Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-10-24
ANDREW JOHNSON. |
He Is Serenaded in Washington.
What KindofAGeyernment Have Wei

What Kind Of AGoyernment Have We!
A Prince Rather than. n Congress
with Unrestricted Power.
+. WASHINGTON, Oct. 23-Ex President
johnson was serenaded tonight at the
Metropolitan Hotel, the front of which was
lined with flags and Chinese lanterns. An
immense crowd was present. Calls were
made for Mr.. johnson, when he appeared
and was received with cheers. He review
ed the political changes and politics OF tne
country during the 80 years Of his partlci-
paDcy, and briefly alluded to the
period of bis Presidential LIE,
when he lived in the midst OF
calumny and mendacious and uHprincipled
assaults. A man in the crowd exclaimed
sY on still HVe!" 10 which Mr.. johnson re-
piled: Yes, thank God, l am still alive
and not only alive physically, but l am alive
to the preservation of our institutions and
the best interests of the country. Tap,
plause.1 He did not come for oratoricai
display. What he would say now would
be by way Of inquiry, and be would ask
what kind of q Government have we?
GApplanse and cries of s'tell us."1 We
used to have some idea that there was
Constituti ,n, Tlaughterl and q constitution
al Goyernment,a ,as argued when first made
NV appearances as Member Of Congress.
The inquiry formerly was IS to the powers
conferred on the Government. 1t was
thought long ago there was Limitation to
the mower, both as to the several States and
the General Government under that instru
ment, Such was the view of Washington,
the aFather of bis Country;;" who was
ssfirst peace, first in war" and who sacrl-
feed bis ease and received no pay for his
services, and 30 thought Jefferson and those
great men who framed the Constitution.
When he first came to Congress there
were two great parties, Wings ana
Democrats. He wished to-day the
country was under their control.
He feared the people would never again
have two such parties. Inc dinerence
between them was merely Inns: Inc
Democrats contended for strict construc-
ton, while the Wings claimed little more
latitude. While these parties were thus
opposed, they both agreed IN the essential
principle that there was q constitution.
But how was it now, or within the last
four or six years, when q measure was
brought I'D in CONGRESS and its conslsu-
tionalitywas questioned? The reply would be
ineffsct: "Damn the constituti IN; we have
eoL the numbers" (laughter,) and while he
was here as q friend of the Constitution,
battling and contending for It's existence,
the Constitution was taken from the ar
chives, Torn to pieces, and trampled unoer
foot, the query comes up, "Whst Kino OF
government have we?" The consequences
Of war had fearfully effsced and wiped out
the limitations and restrictions OF the Con
stitution. The people, therefore, required
to be indoctrinated in the principles on
which the Constitution was estaD-
lished. If the Constitution is wiped
out and Congress is without restraint,
where are we? Having governments con-
trolled by men without limitation as TO
power, no constitution to restrain then, ,but
act In accordance with their own will, We
have the most odious despotism ever per-
mitted TO be established. Rather than &C
cent such body of men calling themselves
Congress, a parliament or courts, with un-
limited power, give him wise and just prince
in urefererce. Other departments were
made subordinate and gave their assent.
The whole thing had better be wiped out.
| If all the power was to be ceutered in one
man, let him be just, good man-some
one whom it would be pride to call mas
ter. 1t had been said, "Why, Johnson,you
are insane on the Constitution; the whole
sthing is PLAYED out; the liberties Of the peo-
pie are gone.n If this be insanity, be wish
ed to God there were more insanity IN
the country. Gaughter.) He wished
the whole country would become insane on
constitutional liberty. We should be
aroused. If the people could see as their
fathers saw, things wouli be different. He
then spoke of the increase Of plunderers; oi
the people being taxed to Subserve the in,
| terests of particular classes. This injustice
applied to both the Federal government
and those of the State. He wished it were
possible to have an amphithsatre con-
structed to seat all the people OF the country
SO that when the curtain Wa'
drawn, they could see wha
was going on. There would be such re
acion as was never felt or heard of before
But it might be said that this was all talk
we can carry elections. How carry them
While heavy taxes were being laid on th'
people, the ballot-box was corrupted ant
degraded, controlled by money in the hand
of those who are not the peoples friends
A great deal has been said about Csesarism
He never was fanatic either in politics o
religion. The word was his home AL
every honest man his brother. In the Ian
guaee of Burke, Emmett and other Britis
statesmen, when bad men combine for COZ
rupt purposes, the time has come whel
good men should come to arrest encroach
meut on the constitution aAd country. LIE
them, good, honest and pure, associate Il
the common cause to arrest all eDcroacr
ment on constitutio lal liberty. He kne'
there were societies called oranges, but Dc
yond this he didn't care if they would tax
under their control the State and Nations
governments and preserve them for the in
terest of the people. For this he Woul
say, Amen. se.vaa
He branehed off on the subject OF finance:
advocating gold and silver as constitutions
currency, and the withdrawal of all Nation;
bank notes and issuing for them greenback
to be received in payment of all governmeI
dues. He maintained that by this mear
, we could return to specie payments. Tt
I idea that there was not gold an
silver enough for this purpos
was an absurdity. But VIII
: was now the matter? In other times bsnl
, suspepded because they had no coin to pa
| but now they suspend because they al
Z | deficient of paper. Alluding to Wall stree
/ he said, millions of dollarss pass duriog IL
:. day fiom one hand to another. Capital
: not increased by this, nor was anythir
! added to the productions of the country
Wall street is demoralizsd by such procee'
: ings. When nation, like an indivdus
: sins il the violation of law, il brint
: punishment, and it was no
I time we should return to the old LANDMARKS
i, The time had come when war should
: made on monopolies. The people did q
9 seem to be alarmed about the third pres
: dental term, but by apathy many natiol
/. have lost their liberty. Power is passln
4 from the great mass to few.
Mr.. johnson than spoke of electing Pre-:
ident for a single term of 6 years and NAL
! Senators elective by the people. He spoi
t ofhow Napoleon had managed to be elect
s President, and how he managed to De elec
q ed Emperor. He saw how, unarmea, {
{ people would lsubmis when brought dow
Q and unless the people of this country look
+ at the matter in the right sense, this go
i ernment would 60 the way of Fran
{ Mr., johnson, ia conclusion, said: "Ta
. my wishes for your prosperity and hap
i ness, and may God bless you all" L
e crowd cheered, there was music by t
Y band, and many old friends rushed into
9 parlor to congratulate the ex-Presider
l. who had spoken to them for two hours.