Year: 1866




the elements Of my nature, the pursuits Of my
life, have not made me either in my feelings
or IN my practice oppressive. My nature, on
the contrary, is rather defensive in its charac-
ter; but will say that having taken my stand
upon the broad principles Of liberty and the
Constitution, there is not power enough on
earth to drive me from it. Loud and prolon-
ged applause Having placed myself upon
that broad platform, have not been awed or
dismayed or intimidated by either threats or
encroachments but have stood there in con-
junction with patriotic spirits, sounding the
tocsin Of alarm when deemed the citadel of
liberty in danger. Great applause.


l said on = previous occasion, and repeat
now, that all 'hat was necessary in this great
struggle against tyranny and despotism, was
that the struggle should be suRicienpcy audible
for the American people to hear and properly
understand. They did hear, and looking on
and seeing who the contestants were, and what
the struggle was about, determined that they
would settle this question on the side Of the
Constitution and of principle. Cries of
"That's so, > and applause. Iproclaim here
to-day, as have on previous occasions, that
my faith is in the great mass Of the people,
In the darkest moment of this Strugglhe when
the clouds seemed to be most lowering, my
faith, instead Of giving way, loomed up through
the cloud, beyond which [ saw that all would
be we'll in the eud. My countrymen, we all
know that tyranny and despotism, in the Ian


guage of Thomas Jefferson can be exercised
and exerted moro effectually by the many than
the one. We have seen Congress gradually
encroach step by step, and violate day after
day and month after month constitutional
rights and the fundamental principles Of the
government Cries Of ''That's so, and ap-
plause. We have seen Congress that seem
cd to forget that there was limit to the sphere
and scope of legislation. We have seen
Congress in a minority assume to exercise power
which, if allowed to be carried out, would re-
suit in despotism or monarchy itself. Enthu-
siastic applause This is truth and because
Others as well as myself, have seen proper to
appeal to the patriotism and republican feeling
Of the country. we have been denounced in the
severest terms Slander upon SANDER, vitupe-
ration upon vituperation of the most villainous
character, has made its way through the press.
What, gentleman, has been your and my sin
| What has been the cause of our offending? |
will tell you: Daring to stand by the Consti-


tuition OF our fathers. (Approacbing Senator
Johnson,) consider the proceedings Of this
Convention, sir, as more important than those
Of any convention that ever assembled in the
United States. Great applause When [
look with my minds eye upon that collection
of citizens coming together voluntarily, and
sitting in council with ideas, with princip Piles,
and views commensurate with all the States,
and Qoextensive with the whole people, and
contrast it with the collection of gentlemen,
who are trying to destroy the country, | regard
it as more important than any Convention that
has sat-at least since 1857. Renewed ap-
plause think | may also say that the de-
clarations that were there made are equal to
the Declaration Of independence itself, and |
here to day pronounce them second Decara
ton OF Independence. Cries of 'Gorious, -
and most enthusiastic and prolonged applause.
Your address and declarations are nothing more
nor less than a reafirmation ofthe Constitution
OF the United States. Cries Of Good and
applause.


Yes, I will go father and say that the declar-
atiors you have made, that the principles you
have enunciated in your address are second
proclamation OF emancipation to the people of
the United States Renewed applause. =
For in proclaiming and reproclaiming these
great truths you have laid down constitu-
tional platform upon which all can make COM
mon cause, and stand united together for the
restoration of the States and the preservation
of the Government, without reference to party
The question only is the salvation OF the coun
try; for our country rises above all party con-
sideration or influences. iCries of Good,
and applause. How many are there in the
United States that now require to be free?
They have the shackles upon their limbs and
are bound as rigdly as though they were in
fact in slavery. [ repeat then that your de-
claration is the second Proclamation OF Eman-
cipation to the people Of the United States,
and offers common ground upon which al!
patriots can stand. Applause.


Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, let me in this
connection ask what have to gain more than
the advancement of the public welfare? am
as much opposed to the indu gence of egotisn
as any one, but here, in conversational man
ner, while formally receiving the proceedings
of this Convention, may be permitted again
to ask what have [ to gain, consulting human
ambition, more than have gained, except in
one thing? My race is nearly run. have
been placed in the high office which occupy
under the Constitution of the country, and /
may say that have held from lowest to high
est almost every position to which man may
attain in our Government. L have passed
through every position from Alderman oil
village to the Presidency Of the United States
And surely, gentlemen, this should be enough
to crafty a reasonable ambition.


If [ wanted authority, or if wished to per
petuate my own power, how easy it would have
been to hold and WELD that which was placed
in my hands by the measure called the Freed
mems Bureau bill. Laughter and applause.


With an army which it placed at my discretion
I could have remained at the Capital of
the Nation, and with fifty or sixty millions of
appropriations at my disposal, with the ma
chinery to be worked by my satrapsand depen,-
dents in every town and village, and then with
the Civil ghts bill following as an auxiliary.
Laughter, in connection with all the other
appliances of the Government, could have
proclaimed myself dictator. That's true,


and applause.


But, gentlemen my pride and my ambition
have been to occupy that position, which re-
tains all power in the hands OF the people,,


[Great cheering. It is upon that l have al
ways relied; it is upon, that rely now, Il
roiee-.sA nd the neople Will not disappolnt