The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-10-24
Ex-President johnson Serenaded

johnson was serenadcd tonight at the
: metropolitan Hotel, which was decor.
Q ated with flags and Chinese lanterns.
An immense crowd was present. Calls
: were made for Mr.. johnson when he an.
peared and was received with cheers: lie
reviewed the political changes of tho
politics oi the country during the thirty
] years OF his participancy. He briefly al.
luded to the period Of his Presidential lie
! when he lived IN the midst of calumny
and dctraction, and mendacious, and
, unprincipled assaults. A man in the
crowd exclaimed, "You still live" 10
which Mr.Johnsonreplied ayes, l thank
God am alive, and not only alive physic.
ally, but l am alive 10 the preservation OF
our institutions and tho best interests Of
the country" Applause He did not
come for oratorial display. What he
would say now would be BY way Of in
quiry, and he would ask what kind OF a
Government have we now? [Applause
and cheers Of tell US We used TO have
some idea that there was q Constitu.
ton Laughter and q Government,
as l argued when / first made
my appearance as q member of Congress.
The inquiry formerly was as 10 the pow.
ers conferred upon the Government. It
was thought long ago that there was
Limitation to tho power both as to, the
several States and General Government
under that instrument. Such was the
view OF Washington, the father OF his
country, who was first in peace and first
in war, who sacrificed his case and
received no pay for his services, and so
thought Jefferson and those great men
who framed the constitution. When he
first came to Congress there were two
parties, Wings and Democrats. He wished
today the country was under their control,
but feared the people would would never
again have two such parties. Their diff.
erence was merely this: The Democrats
contended Tor strict construction, while
the Wings claimed little more latitude.
While these parties were thus opposed,
they both agreed in one essential princi-
pie, that there was o Constitution. But
how was 1t now, or within the last six or
seven years. When the measure was
brought up In Congress, and Its Constu-
tionality was questioned, the reply would
be in effect, damn the Constitution we have
got the numbers. [Laughter.] And while
he was here as friend Of the Constitu-
ton battling and contending for its exist.
ence, the Constitution was taken from the
archives, torn TO pieces and trampled un.
der foot. The query came up what kind
OF government have we? The conse-
quences OF the war had fearfully effaced
and wiped out the limitations and restric-
tions II the Constitution. The peo.
pie therefore required to be indoctrinated
In the principles In which the Constitu.
ton was established. II the Constitution
is wiped out, and Congress Is without re.
straint, where are we? Having the gov.
ernment controlled by body OF men
without limitation as to power, no con.
stitution 10 restrain them, but acting &C
cording 10 their own will and interests,
we have the most odious despotism
ever permitted 10 be established. Rather
than accept such body Of men, calling
themselves Congress, or Parliament, or
Courts, with unlimited power, give him
wise and just prince in preference. II
other departments were made subordinate
and gave their assent, the whole thing had
better be wiped out II all power was to
be centered in one man, let him be a just
and good man; let him be some man whom
1t would be pride to call master. II
had been said, "Why, johnson, you are
insane on the Constitution; the whole
thing Is played out; the liberties Of the
people are gone" II this be insanity, he
wished 10 God there was more insanity
in the country. [Laughterl He wished
the whole country would become insane
on constitutional liberty. They should
be aroused to 1t. II the people could see
as their fathers saw, things would be dif-
ferent.
He then spoke Of the increase Of plum.
derers, Of the people being taxed to sub.
serve the. interest oil particular Glasses.
This injustice applied to both the Federal
Government and that Of the States. He
wished II was possible to have an amphi-
theatre constructed to seat all the people
Of the country, so that when the curtain
was drawn they could see what wasgo-
ing on. There would then be such re.
action as was never felt or heard of
before; but II might be said that this
was all talk. We can carry elections.
How were they carried while heavy taxes
were being laid on the peopleP Tho bal
lot box was corrupted and degraded and
controlled by money In the hands Of those
who are not the peoples friends. A great
deal has been said about Cesarism. He
never was a partisan in politicsor O fanatic
In religion. The world was his home and
every honest man his brother. In the Ian.
guage oil Burke, the eminent British states.
man, when bad men combine for cor
rupt purpose, the time has come when good
men should combine 10 resist the en-.
croachments on the Constitution and
country. Let then good, honest and pure
associate In common cause to resist all
encroachments on Constitutional liberty.
He knew there were societies called
grangers, but beyond this he did not care
If they would only take under their con.
troll the State and National Governments
and administer and preserve them from
the interests Of the people. To this he
would say amen. So be It. yi.!.f'.i. 10.
MIR. johnson then branched of on tho
subject Of finance, advocating gold and
silver as the Constitutional currency, and
the withdrawal Of all national bank notes
and insuring for them greenbacks to be
received In payment for all dues. He
maintained that by this measure we could
return to specie payments. The idea that
there was not gold and silver enongh
TOR this purpose, was an abaerdity. But
what was now the matter that banks had
suspended. 1t used to be that banks sus-
pended because they had not the coin to
pay. But OF present banks suspended be.
cause they are deficient in paper money.
Banks and brokers could suspend, and
There was no way to reach them.
There was one portion of the people that
did not suspend, namely, tho Taxpayers
and producers OF the country. Specula-
tors could suspend with millions There
were two things certain-death and pay
ment OF taxes. Laughter.