Year: 1866

stood by the American people. leone here


to-day, as far as | can, in making these re-


marks to vindicate the Constitution and tC


save it, for it does seem to me that encroach.


ment after encroachment is proposed,


stand to day prepared, so far as / can, to re.


slst these encroachments upon the CoDsttu-


tion and Government. Now that we have


peace let us enforce the Constitution, let US


live under and by its provisions, let it be


published, let it be printed IN Blazing capi-


tails, as if it were in the heavens, punctuated
with stars, that all may read and understand.
/ Let US consult that instrument; let US d.


gest It's provisions; understand them, and,


understanding, abide by them. tellthe op-


ponents of this Government, care not from


what quarter they come, whether from the


East, West, North or South, you who are


engaged in the. work OF breaking up the


Government by amendments to the Consti-


tltion, that the principles of free Govern:


ment are deeply rooted in the American


heart. All the powers combined, ] care not


OF what character they are, cannot destroy


that great instrument; that great chart Of


freedom; they may seem to succeed for a


time, but then attempts will be futile. They


might as well undertake to lock up the winds
or chain the waves of the ocean and confine
them to limits. They may think now it can


be done by concurrent resolution but when
it is submitted to the popular will, they will
find that they might as we'll undertake to in
troduce resolution to repeal the laws of
gravitation as to keep this Union from being
restored. 1t is just about as feasible to resist
the great law of gravitation which binds
all to common center as that great law
which will bring back these States to their
regular relations with the Union. All these
conspiracies and Vaccinations, North and
South, L cannot prevent. All that is wan
ted Is time until The American people cae
get to know what is going on. | would the
whole American people could be assembled
here oday, as you are; | wish we had an
amphltheatre. capacous enough to hold these
thirty millions of people; that they could be-
here and witness the struggle that is going
on to preserve the Constitution of their faith.
ers. They would settle this question. They
could see who it is and how and what kind
OF spirit is manifested in breaking up this
free government. Yes, when they came to
see the struggle and to understand who is
for and who against them; if you could make
them perform the part Of gladiators-in the
first tilt you would find the enemies of the
country crushed and helpless have detain.
ed you longer than | intended Voices;
$50 on.O We are in great struggle. I
am your instrument. Who is there / have
not toiled and labored for! Where is the
man or woman either in public or private
life who has not always received my atten-
tion or my time q! Pardon the egotism.-
They say that man Johnson is a lucky man
that no man can defeat me- will tell YOU
what constitutes luck 1t is due to right
and being for the people that is what con-
stitutes luck. Somehow or other the people
will find out and understand who is for and
who is against them. | have been placed
in as many trying positions as any mortal
man was ever placed in, but so far l have
not deserted my people, and believe they
will not desert me. What principle have
violated! What sentiment have | sweryed
from! Can they put their finger upon it!
Have you heard them quote my predecessor,
who fell martyr to his country's cause, as
going IN opposition or in contradistincton to
anything that | have done. The very poli-
cy which am pursuing now was pursued
under his administration vas being pursued
by him when that inscrutable Providence
saw fit 10 summon him, | trust to better
world than this. Where is there one prin-
ciple adopted by him in reference to this res
toration that | have departed from! (None,
none0 The war then is not simply upon me
but upon my predecessor. have tried to do
my duty. | know that some people in their
jealousy, have made the remark that the
White House is President. Just let me say
that the charms of the White House, and all
that sort of fummery, have less influence
with me than with those who are talking a.
bout it. The little | eat or wear does not
amount to much. That required to sustain
me and my little family is very little-for
am not feeding many-though in one sense
of consanquinity | am akin to every body
The conscious satisfaction of having perfor-
med my duty to my country is all the reward
/ have.


Then in conclusion LET me ask this vast
concourse, this sea of upturhed faces, to
join with NE in standing round the Consti-
tuition of our country. 1t is again unfoded,
and the people are invited 10 read, to hnder@
etand, and to maintain its provisions. Let
us stand by the Constitution of our fathers
though the heavens themselves may fall
Let us stand by it, though factions may rage
though tannts aid Jeers may come; though
may come in its most violent
character will be found standing by the
Constitution as the chief rock of our safety.
as the palladium of our civil and religious
liberty. Yes, let us cling 10 it as the ma
rine cIings 10 the last plank when night and
tempests close around him.


Accept my thanks fer the indulgence you
have given me in making the extemporane-
GUS remarks have upon this occasion. Let
us go forward forgetting the past and look
ing to the future, and try to restore our
country. Trusting in Him who rules on
high that ere long our Union will be restor-
ed, and that we viii have peace not only on
earth but especially with The people of the
United States and good will. | thank you
my countrymen for the spirit manifested on
this occasion. When your country is gone,
and you are about that place, look out and
you will find the humble individual who now
stands before you, weeping oyer. its final dis
sol ution