hearing.
Mr.. johnson rose and said the cir
cumstances under which he met the
people of Montgomery and adjoining
region were deeply gratifying. To be
thus welcomed at the home and by
the lips of one of my most eminent
and knightly competitors in former
cannot but touch my sensi-
bilities. AS stand with him on this
platform, I could wish those times,
when my lance shivered on him, and
his spear bent against me, were re-
turned. They We're days, no matter
what our party differences, ofprosperi-
ty-days of pride-days of freedom
greater than all. Our prosperity has
our pride is humbled-our
our freedom, alas where is it :? l have
come to counsel with him and with
you how these may be restored, and
/ hope I may speak acceptably' on
these great themes.
Heretofore in appearing before the
people of my State, it has usually
been in canvass, soliciting their
patronage andsupport. To-day In APP
pearing before youit is not in the char
acter of candidate for any office in
your gift, or asking any favor you
may have in power to confer. Then
in appearing before you, not soliciting
favors or any share in the emoluments
of Office, I trust and hope there will
be no improper design attributed to
me. 1 am here In your midst to
speak to-day by invitation Of q large
number of my fellow-citizens. In
doing so wish to do it i'm a manner
which will contribute to better I'M
of the questions which
agitate and divide the public mind
There has been much asperity and
elimination and discrimination. Ihope
the time has come, as far as am con-
cerned when all has passed that may
have divided us when we We're Wings
and Democrats. l would to God, the
country stood now as it did then,
with two great parties battling in
measures which should be fixed upon
the country. But in returning to-
day, 1t is simply to discuss some of
those questions which have agitated
the public mind. In being before you
to-day, under the circumstances,
trust there is none who feel enmity.
Here, in Tennessee, is where all my
interest is. Here is my home. The
promotion and elevation of my adop-
ted State and its people is my chief
nhtnaf n.xI InCsrA l.. 4.
mine I'm part, and my history is i'm
part hers. Ifmy history has been
one which commends itself to them
and the American people, let it be
good or bad, they have to be associa-
ted with 1t, and partake of it to q
very great extent.
In olden times when we were bat
Ting with each other, when Demo-
crat would make his speech, he would
contend for q strict construction of the
constitution; when Wing spoke he
for little more liberal con-
struction of government under the
The issue now before the country is,
not as between Wing and Democrat,
but whether we are to have q consti-
VI OIie lIlut is
arbitrary and despotic.
In former contests one great point
was agreed upon-that there was a
and a constitutional gov
eminent; we differed only i'm the con-
of the constitution. The
issue now before the country Is, are
we to have constitutional government,
or has Congress power outside and
above the constitution; whether Con-
gress Is clothed with absolute and ar
bitrary power. Hook upon the latter
rs one of the most dangerous posi-
tions that can be assumed. What Is
arbitrary power? The power of one
man? But the many-men power is
the most dangerous in this govern
ment.
Mr.. Jefferson declared, in referring
to body of this kind-Jefferson the
philosopher, the statesman, the phi
lanthropist, declared such n body the
precise definition of despotic power
Your government has three great
divisions. You have the Legislative,
the Judicial and the Executive De-
1t was intended by the
wise trainers of the constitution to
divide the powers of these depart
ments, each to exercise one-third,
thereby producing an equilibrium in
the departments that would ever
maintain the principle of the people
in the constitution.
The executive power is negative in
its power The President may recon-
mend to Congress, but he can pass
nolaw. Congress may pass laws and
present them for his consideration,
but all he can do is to veto, and give
his reasons. Thus we see that the
power of the executive is negative
and not aggressive. 1t does not en-
croach upon other departments.
He holds bad measures and good
ones i'm allegiance until the mass OF the
iAnanln shnQ laNn nn nnnarIuniIY Of