Year: 1866

tiHuC W lLCTcttSc Ill strength anu power,
1t may be cemented and cleansed with blood.


[ have talked longer, my countrymen, than
| L intended With many acknowledgements for
the honor you have done me- | will say one
word in reference to the amendments to the
Constitution of the United States Shortly af
ter [ reached Washington for the purpose Of
being inaugurated Vice-P President, had con-
versation with Mr. Lincoln. We were talking
about the condition of affairs, and In reference
to matters in my own State. l said we had
called a convention and demanded a constitu-
ton abolishing slavery in the State, which pro-
vision was not contained in the President
proclamation. This met with his appreciation
and he gave me encouragement In talking
upon the subject OF amendments to the COnstl-
tuition, he said, swhen the amendment to the
Constitution now proposed is adopted by three
fourths of the States, should be pretty nearly
or quite done as regards forming amendments
| to the CONSTITUTIONAL there should be one 9TH
er adopted" | asked what that other amend
ment suggested was, and he replied, II have
| labored to preserve this Union I have toiled
four years. [ have been subjected to calumny
and misrepresentation, and my great and sole
desire has been to preserve these States intact
under the Constitution, as they were before;
and there should be an amendment to the Con
stltutlon which would Compel the States to send
their Senators and Representatives to the Con-
gress of the United States.' He saw as part
Of the doctrine Of secession that the States could


if they were prepared, withdraw their Senators
and Representatives,; and he wished to remedy
this evil by the adoption of the amendment sug


gested. Even that portion of the Constitution
which differs from other organic law says that
no State shall be deprived of It's representation.
We now find the position taken that States
shall not be recognized; that we will impose
taxation; and where taxes are to be imposed
the Representatives elect from thence are met
at the door, and told: sNo; you must pay
taxes, but you cannot participate in a Govern
ment which is to affect you for all time" Is
this just? lVoices-.''No!r "Nor'l We see
for the Union. / am for preserving all the
States. They may have erred, but let US ad-
NIT those into the councils of the nation who are
unmistakably loyal Let the man who ac-
knowledges allegiance to the Government and
swears to support the Constitution, Che cannot
do this in good faith unless he is loyal; no
amplifcation Of the oath can make any differ
ence;) it is a mere detail, which | care. nothing
about; let him be unquestionably loyal to the
Constitution of the United States and its Gov
ernment, and willing to support it in It's peril,
and am willing to trust him. L know that
some do not attach so much Importance to the
principle as [ do. One principle that carried
us through the Revolution was, that there
should be no taxation without representation.
| hold that that principle which was laid down
by our fathers for the country's good then is
important to it's good now. II it was worth bat
Ting for then, it is worth battling for now 1t
is fundamental, and should be preserved so long
as our Government lasts | know it was said
by some during the rebellion that the Consttu-
ton had been rolled up as piece OF parchment,
and should be put away, and that in time Of re-
bellion there was no Constitution. But it is
now unfolding; it must now be read and adjus-
ted and understood by the American people.


[ come here to-day to yindicate, in so far as
can in these remarks the Constitution; to
save it, as believe, for it does seem that en-
croachment after encroachment is to be pressed;
and as [ resist encroachments on the Govern
ment stand to-day prepared to resist encroach


ments on the Constitution, and thereby pre-


serve the Government. II is now peace, and
let us have peace. Let us enforce the Consti-
tuition. Let us live under and by its provisions.
Let it be published in blazoned characters, as
though it were in the heavens, SO that all may
read and all may understand it. Let US consult
that instrument, and, understanding its princi-
pies, let US apply them. [ tell the opponents
Of this Government, and [ care not from what
quarter they come, East Or West, North or
South, you that are engaged in the work Of
breaking up this Government are mistaken
The Constitution and the principles of free gov
ernment are deeply rooted in the American
heart. All the powers combined, | care not
of what character they are, cannot destroy the
image of Freedom. They may succeed for
time, but their attempts will be futile, They
may as well attempt to lock UP the winds or
chain the waves. Yes, they may as well at
tempt to repeal it las it would seem the Con-
stitution can be) by concurrent resolution
but when it is submitted to the popular judg


ment, they will find it just as well to introduce
resolution repeating the law Of gravitation: and
IL, H.
/ Union is about as feasible as resistance to the
great law of gravity which binds all to great
common centre. This great law Of gravitation
will bring back those States to harmony and
their relations to the Federal Government, and
all Vaccinations North and South cannot pre-
vent it. Cheers All that is wanting is time,
until the American people can understand what
is going on, and be ready to accept the WOW
just as it appears to me- L would to God that
the whole American people could be assembled
here to-day as you are L could wish to have
an amphitheatre large enough to contain the
whole thirty millions; that they could be here
and witness the great struggle to preserve the
Constitution of our fathers They could at
once see what it is, and what kind of spirit is
manifested in the attempt to destroy the great
principles OF free government; and they could
understand who is for them and who is against
them, and who was for ameliorating their con-
ullOn. 1nelf OppOSoFS cOulu De placeu DeIOfe
them, and there might be regular contest,
and in the first tilt the enemies OF the country
would be crushed. I have detained you longer
than [ intended but in this struggle am your
instrument Where is the man or woman, in
private Or public life, that has not always re-
ceiyed my attention and my time? Sometimes
it is said, s'that man johnson is lucky man.
/ will tell you what constitutes good fortune =
doing right and being for the people. The peo-
MI IN tbor fbcton n
their sagacity and Judgment are frequently un.
derrated or underestimated, but somehow or
other the great mass of the people will find out
who is for them and who is against them.-
You must indulge me in this allusion when [
say L can lay my hand on my bosom and say
that in all the positions in which [ have been
! placed-many Of them as trying as any in
which mortal man could be put-so far, thank
God, have not deserted the people, nor do [
hnli01ra tla4aIr Eli -