The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-04-02
SPEECH OF ANDREW JOHNSON
In the rnitsd states senate upon Lou
isisns Affairs.

hour OF meeting. and by the time the Sen.
ate was called 10 order. nor even standing
room was To be obtained In the galleries.
the d~OOrways. or the passages leading
TIRE. Upon the floor were 4 large mum
Der of members OF the House OF Repre-
sentatives and others entitled 10 the priv
ilege Of the floors.
Consideration Of the unfinished bust
ness, the resolution approving OF the ac-
ton of the President In regard TO Louisi-
ana. was resumed, and Andrew johnson
Of Tennessee, being entitled 10 the floor.
began 20 speak al ten minutes past u
O'Clock.
Mr.. johnson said This resolution pro-
poses 70 cover acts and measures which |
think clearly in violation of the organic
law of the land. and without authority.
That being so, | cannot give my consent
70 the resolution aud will be compelled 10
vote against il. think il proper that !
should give some few reasons why / an
not give il my vote. In the first place.
Mr.. President, il seems 10 me that the
consideration Of q resolution embracing
questions Of such grave importance Is not
legitimate, and legitimately before this
body. In other words. 1t H. not legitimate
TO consider il before "A Senate convened as
this has been convened, 10 act solely upon
business pertaining 70 the Executive De-
partment. II IL is legitimate TO act on the
measure now under consideration by this
body. Is is Legitimate 10 consider every act
and every question upon which the adj
ministration has acted since its advent 10
power. II does not seem 20 me to be trav-
cling much further ont of the record for
the Executive TO come forward and pre-
sumo To act In defiance of the legislature
than for the legislature 10 come forward
and approve the acts Of the President.
Ordinary measures are presented for the
consideration Of Congress. and when they
are acted upon IL is the duty of the Presi-
dent to consider them and approve Or re-
ject them.
Mr.. johnson argued al length that the
Senate had no authority 10 act upon the
resolution. especially in the absence Of the
other house. lie contendcd that the reso-
%lutions of Messrs. Morton and Freling-
huyscn Were the same in substance. with
a mere modification in the matter Of YER
biage 10 suit the particular views of some
individuals. lie mex referred 10 the
trouble in the Tennessee Legislature in
1866. and the action OF the Federal Gov
eminent instrucling General George III.
Thomas, in command OF the Federal forces
there. to strictly abstain from any inter-
ference. His instructions, he said. were
as follows:
WASHINGTON, July Il, lSg.
General Grant win instruct General Thomas
that the facts stated in his telegram do not war
rant the Interference Of the military. The ad-
ministra'ion Of laws and preservation Of peace
in Nashville belong properly ID the State authori-
ties, and the duty of the United states authorities
l. not to interfere in any way in the controversy
between the public authorities Of the state, and
General Thomas will strictly abstain from any
interference between them.
Here Is a precise case. and that was the
action Of the Government. Ii was be-
licyed that il was a civil strife-a contest
between two divisions of the civil govern
ment-and was a case. rs stated in the tel
cgram sent back TO General Thomas. sim
liar TO the one on Louisiana. That dis
patch wa signed by the Secretary OF War.
and was written in the presence Of the
President and sent TO General Grant TO
send to General Thomas. He was told
that this was no. a case calling for inter-
ference of the military, and hs (Ihomas)
should abstain from interference under
any circumstance whatever. Ii would
seem that this il the mark-stCne between
the civil and military authorities. There
l. the precedent vi the Government ia
that case. and the cases are almost paral-
lei, and that was what the Government
did then. What are we old newI We
see then that the President of the United
States was familiar with and understood
what was the action Of the Government
in cases of this kind, and Of the duty OF
the military and civil authorities. We see
then that the question was not unknown
TO him. and he has not acted without
proper and sufficient information upon
the subject. III he has been informed Of
and acted and carried out the order OF the
telegram that l have read. he must have
understood IL and known IL was the true
doctrine and principle upon which ca-es
of this kind should be managed by the
military.
He then referred TO the removal of GEN
eral Il. III. Sheridan from the command of
the Fifth Military Distr ct. Aug. rs. 1867,
and said IL was In consequence OF the wall
that came up from the people Of that sec
ton. Why was il that this man Sheridan
had been selected and sent back 10 those
people who before condemned him and
praved for his removal? He %(Johnsonl
knew the determination of the people of
the south their great object was To be re-
stored To the Union. He would tell some
of those who were acting behind the cur
tain that ii they expected to stir up an
other civil strife. and amid the war cry and
strife nave one ride into power for a third
term, they might bid farewell TO liberty.
Applause In galleries.
The President pro tenn Ferry of Mich
gan)-The Chair will interfere with the
gentleman from Tennessee to inform the
galleries that il is in violation of the rules
of the Senate to express approval or dis
approval. The Sergcant-at-Arms will put
a sufficient force in the galleries to pre-
serve order.
Mr. johnson, rcsuming. argued at
length in opposition 10 a third term. and
spoke of United States officials receiving
presents, and in this connection said:
This question Of gift-taking would be
Just as legitimate a subject to consider here
to-day as the subject we have now under
consideration. We could consider lust as