Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-10-24
andrew Johnson's Speech.

vi a
son Was serenaded tonight at the Metropolitan
Hotel, the front of which was decorate, with
flags and Chinese lanterns. An immense crowd
of persons was present.
After music by the baud, calls were made for
"Johuson, when he appeared and was receiv-
ed with cheers He suuke of having made his
first aprearauce 10 Washington thirty years
ago hrltf alluded to the various positions
held by him during that time, and expressed
his cordial thanks for this warm welcome from
those who were either witnesses of his acts or
had heard of them through their relatives aud
trieuds liz wished simply to express the emo
lions of heart that never was false to friend
nr to the country. Arplause. ~,
Having bri,6y alluded 10 the period OF his
PRESIDE ntia lie, when he lived in the midst OF
caumny and detractioD, and meDdaclous and
upprincipIed assaults, y man IN the crowd ex-
claimed, '"And you still live, Andy to which
MIR. Johnson replied Yes, thank God, | am
still alive; aud uot only live physically, but am
alive to the preservation of our institutions and
the interests Of the county. - ! Applause.
| II auy one came here expecting him to argue
questions or make an oratorical display, or ex-
hluit fire works, all he had to say was there
would be disappointment. Even if he had
the mental power, he had not the physical
strength on the present OCCASION: What be
would saw now would be by way IF inquiry, and
he would ask what kind ot.a Government have
we now? Applause, and cries of tell US.
We used to have some idea that there was q
Constitution laughter and e constitutional
| Government, aud as argued when first made
my appearance az member OF Congress, the
Inquiry formerly was as to the powers conferred
upyn the Government. 1t was thought long
ago there was Limitation to power, both as to
tue several States and General Government,
under that instrument. Such was the view Of
Washington, the Father of bis Country, who
was first 10 peace and first in war. and who sac
ri6ed his ease and received 20 pay for bis SER
vices And so thought Jefferson and those
great men who framed the Constitution. When
he first came to Congress there were two great
parties, the Wing aud the Democratic He
wished to-day the country was under their con-
troll. He feared the people would never again
have TWO such parties. The difference between
them was merely this: The Democrats con-
tended for strict construction, while the Wings
claimed a little more latitude. While these
rartes were thus opposed, they both agreed in
the essential principle that there was Consti-
| ,ution But how was it now, or within the last
four wears, or six years When measure was
brought up 10 Congress and its coustitutonality
questioned, the reply would be 10 effect "d-n
the Constitution, we've got the numbers, .
laughter, and while he, was here as friend
of the Constitution, battling and contending for
its existence, the Constitution was taken from
the archives, torn in pieces and trampled under
foot The query came up, what kind OF Gov.
ernwent have we? The consequences Of the
war had perfectly effaced and wiped out the
limitations and restrictions Of the Constitution.
The people, therefore, require to be indoctrln.
ated IN the principles I'D which the Constitution
was established. II the Constitution is wiped
out and Congress is without restraint, where
arc we? Having Government controlled BY
body of men without Limitation as to power,
no Constitution to restrain them, but acting ac-
cordng to their own will and interest, we have
the most odiouS despotism ever permitted to be
established.
Rather than accept such body of men, call
ing themselves Congress, or Parliament or
Courts, with Unlimited power, give him wise
and Just Prince in preference. If the other
Departments were made subordinate aud gave
their assent, the whole thing had better be
wiped out. Applause.] If all power was to
be centred in one man, let him be just and
| good man. Lot it be some man whom it would
| be pride to call master. 1t had been said.
"Why, johnson, you are insane on the Cousti-
tuition; the whole thing is played out, the liber-
ties of the people are gone" IF this be iosan-
ty, he wished to God there was more insanity
10 the country [aughterl; he wisbed'the whole
country would become insane on constitutional
liberty. They should be aroused to it. 1.-THE
people could see as their fathers had seen.
things would be different
He then spoke of the increase of plundering,
and the people being taxed to subserVe the in
terest of particular classes This injustice ap-
| la.l I'll ooI
| States. He wishedit were possible to have an
| of the country, so that when the curtain was
drawn they could see what was going on. There
would then be such reaction as Was never felt
or heard before.
| Mr.. johnson then branehed off on the SUBJ
ject of finance advocating gold aud silver as the
constitutional currency withdrawing all Ma
tonal bauk uotes aud issuing for them green.
backs, to be received in payment OF all Govern
ment dues. He maintained that by this means
we could return to specie payments The idea
that there was not gold and silver enough tor
this purpose was an absurdity: q
The time had come when war should be made
on mouopolies.-the scrambliug for money Land
and the treasury As general thing the peo-
Die did not seem to be alarmed about a third
Presidential term and by apathy many nation
had lost its liberty. Power is passing from The
great mass to few. :.
Mr. johnson then spoke in favor of the cleo
ton of Presideuttor single term of six years.
making Senators elective by the people, and
dividing the Judges into three classes, each
class to be elected at the time of election of
President This, he thought, would do away
with the corruption by which some Senators
buy their seats. But what kind of govern,
meut had they now? a Stateocracy-thep power
of the army. Was it not time for the people to
improve their government, which was to pre-
serve the people in the enjoyment of their lib
crty aud private pursuits. But the converse of
this was nov the practice, which they witnessed
every day. When he was here in the position
of President, there was majority of two thirds
in Congress, and everybody Thought that what
these two-thirds did was constitutional and
right. -. "-t
Suppose when Congress meets next Deem
Der some man of influence should get up and
introduce preamble as follows:
"Whereas the situation of public affairs is