Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-08-11
Why Sumner is Opposed to Grant
The Impeachment-The
One-Term Principle.
Another Amendment to the Con.
StitUtiOn - Reform NeceS-
sary-He is for Greeley
and Democracy.
He Wants to Fill up the Bloody
ChaSm and Shake Hands
Great and Prolonged
Enthusiasm.

Special to the Appeal
KNOXVILLE, August l0.-Ex-Presi-
, dent Johnson spoke here to-day to /
large meeting of citizens of Knoxville
and surrounding counties. The meet
ing was held at the Female Institute
in the northwestern part of the town
from the porch of which the speaker adj,
dressed the people. The weather wa.
very favorable, and in addition to thi.
, the shade of a fine grove contributed tC
the comfort of the crowd.
INTRODUCTION OF THE SPEAKER.
Mr.. johnson was introduced by Hon.
Thomas A. r. Nelson, who referred in
feeling terms to the peculiar intimacy
existing between himself and the orator
of the day. He introduced him as a
man who had been in public life for over
thirty years and participated promi-
nently in the recent great public events
that agitated the nation.
MR.. JOHNsON's SPEECH.
Mr.. johnson spoke over two hours, du-
ring which he touched upon constitu-
tional questions principally. In dwell
! ing upon that provision of the constitu-
| ton which prohibits the Legislators and
officers and citizens OF the United States
from taking bribes, presents, or gratui-
! ties from any foreign prince, power, or
potentate, he said that an amendment
! ought to be added, making il
A CRIME
to receive any gratuity from citizens or
milliOnaires of the United States. In
this connection, he referred to the con-
duct and fate of Sir John Trevor, Speak
er of the British House of Commons,
who was expelled that body for receiving
a gratuity of one thousand guineas.
Poor Trevor" said Mr.. Johnson, Gre
eeived but five thousand dollars, and was
disgraced forever. Our Executive took
fifty thousand from a. T. Stewart, for
which the donor was nominated to the
Secretaryship Of the Treasury. He took
FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS
from Borie, and BOrie was nominated to
the Navy, and from HOar, of Massa-
chusetts, be got another dOuceltr
for which he was rewarded by being
made AttOrney-Gene 1t was an
oversight in the fathers not to have con-
stitutiOnally provided against
GIFT-TAKING FROM MILLIONAIREs
by citizens of the United States. He
spoke at great length on the reckless ex-
penditIre Of Grants administra-
ton, and showed that dnring
the three years and seven months Of
JOhnsOn's administration the public
debt was reduced by five hundred and
fourteen million dollars, while during
Grants term the reduction was only two
hundred and seventY-seven million
dollars. He said that Sumner turned !
and fought against the present admins |
tration, because it was guilty Of "A
CONGLOBIERATION OF WRONGS,
any particle of which was infinitely |
greater than those alleged against him |
self johnson, when they clamored for |
his Impeachment. Sumner was Dromi- |
nent i'll that affair. Why does he not |
get up an
IMPEACHMENT
against the present corrupt administra- |
ton? 1t has taken bribes. it has kept |
bad men in Office. 1t has squandeTed |
public moneys. The expenditures being |
one hundred and seVenty-seven million |
guilty of all this, and yet no talk of i'm !
peachment is heard of. He hoped in |
November the people would impeach, |
and not only impeach, but
PRONOUNCE THE SENTENCE
of guilty against the administration. |
He was not candidate, but, being in |
the city, was called upon to speak to |
the people. He would speak, IT. by so |
doing, his efforts would contribute to-
ward that great event in.November. He /
said the one-term principle had long |
been a favOrite one with candidates. The |
Democracy spoke of it years ago, but
some how or other when Presidents get !
in on the
ONE-TERM PRINCIPLE
they sought to get in on another term
principle when their time was UP.
Laughter. He was for the one-term
and also for electing the Presi-
dent by direct vote of the people. If,
on the first election, no one should get
the majority Of all the votes, then let
the two highest go back to the people
He wanted this provided for by cOnsti-
tutional amendments in this manner:
THE STATES TO BE DIVIDED
i
date receiving the greatest number of
votes in district to be counted as hav-
ing one vote. In the event of no can
didate receiving a majority of the votes
in the whole country, then the two high
est to be sent back to the people, and
not, as now, leave the election with the
Congress. He would have the
UNITED STATES SENATORS
elected in similar manner, and not by
the Legislatures. Z" want to bring the
said he. close To the
people. 1t is government of the peo-
pie, and the nearer it is to them the less
likelihood there is Of corruption. /
would rather trust the people," he said,
81 than party legislators" He said he
knew the power of cliques and rings and
money influence in the selection of Sen
atOrs, and felt there was
REFORM REQUIRED
in the manner Of selecting them. Speak
ing of the present canvass, he said, in
view of all the circumstances, and be-
cause he could do no better, he was for
Horace Greeley. He had been with the
Democratic party, or with the Conserva-
tive party, whichever you choose to call
it, all his life, and he would follow 1t
still.
HE WOULD TAKE GREELEY
as the party took him on the principle
Of universal pressure. Having removed
the malicious vapor, he was willing to
take his chances as to what would rush
in to fill its place. He said that he
could do nothing else than stand by that
grand old party with which he fought
so long and achieved so many victories.
thou gOest go, and where YOU
lodgest lodge; for thy God is my God.
Immense Cheers He felt very much
like Wells in respect of Greeley, who
said he would take bim as crooked
stick to beat a dog with. Great enthu-
siasm. He said he did not want TO
shake hands over the bloody chasm; he
wanted to
ELL. TIE CHASM UP.