Year: 1866

congress gradually encroach, step BY step,
upon Constitutional rights. and violate daily
month after month, the fundamental,
principle Of the Government. We have
seen Congress that seemed to forget there
was Constitution. and that there was a
limit to the power and scope Of legislation.
We have seen Congress in a minority a..
sumo to exercise powers. which, If allowed
to be carried out, would result in despotism
of mon archy itself. Cries Of That is
So, and enthusiastic cheers. This is truth,
and because others, as we'll as myself, have
seen proper to appeal to the patriotism and
republican feeling of the country, we have
been denounced in the most severe terms;
slander upon SANDER, vituperation upon vi.
tuperation, Of the most villanous character,
has made its way through the public press.
What, gentlemen, has been your and my
aim? What has been the cause Of your Of,
fendings will tell you Daring to stand
by the Constitution of our fathers"


The President here approached the spot
where Senator johnson was standing and
said: II consider the proceedings Of the
Convention, sir. more important than those
OF any Convention ever assembled in the
United States. When I look with my
minds eye upon that collection Of citizens
coming together voluntarily and sitting in
council, with ideas. with principles and
views commensurate with all the States and
co'extensive with the whole people and con-
trast it with the collection Of gentlemen
who are trying to destroy the country. l
regard it as more important than any Con.
vention that has sat. at least, since 1915.
Cheers think may say that the de
clarations made there are equal to the De-
cIaration Of Independence. AS stand
here to day l pronounce it a second Declar.
alton Of Independence. Your address and
declarations are nothing more or less than
reaffirmation Of the Constitution Of the
United States. Yes. l will 60 farther and
say, that the declarations you have made,
and that the Principles you have enunciated
In your address, are a second proclamation
of emancipation to the people Of the United
States. Renewed applause. For in pro
claiming and reprocIaiming these great
truths you have laid down a constitutional
platform upon which all can make common
cause and stand together for the restoral ion
of States and the preservation of the Gov.
ernment, without reference to party. The
sole question is the salvation of our country.
for our country rises above all party con
siderations or influences. How many there
are in the United States that now require to
be free, that bear the shackl's upon their
limbs, and are bound as rgidly as though
they were in slavery! repeat. then, that
your declaration is the second proclamation
10 the people Of the United States, and it
offers common ground upon which all patri'
OTIS can stand"


The remainder of the speech ralates to
the action Of the President on the Freed
mems Bureau bill, a subject with which all
are familiar. The telegraph says:


"At the conclusion Of the President q
remarks, three cheers we're given for An
drew johnson. and three more for General
Grant. The President and General Gran,
then retired arm in'arm, and the Committee
and audience commenced to disperse"