American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-04-10
Andrew Johnson's Speech at Knox,
vile.


ia. M.-Special train arrived from
GrecnviIIe with johnson, who WAS
greeted ut the train by Il delegation
of citizens, with band, and escorted
to the Lamar House, in baronche,
in company with Col. Nelson and j.
NJ. Fleming, of the Press and Herald 1
After a short delay, johnson was
introduced to the assembled crewd,
numbering abont 5000, by Mr.. Mel
son. who referred to his previous
political difference with the distin
guished gentleman before them, and
to their argument upon tire vital
que Stion of the Union. He related
the prosecutions inflicted upon john
son for his Union sentiments; elo-
quently described his pan lotto course
during the war; alluded to his wise
and eoneiEatory policy of recon
struction.
Johnson- after returning thanks
for the cordiality of the welcome,
sal he had enGeavored to protec,
the Constitution. All he asked was
fair examination of his re.ord. He
I intended to devote the remainder of.
/ his life. us Il private eitiz9, to the
| vindlcation Of his olliciat~Aennd his
native State trcm the foul ObloQuy
/ that had been hcaped upon him and
her. He had seen III the papers his
own obituary, and supposed he might
( be as one risen from the dead, aud
! he thought that belief should be
i placed in one that hal come fro:H
! the grave. His voice was not so
dead yet. The Constitution divides
the Government into three depart
ments. When the Congress OF t}e
! United States excited by interests,
and by spirit of Tyranny, trans
Scrndcd the Constitution, lie veEted
their bills and sent them back. Let
us see how these departments
operate Each is confined to its
sphere. Let ITS reason together ;
Whrre is danger i'll the Government
tell you here, TO day, and as one
speaking from the dead, it is i'll the
legislative department. | mean, III
the Federal Gov ernment. Why,
can the executive make law He
has only IL negative power. The
judiciary can only cXpound the law ;
but the legislature can pass laws OF
the most arbitrary character, and
under prrtcnce of law, trample upon
the libeEtics of the people. Those
who are trying to undermine the
Constitution have given IMPRESSION
that a two-tlIirds majority has the
power of the Constitution. Then
they can 90 on, until CongleSs-yeS
il capricious Congress Il de
Spotic Congress-yes, a usurping
Cougress-wiil take away the liber
ties of the people. But feel that
stood as ii break at the head
of the american Government, ant
arrested its progress, for Il time a
least, until the people Knew VIVA
was going on, and while others may
boast eft having established govern
ments, feel can, without eg0tiSm
claim the credit Of having been eff
cient in its preservation. The time
has come to talk about the first prin
} ciplcs OF gG' eminent. Take away
restraints which hold back Congress
and YOU have despotic Govern
ment wipe out the tier two de
partmeniS of Government, and yol
have Congress, with It's discretion
OF perhaps | should say, its indIs
crction, as to the measure OF II
pow,rS. Jefferson describes such ;
body aS this the exact embodiment 0
despotism and let me tell you wher
that ii wise and good Prince is in
tiniteiy better than an usnrpiug
arbitrary, despotic Congress. Voice
that's SO, Andy. Go it.
Look at the course of Great Britain
towards the Colonies, and compar
it with that of Congress Look Il
the Declaration OF Independence
and see how the acts OF Congress az
) similar to the course of Great britain
/ Then when that declaration Wa
! made, and the people knew thei
! wrongs, they were aroused 10 sal
their freedom. Look at our cond
: ton. The great writ Of kdbeas c0rpu
. suspend ii, and wien citizen G
the United States appealed to tn
SupFclap Court, an arbitrary Cor
oreSS took from him the right of az
peal, and deprived him of his libel
: ty. He alluded to the charge u
G treason to party, and asked when h
|, hal been false to the platform Hpo
Il which he was nominated.
u He then cook up the sneering a,
cusaLion about him being Nose,
d and asked if it was not he that free
5 the negroes in Tennessee. Freedor
, was only liberty to work. 1t Was lie
to build up Il miserable lazzaroni t
be supported by the GOvcrnmen
|, Let me tell you, cOlored laenr tina
II these men who talk about old ma:
q tiers, have only delivered you up t
. new masters. You are slaves to tn
league Let me say TO you, as sal
/ to my old servant: Sam, the onl
Il difference between lis is that | free
= You fodr years ago, and l was onl
Il rmanc:pated on the 4th of March.
, [Llughler.l AS evidence of loyalt
i ne read paper signed VIM. {
$ Brown ow, acknowledging the r,
e. ceipt Of $500 to establish a Uhio
o press at Knoxville, and defra
If BrownloW's expenses III cscapil
from secession oppression.
The time is full of alarming pc
tents: the country is in danger, an
i let me lift my warning voice. Loo
:, at the taxes of the States of I'll
a Federal Government. The FEEDER;
h Government collects $3.50, 0U0, 03t
~, three times as much as was necessar
a few years ago for the whole e.
III penscS OF government, to- pffy ii
le bondhoIderS. You black men mioI
IS as well know this ; that, while the
f have been enfranchis ing you. All
DISTINGUISHING white men. they hay
been making YOU slaves. Yes, yC
II are all slaves together with ii
b, ndioltlerS, who never shed Il dro
Of blood. would to God that II
is Government had not the credit [
g., borrow dollar Ia carry on the wa
- If the people had had beforehand,
- pay the cost of he war. we shoul
" never have lad one Thank Got
n !luy march has not been throne