Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-04-10

offices within the gift OF the people OF
political and responsible character, from
high to low, which seems to be
enough to satisfy the ambition OF
any man. Letme say to you that the
measure Of my ambition has been filled,
and in returning TO you after having
filled all these positions, stepping rs l
have from the most exalted position in |
the gift of free people-from the Presi- |
deney of the United States down amidst
the ranks of my countrymen, feel more
honor in sking my position among you
and help bear the burdens than to be in |
augurated President of the United States
tomorrow upon the ruins OF q violated |
constitution. Then let US rally around |
the constitution of our country-let US
hold to it as the chief ark of cur safety |
cling to it as the shipwrecked |
mariner clings to the last plank when |
the night is dark and the tempest blows |
around him. The time has been when |
we had two parties in this country-the |
Whig and the Democratic the two |
greatest parties that ever existed in any |
government. We had our contests. The |
Wings would meet the Democrats in de- |
bate in the political forum, and while |
one would break lance on one side, the |
other one would break his spear, then q |
CdlD IOilOHf 0nO NOuiu l1OOb |
on common ground as supporters of the |
constitution. The great difference be- |
tween these two great parties was that |
one would contsnd for rigid and stTlct |
construction Of the constitution, and the |
other would contend for q more broad |
and liberal construction of the coustitu- |
tiOn. Those two parties agreed ia one |
great essential, ana that was in the con- |
stitution of The United States and in the |
constitutional form Of the government |
that there was no freedom without a |
constitutional form of government.
We have seen, without going into de- |
tail, one department Of the government
attempting to abolish the other two; we
have seen the legislative department of
this government, most dangerous in its
character, to bs unconstitutional, exces-
sive, unnecessary and tyTannieai, and l
WAS going to say to be diabolical in legis-
lating. The legislative under the pre-
tense of law has attempted to absorb and |
destroy the other two departments. Your
constitution is wiped out OF existence
and in the language OF the great ThOm IS
jefferson, such body and such an or
ganization as that is the precise defini-
ton of despotic power. This Is where
We are travelling. What Is the great
issue before the country? 1t is whether
you will have a constitutional form of
government or not. They claim that
they are outside OF the constitutional
limits-that it no kbger exists, that their
will and their discretion is the measure
of their power, and not the constitution
of the United States. This is thedirec-
ton we are going, Snd this ia matter
that should be msArely considered. But
/ shall not trespass upon your attention
any longer this evening. Let me say to
you, my copntrymen, in returning to
State that has h0nCTed me, in return
ing to people that have taken me by
the hand, to receive such well
come, is a source of peculiar gratif
cation to me. feel prOuder to-day
standing in your midst privileged and su-
thOriZed to advocate those great prin-
cipies Of free government, than Il
would Of being President on the ruins
of the Constitution OF my country; aud
let me ssy, though the contest has been
severe, though the task l performed was
very srduous, thsnk God there is lit
tie Of me left that can be appropriated
in com mon with you in the vindication OF
your rights and liberties. I intend to
appropriate the remainder Of my life, as
short as 1t niay be, in tie Vindioatiou of
my character and that of tha State yes
that reputation WHICH is deSrer to me
than lifs and which is 10 live after | am
dead and gone. l have come amongst
you to spend the remainder Of my days,
and m9where beneath the clOds of your
State my bones will rest. / have not
come here by force, II "a my own volun-
tRTy will, 1t is nay own choice to come to
my own adopted State and lay my own
weary bones down in peace, and if I can
do nothing more will adopt the lam
| guage Of Cato, and let me say to- every
| young man here into whose hands this
I Government is expected to pass, you
ought to study that phrase ard read it,
and prepare yourselves to take charge of
| this Government ia q short time. We
are before you aud well stricken in years
and must hurry down into the grave.
| The language OF Cato to his soa when
| Caesar was making his inFOsds upon
| him, should bs deeply impressed upon
| your minds. Cato said to his SOD, " Re-
| tire to the Sabine fields and there with
pure and sincere heart, il you can do
nothing more, pray for Rome" If | can
| do nothing more, l can retire to my
! humble home, and with q good con-
science / can pray for my country. 1
feel prouder in my retirement than Ims
| perial Cfe ,ar, with such 8 corrupt Con-
gress at his heels; fol-, my cOuntrymen, we
/
times, when degenerscy and corruption
seem to control deOartments OF the Gov
| eminent; that when "viee prevails and
| inn pious men bear sway, the post OF hon.
or is private station" When 1 accept
ed the Presidency of the United States l
accepted it as high trust, one of heavy
responsibilities. did not accept it rs a
donation, or as s grand gift establish
| ment; i did not take it as horn of
| plenty, with sugar plums to be handed
out here and there to that individual that
had presented the greatest gift. / stand
before you unscsthed, and put the whole
pack at defiance. Thank God, / can
stand before the people of my State and
lift up both hands and cay in the lam
guage of Samuel " Whose OK have l
taken, or whose ass have l taken. At
whose hands have ever received bribes
and had my eyes blinded ?" II there is
any let them answer and will return it.
Thus, return to you, feeling in my own
conscience that l have discharged my
duty as faithful man, Then, gentle
men, | an here in your midst, and /
trust that opportunities will occur so that
we can interchange QUE opinions in ref
erence to some questions that have not
yet been settled, and that there will be
no restraint in this. am here for the
purpose OF making this my home. This
is my State, and ! am here by my own
choice.
l thank you, gentlemen, for this
cordial welcome, and especially so under
the circumstances. May God in his
goodness and plentitude, snd in his
power confer his best blessings upon
you. A44
Ex- Gov. Neil 8. Brown was then vo-
ciferOusly called for, and responded in
substance as follows:
He was there with those who met
together for the purpose of receiving our
distinguished guest, the ex-Presideat Of
the UHited States. A man who in his
opinion hos used all his power intellectu.
ally and physically to pi otect the Con-
stltution of the United States amidst
unparalleled difficulties He wss there
to honor Andrew Johnson. He did it
cheerfully and heartily and did not care
what had heretofore passed. When he
saw man at the head Of the govern
ment using his power and his influence
to protect them against the tide of over