Year: 1866

All things lovely, and glad and new,


And the Father watching US over II all


ANDREW JoHSsoX's QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
At Cleveland, on Saturday Goth ult., in response
to serenade, General Butler took occasion, be-
fore an audience of 5000 persons, to answer as
follows the questions propounded by Andrew
Johnson


Men OF Ono: doubt whether you ought to
desire me to speak to you from fh's place at TINS
hour. | am told it is an unfortunate place Tor
specially in the evening. Shouts
of laughter and cries of q that's So" But un-
deferred by the fate of my predecessor, and re-
living on vour courtesy and kindness, ! propose
to answer a question or two which he put to
the citizens of Cleveland from this balcony
where | now stand.


After saying that he solely represented the
entire Government, and after opening his attack
upon Congress, the chosen representatives OF
the people, he put this question What con.
stitutional provision have | violated T. And
then he added


"What does General Butler says ?"
| will tell him.


First and foremost, General Butler says that
the President of the United States has set him
verv difficult task If he had asked what con-
stitutional provision have | not violated! my
task would have been most easy.


But notwithstanding that, will endeayor in
a moment, if you will allow me, to remind the
President of one or two violations of the Con-
stitution of which he has been guilty.
! First then-and this, l think has struck the
| American people with more of shame and NOR
t6caton than any other-they have seen the
President of the United States, in derogation OF
his high Office, deliberately going round the
country endeavoring to bring the Congress OF
the United States, coordinate branch OF the
1T boto ridicne and
contempt There is no parallel TO their conduct
in all time previous In the great contest Tor
example when jackson in the chair, be-
| tween the Executive and Congress, never was
! there heard from that man of iron will and pos
| tive convictions, anything but the most re-
| spectful language concerning the co-ordlnate
branch of the Government. What is the duty
of the President of the United States in this be-
half? 1t is to treat each branch of the Govern
ment so that each branch may be respected by
the people in its authority and it is gross
violation of the principles and of the spirit, aye,
and of the letter of the Constitution when one
branch of the Government sets itself up against
Ahe other. [Cheers.


/ 1t is no excuse for the President to affirm that
Mr. Stevens or Mr.. Sumner any other men,
Der of branch of the Government uses unbe-
coming language toward him, or opposes him,
because they are individuals only and not de-
partmc of the Government, whereas Congress
as body have never treated him otherwise
that with respect But he, the chief executive
of the nation, is in himself department OF the
Government and his words and acts are those OF
the Executive Department, which ought to set
the people high example of respect toward the
legislative branch of the Government.


No monarch, however despotic, ever denoun-
ced to his people any estate or council OF his
government with however limited powers un-
til he determined by arbitrary usurpation OF
power to destroy it portion OF the gov
erning or restoring authority OF the state
What other purpose could the President nave IN
taking upon himself the grave responsibility OF
denouncing Congress in hundred speeches on
his Journey from Washington to Chicago and
on his return? His purpose is plain. He saw
that Congress would stand in his way and not
suffer him to concentrate all the powers OF the
Government in his own hands nor permit him
in opposition their will to reorganlze the re-
volted States. Thus baffied in his hopes OF sub
ordinatng Congress to his sovereign will, he was
determined to break it down as far as his voice
aud influence went, so as to familiarze the peo-
ple with the idea that this Congress is not a
constitutional body, but one which ought to
be suppressed as interfering with the restoration
of the peace and unity of the nation. Evidence;
of this design are not wanting. What else dlc
the question of his Secretary of State meal
when he asked the people of the West whether
they would have Mr.. johnson as King or Presi
dent? 1t was threat to the people. We an
swer it, in all humbleness, 'as neither, thanl
you! p TCheers and laughter.


The President in his own choice rhetoric ha
characterized the national legislature RUM
Congress, an an excressence hanging on tn
verge of the government" Mark the logic 0
the argument which he here advanced, as h
stood on this spot, in that memorable journe.
ostensibly made to attend the dedication of Sen
ator Douglas monument but which turned ou
to be his own funeral cortege Laughter an
cheers.