The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-10-24

=, Ex.PRESEDENE-A ANDY J0HESON.s-r
lie IS sERESADED AND fsPEAKs-YHAT
HE THINKS :GR THE CONDITION OF THE
COUNTRY, &c, &c. - tp1
WAsnrSGToS, October, 23.-Ex- President
johnson was serenaded tonight at the
metropolitan Hotel, the 'front.' OF which was
decorated with flags and Chinese lanterns.
An immense crowd of persons were pre-
sent. .Ha 49,:
., After music By the band, calls were made
for johnson, when he appeared and was re-
ceived with cheers. He spoke Of having
made his first appearance in Washington
thirty years ago. briefly alluded to the va.
Tious political 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 and friends.
He wished simply to, express the emotions
OF heart that never was false to q friend or
the country. tApplause.1 ~ 80. y - -.
Having briefly alluded to The period Of
bis presidential life, when he lived n the
midst Of calumny and detracion and menda-
cious and unprincipled assault, man In the
crowd exclaimed " and you still live, Andy"
TO: which johnson replied: Yes, thank
GOD, / am stiH alive, and not only live physi-
cally, but am alive to the preservation of our
institutions and. the best, interests Of the
country" [Applause.] = *1,a = - 20 -''''
Ii any one come here expecting him to
argue questions, or make an eratorieal dis
play, or exhibit fireworks, all he: had to say
was that there would be a disappointment.
Even if he had the mental power, be had
not the physical strength. on the present oe-
caSion. What be wUuld say now would be
by way of inquiry; and he would ask what
kind Of a Government had we, noW2 APP
plause, and cries Of tell us.l We used to
| have some ideas that there was a Con$titu;
|, ton, [laughterl and a constitutional govern
ment, and, as argued when first made my
appearance rs q member of Congress, the in
lquiry formerly was 10 the. powers conferred
upon the ;Government. Tt was Thought long
ago that there was IA Limitation to- power.
both as 30 the several States and the Cen
cral Government, under that instrument.
Such was the view of Washington, the
father Of his country, who was first in peace
and first in war, and who sacrificed his ease
and received no pay for his services and
so thought Jefferson and those great men
who framed the Constitution. When ne
first came to ChDgrcss there were two great
parties, the Wing and the Democratic. He
wished to-day the country was under their
control. He feared the people would never
again have two such parties. The difference
between them was merely this The DEM
ocrats commended for strict construction,
while the Wings, claimed little more
latitude. While these parties were thus OPP
posed they both agreed in the essential
principle that there was u Constitution. But
how was it now, or within the last four or
five years: When 4 measure WIS brought
up IN Congress, and its constitutionaliLy WAS
questioned, the reply would lie, in effect,
I'D n the Constitution we've got the
numbers" [Laughter.] And while be
was here, a friend of the Constitution, bat
Ting and colitending for its! existence, the
Constitution was taken from the archives,
torn in pieces, and trampled under foot.
The query came up: "What kind Of Il gov
eminent have WEI" The consequences of
the war had perfectly etfaced and wiped out
the limitations and restrictions of the Con-
stilution. The people therefore require 10
be indoctrinated into the principles III whi>h
the Constitution was established. II the
Constitution is wiped out, and Congress s
without restraint. where are we? Having 4
government controlled by a body Of men
without limitation as to power, no Cons ttu-
ton to restrain them, but acting according
TO their own will and interest, we have the
most odious despotism ever p.rmitted to be
established. 80. ~
Rather than accept such body Of men,
calling themselves Congress, or Parliament,
or courts, with unlimited power, give him a
wise and Just Prince in preference. II the
other departments were made subordinate,
and gave their assent, the whole thing had
better be wiped out. lApplauSe. If all the
power was TO be centered in one man, let him
be just and good mun. Let him be some
man whom it would be q pride to call mas
ter. .. ..i- .... .s-. .l.rIar1f
1t had been said: "Why, johnson, you
are insane on the Constitution. The whole
thing is played out. 4 The liberties of the
people are gone." If this be insanity, he
wished to God there was more insanity i'll
the country. ILaughter.] He wished the
whole country would become insane on con-
stitutioual liberty. They should be aroused
to it. If the people could see as their fathers
saw. things would be different. go -. -.''
/ He then spoke of the increase of plum
derers. the people being taxed to subSerye
the interests of particular classes. This in
Justice applied to both the Federal Govern
ment and the States. He wished 1t possible
to have an amphitheatrei constructed to seat
all the people 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 Of. before. But it might
be said .'this was all talk,"
we can CARRY the elections. How carry them
while heavy taxes were being laid on the
people! The ballot-box was corrupted and
| degraded controlled by money ID the hands
of those who are not the peoples friends.
A.. great deal had been isaid I about
CaSarism. He never. Was partisan in
politics or a fanatic In religion. fhe world
was his home, and every, honest man
bis brother, In the Language " OF
Burke, the eminent British statesman,
j" w hen tad men combined for corrupt pur-
poses the time has come when good men
should combine to resist Entertainments on
constitution and country" Let, then, fhe
good, honest. and pure men associate la
| common cause to resist all encroachments on
constitutional liberty. he knew that there
were societies called Oranges, but beyond
this be did not care If they would only take
under their control the State and National
Governments, and administer and preserve
them for the interests of the people. To this
he woul I'D say Amen, so belt. johnson then
branched off on the subject Of finance, adyo.