The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-07-08
SPEECH BY Ex-pREslDENT JOHNSON

On the evening of July first, Ex-Presiden
johnson, who Was stopping q few DAYS at
Washington, was serenaded by his friends.
In response he made some extended remarks
OF which the following is the substance:
He said il not his purpose TO make "A speech.
but merely to tender his thanks for this cordial well
come on his return to Washington. IT was not
necessary for him on this occasion to recapitu,te
or rehearse the arguments he had heretofore made
IN bena OF the people and in behalf of those great
principles which should be maintained and nrc
served by those calling themselves free, patriotic.
and Intelligent. In taking the stand he did he be-
lleyed he was doing his duty. (Applause.) He
had tried to act on principle and in indication of
principle. He had collected facts and argument,
which in times gone by were considered unanswer-
able and irresistible. They had been presented for
the consideration of Congress and the country, but
IL appeared they ana not avail much during the time
he had presented them. However, in his politics.
AS IN his religion, when his facts gave out and his
reasons failed him, he drew pretty largely on his
l ;, ana ms faith was yet strong and unbroken
American people Will be aroused to the importance
and high sense OF preserving the great principle,
which have been orerslaIghed and tramplcd under
foot so long.
He would say. Let us have faith He believed
the CLEAN OF the morning of redemption could now
be seen He thought it was coming. when the con-
stltutlon OF our fathers would be restored II was
not necessary for him 10 call the attention of this
intelligent audience to the struggles and contest
Transporting within the last four wears 1t was not
necessary for him to point their attention to the
Judicial department of the government to show
that under the domination of an llsurping Congress
that even the Judiciary of the country was made to
quail and shrink before it, (Applause.) 1t was not
necessary to turn attention to the other end of the
avenue-( cries of 'Hear, hear )-nor was it neces-
sary to do more than point to the tyrannical body
called Congress" which attempted to absorb every
single power of the President He had called them
"tyrants" standing with the mailed heel of power
no frap ,Iffb T',,stA
endeavoring to blot out the lines which separated
the States, to wipe out the other two coordinate
branches OF the government, and in this Congress
stood omnlpotent. tell you here, my c0untrymen
he said, that If were compelled to make a choice
land thank God am not compelled as YETI
would take one individual who was honest wise
patriotic and just as my ruler or master in prefer
ence to Congress usurping capricious and cor
rupt. CA voice-'That's so,' and applallse.) Let
us talk about these things they are. We even
find difference among them as to whether they
would take such government an omnipOtent
Congress would impose or an imperial government
Such feelers have been sent out. They wish to de-
Vel0p what sentiment there Is in the country.
no doubt, is the emanation and reflection of GER
tam combination Of individuals, some of them per-
maps residing in Washington, and when we turn
10 70, tte Title page what do we see? On one side
me Empire is peace" and on the other side the
quota!lon Let us have peace" Q-aughter.) The
meaning OF this is, ''Iet us have the empire with
Grant at Its head, and we shall have peace"
Laughter and applause.) But you find lurking
behind TINS debt Of twenty-five or twenty-eight
hundred millions Of dollars. The great fear is he
people are not to be trusted, ind will not paw It: