Year: 1866

tablished in our revolution.


When our fathers were contending
against the power Of Great Britain, wha
was one Of their principal causes o.
complaint2 1t was that they were de-
MED representation. They complains
ed of taxation without representation
One Of the great principles laid down
by our fathers and which fired their
hearts was that there should be no tax
alton without representation. How
then does the matter standl Who has
been usurping power? Who has
been defeating the operation of the
Constitution What now remains to
! g % le TO complete the restoration OF
these States to all their former rela-
tions under the Federal Government,
and to finish the great ordeal through
which we have been passing? 1t is to
admit representation. When we say
admit representation, what do We
mean? 1--WE simply mean representation
in the constitutional and law abiding
sense, which was initiated at the
beginning Of the Government.


The Constitution declares in express
terms that the Senate and House OF
Representatives, each acting for itself,
shall be the judges of the returns of
elections and the qualifications Of its
members. 1t is for each house to set
tie that question under the Constitution
and under the solemn sanction of an
oath. Can we believe that either house
would admit any member into its body
to participate in the legislation Of the
country who is not qualified? They
have the power; not the two houses,
but one house for ITSELF The Consti
tuition further declares that no State
shall be deprived Of its equal suffrage
in the Senate Of the United States with
out its consent Where do we stand !
All that we have need of is to finish
the great work Of restoration--for the
two houses respectively to decide the
question.


Oh, but some one will say traitor
might come in. The answer to that is
that each House must be the judge of
it, and if a traitor presents himself |
cannot help it, The House will know
that he is a traitor, and if he is trai-
tor they can kick him out of doors and
send him back, saying to the people who
sent him, You must send us q loyal
man. Is there any difficulty about that? ?
No, no. And if traitor presents
himselfto the other House cannot that
House say to him, No, you cannot be
admitted; go back; we will not deny
your people the right of representa-
ton, but they must send a loyal rep
resentative. Cheers.


Aud when the States do send loyal
representatives, can you have any
better fidelity to the Constitution and
laws. There is no one learned in the
Constitution and laws who will say
that if traitor happens to get into
Congress that body cannot cxpel him
after he gets in. That makes assu,
rance doubly sure and conforms the
action of the Government to the Con
stitution of our fathers. Hence, l say
let us stand by that Constitution, and
by standing by it the covenant will be
preserved


While | have been contending against
traitors and treason and secession and
the dissolution of the Union, ] have
been contending at the same time
against the consolidation of power
here. think consolidation of power
here is equally dangerous with separa'
ton. Cheers. The one would rur
into anarchy, while the other would
concentrate and eventuate in q mon
archy.


But there is an idea abroad that one
man can be usurper. MIR Jefferson
the apostle Of liberty, tells us, and sc
does common sense, that tyranny anc
despotism can be exercised by many
more vigorously and more tyrannically
than by one. What power has you
President to attain? What can he do
What can he originate? Why they
say he exercises the veto, power
(Laughter.) What is the veto power
| IA voice, "to put down the niggcr,
laughter.) Who is your President
| (Several voices, candy Johnson.


is he not elected by the people. Ih'
President is the tribune of the people


In olden times when tribunes wer
first elected in the Roman republic, thu
people chose tribune and placed hin
at the doors of the Senate so tha
when that body vcntured an oppressiv
act, he was clothed with the power t
say 'veto"-.I forbid. Your Presi
dent now is the tribune of the people
| thank God / am, and / intend to as
sert the power which the people hay
placed in me. Cheers.


Your President, standing here da
after day, and discharging his duty,
like horse on tread-wheel; and be
cause he dares to differ in opinion i
regard to public measures, he must b
denounced as usurper and tyran'
Can he originate anything under tn
veto power2 think the veto pOwe
conservative in its character and afliI
native. All that can be done by tn
veto power is to say, when legislatio
is improper, hasty, unwise and uncoI
stitutional, "stop action, wait till thi
can be submitted to the people, and Ii
them consider whether it is right
wrong" (Cheers.) That is all ther


is in it. Hence, l say, that tyrann
and power can be exercised somcwhel


else than by the Executive. He is pov
erless. All that he can do is to chec
legislation, to hold it in state of ODE.
ance until the people can consider an


understand what is being done.


Then, what has been done. / ha'
, done what conscience, l believed, r
quired me to do. Applause So b
: lieving, intend to stick to my pos
! ton, relying on the judgment and Il
intelligence of the people, the soldie
\ /Fknara \ Tho