Year: 1866

courage enough to effect the removal of the


PRESIDENTIAL obstacle otherwise than through


the bands Of the assassin? am not afraid oi
assassins; but if it must be, I would wish to be
i encountered where one brave man can oppose
another. hold him in dread only who strikes
cowardiy. But If they have courage enough to
strike like men, + know they are willing to
wound, but they are afraid to strike;) if my
blood is to be shed because I vndlcate the I'm
ion and the preservation of this Government in
It's original purity and character, let it be so;
but when it is done, let an altar of the Union
be erected, and then, if necessary, lay me upon
1t, and the blood that now animates my frame
shall be poured out in last libation as tribute
to the Union, [great cheering;] and let the op-
ponents of this Government remember that
when it is poured out, the blood of the martyr
will be the seed of the church. The Union
will grow. 1t will continue to increase in
strength and power, though it may be cement
ed and cleansed with blood.


| I have talked longer my countrymen than I
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 President, had con-
versation with Mr. Lincoln. We were talking





| to matters in my own State. I said we had
called convention and demanded constitution
| abolishog slavery in the State, which provision
| was not contained in the Presidents rroclama-
| ton. This met with his appreciation and he
gave me encouragement. In talking upon the
subject of amendments to the Constitution, he
said, "when 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 Consti-
tution-if there should be one other adopted"
[ asked what that other amendment suggested
was, and he replied, Il have labored to preserve
this Union. l have toiled four years., 1 have
been subjected to calumny and misrepresenta-
ton, and my great and sole desire has been to
preserve these States intact under the Constitu
tion as they were before; and there should be
an amendment to the Constitution which would
compel the States to send their Senators and
Representatives to the Congress of the United
States" He saw as part of the doctrine of Sc
cession that the States could, if they were pre-
pared, withdraw their Senators and Representa-
tlves; aud he wished to rmedy this evil by the
adoption of the amendment suggested. Even
that portion of the Constitution which differs
from other organic law says that no State shall
be deprived of its representation. We now find
the position taken that States shall not be recog-
nized; that we will impose taxation; and where
taxes are imposed the Representatives elect from
thence are met at the door and told: "No; you
mast pay taxes, but you cannot participate in
Government which is to affect you for all time b"
Is this just? [Voices-''No!' "No"] We
see then where We are going. [ repeat that |
am for the Union. am for preserving all the
States. They may have erred, but let us admit
those into the councils Of the nation who
Enthusiastically loyal. Let the man who ac-
knowiedges allegiance to the Government, and
swears to support the Constitution, Che cannot
do this in good faith. unless he is loyal no am
plfcation of the oath can make any difference;
it is mere detail, which care nothing about;(
let him be unquestiopably loyal to the Constitu
ton of the United States and its Government,
and willing to support it in its peril, and am
willing TO trust him. [ 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 taxa
tion without representation. hold that that
principle which was laid down by our fathers
for the good of the nation then is important to
its good now Il it worth battling for
then it is worth battling for now 1t should
be preserved SO long as our government lasts
| know 1t was said by some during the rebellion
that the Constitution bad been rolled up as a
piece of parchment, and should be put away,
and that 10 time of rebellion there was no Con-
stitution But ID is now unfolding; it must now
be read and adjusted and understood by the
American people.


| come here to-day to vindcate, in so far as l.
can in these remarks, the Constitution; to save
it, as believe, for it does seem that encroach-
ment after encroachment is to be pressed; and
as [ resist encroachments on the Government, |
stand prepared to resist encroachments on the
Constitution and thereby preserve the Govern
ment. 1t Is now peace, and let US have peace
Let US enforce the Consttution-let US live un
der and by its provisions Let be it published in
blaZoned characters, though 1t were In the
heavens, so that all may read and all may under
stand it. Let US consult that instrument, and,
understanding its principles. 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 government deeply rooted IN the
American heart" All the powers combired, |
care not of what character they are, cannot de-
stroy the image of freedom. They may succeed
for time, but their attempt will be futile.
They may as well attempt to lock up the winds
Or chain the waves. Yes. they may we'll at
tempt to repeal it Gas it would seem the Conssi-
tuition can beJ by concurrent resolution; but
when it is submitted to the popular judgment
they will fad it just as we'll 10 Introduce reso-
luton repeating the law of grayi,ation. And
the idea of preventing the restoration of the
Union is about as feasible as resistance to the
great law of gravity, which binds all to great
common centre. This great Law of graviia,ion
viii bring back those States TO harmony aud
their relations to the Federal Government, and