Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-04-16
He Explains the Celebrated
Military Tax.
A strong and a Telling speech.

Il mEuAEr ELd . eLoAA " GDCgE1G4O1oSC -
johnson and the reporters was erected oil
the corner OF Poplar and Main. Abou
half-past z o'clock the people began
to gather, ana by quarter past two TIL
street in front Of and around the Over
ton was q surging mass Of human beings
comprising men and wsmsn from al
ranks and wslks Of life.
at half-past two Mr.. johnson aud DR.
/ Leftwich entered the stand, and the Doc
tor, in q few neat and very appropriate
sentences, introduced Mr.. johnson t.
the assemblsge, who cheeTed him hesrti
ly. The wind was blowing at the tim,
in gusts with considerable violence, snC
it was impCHabIe TO catch all hat tia
speaker said. It also disarranged the
pspers Of the reporters in such a manner
as almost TO preclude 4 full report Of the
address.
Mr.. johnson having been thus intro
dueed spoke az follows
FeROW Citizens: In appearing before
you on the present occasion, l do not Go
go in the character that 1 rave done ia
tiuRs gone by. When ! came beforeyoU
heIt ofore it YVES usually in making an
sppeal TO you for ONE favor which il
was in your power TO confer. L is not
to solicit favOrs at your hands, go far IS
individual and personal prefsrment is
concerned, that 1 am here to day, but
only in the character Of 2 citizen having
recently retired from the most exalted
position il tbs GIFT OF a free people. In
retiring to private life / feel more pride in
being au American citizen than in being
inaugursteG President owe the ruins of
a violated Constitution.
/ know that ia the beginning OF the
present troubles there we're differences Of
opinion betWeeAtmsny o. yOu aud my
self. You had yCUc opinions, snd l
had mine. Some Of you believed that
by division and separation Of tbs States,
certain thirgs could be accomplished
others, ana / for one, thought differently,
and thought that the true piSce to re-
main was where We Were,-Uuder the
Constitution, and there fight OuT battiea.
That wss my opinion. As 10 how this
wgs TO hSve been accomplished il is not
my intention 20 60 into a DISCUSSION. The
result il before Us all, and shows who was
right and who was wrong. l believe In
maintaining our trus position under the
mkis OF the Constitution. l said there
10 abide was u position, and time would
prove who YVES most correct, whether to
msiutain our ground ard stand firm, or
abandon il and teas sides opposite to the
Constitution. ITeter to this merely to
show thst differences did exist; but look
TT the example Of Charles V, Emperor
Of Germany, VINO wearied vito the cares
lind - IN z-nrnaHLH- rnA 70
signed his throne 60 ais son, 9nd spent his
time 10 retirement in attempting to
regulate the movements of watches and
make them keep time exactly together.
He made various experiments, ana 8gsin
and again tried and failed IN making
shy two OF them keep the same time.
This led him 70 rnect upon the crime
and folly Of trying by force 10 make all
men OF the same opinion as himself. We
sre led by this reference TO see the crime
and folly OF trying to make men Of off
ferent opinions agree. 80
II We d.ff-r in opinions, time Will
prove which Gas right. Give every man
the credit Of being honest in his opinions.
Ii is 3 way thaG 6 man understands 8
question. There can be no debate in 8
Question that we understand. Il ia the
want of understanding questions which
causes argument. To quote y. cOupiet
which / learned years ego
Never argue what you do not understand,
OrWUrshlq q Cod that You can comprehend.
Il is the wsGt OF understanding ques-
tons which causes argument II ques-
lions we're understood, there would bs no
argument. Il is the ineompTehensibility
Of God which causes our worship.
Since / became President OF the United
States, you are 20 doubt aware of he
ferca contest which transpiTed betWeen
The Executive and Congress, sud have
seen the papers tssming With soCse snd
MISREPRESENTATION and oblCQuy upon
me. l was tTaducsd, misrepresented ana
accused Of everything that could b5 IN
famous. Tae contest WAS between two
departments OF the Government.
Government was created for man. ana
not man for government; government
was created for the convenience and pro-
| lection OF mans rights-foE THIS, govern
ment was made.
Let me tell you the great problem to
be worked out now Is whether the Gov
| srnmenti is to be sustained or Overthrown.
In q constitutional government the
power tmRnates from the people. The
| Constitution is the combined ana express
! will Of the people, and limits the powers
/ and functions Of those whO are chosen
/ agents 10 execute their will. 1t was III
| intended To. divide the power into
| three equal Observation-Disclosures Judi
| eiei ana Executive. Wnen it comes L
the Observation-Disclosures sggIessiOn:
under pretsEce Of law, have assumed L
themselves.
TIE Executive branch OF the Govern
ment Is negative. /. is not aggressive
IL can Cniy say TO The lsw-Dakint
power when they sre trauscendinl
their powers, 1thus far shall
/ thou go, and no further" Remain II
Allowance until your action can be sDb
mi,ted to the people, aud they shai
hnye an opportunity Of considering ait
] dateFmiBibg whether Congress is right
ar. il the Measure have 3 two third
majority. ne can return IL to Congress
ana n bseomes q law. Where Congress
nssses a Law by a twO-thirds vote, u bs
comes 4 part Of the Constitution. Hhsl
Won 90 bsek to the orgsni0 Law OF thG
iisDJ, vou see that q law, passed by 6
two. thirds msj Hity, is no more q law
than II simply passed by 3 msJorlty sha
proved. Hence, in Congress, you Noe
lie various laws passed. You are Tamil
lar with ROst of those submitted 10 NJ
for my 6ppfosGl.
l. as President OF the United State
falt fs Incumbent on me 10 veto many.
ssS transmit others back ID them viii
NV : for the same. My reasons
we're given to the country.
have nothing to regret Ia What
have done. Ny only regret is that
could not efficiently stop them ia thei
course. (rremen0us applause ] di'
what | would do again. ! oelieVeo tnej
we're unconstitutional encroachmsnu
ana usurpstiops Of power, snd az al
honest man 1 vetoed them, and Vetoe'
them agsia and again.
There are many that think that tn
passsee by q two thirds vote can chang
the Constitution. Uader thie prs
tense they might usurp all Law, wiz
out the Executive, aud might abOiisi
tie judiciary. Right here is the FoeI
an which the government will split
~ - fafE ahunr d.cnnfIe nnWaF an.