The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1875-03-26
FIRST GUN FROM ANDY.

} out that Andrew would be heard from
} on this occasion, the galleries were
/ crowded long before the hour Of
meeting to-day, and when the Senate
was called to order there was not
even standing room in then ~hile
on the floor Of the Senate there were
many members and others entitled to
the privilege.
AS soon as order was restored Mr.
johnson took the floor, and the tele-
graph gives us The following epitome
Of his speech
He first referred to the trouble in
the legislature in 1866 and the action
Of the federal government at that
time, the instruction to Gen. Thomas,
in command Of the federal forces, to
strictly abstain from any interference.
In quoting the dispatch conveying
such instruction, to Gen. Thomas he
said the dispatch was signed by the
Secretary of War and the present
President. He declared it was not
his intention to give utterance to
single personal matter, but to speak
Of public acts. He then referred to
the removal of Gen. Sheridan from
the command Of the Fifth Military
District in 1867, and said it was in
consequence of wall which came up
from the people of that section.
Why was it that this man Sheridan
had been selected to go back to these
people who before condemned him
and prayed for his removal? He
| (Johnson) knew the determination
the people sought. Their greatest
object was to be restored to the
Union. He would tell some of those
who were acting behind the curtain
that if they expected to stir up an
other civil war and amid the war-cry
and strife have one ride into power
for the third term, then they might
bid farewell to liberty. Applause
in the galleries..
He then proceeded to argue at
length against the third term. In
speaking of gift taking by U. S. off
cials, he said this question would be
just as Legitimate subject to consid-
er here to-day as the one now under
consideration. Returning to the ac-
ton of the President in Louisiana
affairs, he referred to the provision
of the constitution that the United
States shall guarantee every State in
the Union q republican form of Gov
ernment, and said he didn't under
stand the President to be the United
States. That provision didn't au-
thorize the Executive Of his own voli-
ton to take charge i'll person Oh by
agent selected from the army of a
State government. He declared the
time had been in this country within
his recollection when if an act of
usurpation like this had been at
tempted, it would have produced
shock throughout the nation and
storm of Indignation would have been
ready to hurl the perpetrator from
power Now we saw things differ
entity. We had gone outside the con-
stitution in o way that would bring
this government to an end or change
its character entirely. Again, referr-
ing to the orders sent Sheridan, the
speaker said here was a general Of the
army sent with authority to go and
look over this country and mark him
self out an empire, prescribe the lines
of his government or territory he
should control, and in which his
power is absolute as that of ON en-
peror. Where, he asked, did this
power of usurpation and tyranny
come from? "Upon what meat doth
this our Caesar feed that he hath
grown so great" that he can mark out
the boundaries of empires and place
military commanders over them. He
thought it time that the country was
awakened to consider theses. things.
The senator described the orgaAizaz
ton of the Louisiana legislature, and
declared the action of the military in
the case was unconstitutional. He
would vote against the resolution,
not because it was a Republican
measure, but on the principle that if
Presidential interference with the
affairs of State were sanctioned in
this case, why not apply it to all
othersp He referred to and de-
nounced the action of the President
in Arkansas affairs, and speaking of
the growth of federal power as
evinced in the action in Louisiana
and Arkansas affairs, the force bill
and the pending resolution, he de-
clared there must be something be-
hind all this, and continued eve
can only look at it in the light Of
events that will transpire in the ap-
preaching Presidential election, when
we may have conqueror and usurper
installed in the government, and he
has gone on extending his military
power until he has accomplished his
purpose, The time may come when
some member of the other House
may introduce a resolution like this.
Whereas, A great disturbance and
dissatisfaction exists in the country,
and for the sake of the preservation
Of peace and harmony in the country,
ResolUed, That A. or b, is declared |
President" | don't care whether
you call him King or President, for |
the next eight years. What would |
you do thenS Where is the power
to prevent, and whore is the navy? |
What could you do IN the impotency |
and weakness of an unarmed people, |
when brought in contact with armed |
forcoY We well know we would be
powerless. And To-day, in the pres
ence Of this Senate, warn the people
against the approaching danger II
tell my countrymen, Mr.. President, |