The Carolina Spartan. (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, August 30, 1866, Image 4
President Johnson's Speech.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Committee :
Language is inadequate to express the
emotions and feeling9 produced by this
occasion. Perhaps I could express more i
by permitting silence to speak and you to
infer what I ought to say. I confess that,
notwithstanding tho experience I have hud
In public life and the uudicnccs I have ad
dressed, this occasion and this assemblago
are calculetcd to, and do overwhelm me.
As I have said, I have not lunguago to
convoy adequately my picscnt feelings and
emotions.
In listening to the address which your
eloquent and distinguished chairman has
just delivered, the proceedings of the Con
yciiwuii, as muy uauspireu, recurred to my j
mind. Seemingly I partook in tho inspi-:
ration that prevailed in the Convention i
when I received a dispatch, sent by two of
its distinguished members, conveying in
terms the scene which has just been described,
of South Carolina and Massachusetts,
arm in arm, marching into that vast
assemblage, and thus giving evidence that
the two extremes-had come together again,
and that tor tho future they were united,
as tlioy had keen in the past, for the preservation
of tho Union. When I was thus
informed that in that vast body of mcu,
distinguished for intellect and wisdom,
every eye was suffused with tears on be-1
holding the sceno, I could not finish reading
the dispatch to one associated with mc
in my office, for my own feelings overcame ;
me. [Applause.] I think we may justly
conclude that we are acting under a pro- 1
per inspiration, and that wo need not be
mistaken tbat the finger of un overruling j
and unerring Providence is in this great:
movement.
The nation is in peril. Wc have just 1
passed through a mighty, a bloody, a iuo- ;
mcntous ordeal, and yet do not find our - :
selves free from the difficulties and dan- j
gers that at fiiwt surrounded us. While j
our bravo soldiers, both officers and men :
(turning to General Grant, who stood at '
his right) have by their heroism wou lau- '
rels imperishable, there are still greater 1
and more important duties to perform ; I
and while wc have bad their co operation I
in the field, now that they have returned
to civil pursuits wc need their support in
our efforts to restore the Government and
perpetuate peace. So far as the Executive
department i3 concerned, tho effort has
been made to restore the Union, to heal
the breach, to pour oil into the wounds
which were consequent upon tho struggle,
and (to speak in common phrase) to prepare,
as the learned and wise physician
.a..u ?i?? ....
nvuiu, u piaster,ueaiing in character and coextensive
with tho wound. Wo thought,
and we thiuk, that we had partially succeed
ed; but us tho work progresses, as reconciliation
seemed to be taking place, and the
country was becoming re-united, we found
a disturbing and marring element opposing
US. Iu alluding to tho element I shall go
no further than your Convention and the
distinguished gentleman who has delivered
to me tho report of its proceedings. I shall
make no reference to it that I do not believe
tho time and the occasion justify.
We have witnessed in one department
of the Government, as it were, a body call
ed, or which assumes to ho tho Congress of I
tho United States, while in fact it is a
Congress of only part of the States. We
havo seen this Congress pretend to be for
tho Union, when its very step and act ten
ded to perpetuato disunion, and make a
disruption of tho States inevitable. In-,
stead of promoting reconciliation and liar- ;
mony, its legislation has partaken of the
character of penalties, retaliation and revenge.
This has been the. course and the j
pjlicy of ono portion of your Government.
The humblo individual who now addresses
you stands as tho representative of another (
department of the Government. The manner
in which he was called npon to occupy
that position 1 shall not allude to on this
occasion. Suffice it to say that ho is here ;
under tho Constitution of the country, and i
being here by virtue of its provisions, lie 1
takes his stand upon that charter of our |
liberties as the great rampart of civil and
religious liberty. Having been taught in
my early life to hold it sacred, and having
dono so during my wholo public career, 1
shall ever continue to reverence the Con Ohl.ltinn
' 1 ?* *
>??uuuu vi my juiiiuis, una 10 uiaxc it my
guide.
1 know it has been said;(and I must be
permitted to indulgo in the remark)
that the Executive Department of the
Government has been despotic and tyrannical.
Let me ask this audience of distinguished
gentlemen to point to a vote I ever
gave, to a speech I fever made, to a single
act of my whoL public life that has not
been against tyranny and despotism. What
position havo I ever occupied? what
ground havo I ever assumed where it can
be truthfully charged that I failed to adro
cate the amelioration and elevation of the
great masses of my countrymen ?
So far as charges of this kind arc concerned,
they are only to dcludo the public
mind into the belief that it is aot the designing
men who make such accusations,
but some one else in power, who is usurping
and trampling upon the rights and perverting
the principles of the Constitution.
It is done by them for the purpose of covering
their own acts?and 1 havo felt it
my duty, in vindication of principles, to
call the attention of my countrymen to
their proceedings. When wo come to examine
who has been playing the part of
the tyrant, by whom do we find despotism
exorcised ? As to myself, the elements of
my nature, the pursuits of my file, have
not made me, either iu my feelings or in
my practice, oppressive. My nature, on
the contrary, is rather defensive in it*
character. But having taken my stand
upon the broad principles of liberty and
the Constitution, there is not power cuough
on earth to drivo tnc from it! (Loud and
prolonged cheering.) Having placed myself
upon that broad platform, I have not
been awed or dismayed, or intimidated by
cither threats or encroachments ; but have
stood there, in conjunction with patriotic
spirits, sounding the tocsin of alarm when
I deemed the citadel oi Liberty in danger.
[Great applause.]
I said ou a previous occasion, and repeat
now, thut all that was necessary in this
great contest against tyranny and despotism
was that tho struggle should be sufficiently
audible ior the American people
to hear aud properly understand the issues
it invnlwnd Tlinir .11.1 li.iii- n?..t
? ? - "J ? "V-., ?..%? ivuoii'a
on aiul seeing who tho contestants were
and what the struggle was about, determined
that they would settle this question
on the side of the Constitution and ofprin
ciplc. [Cries of "That's so," and applause.]
I proclaim here to-day, as I have on previous
occasions, that \ny faith is in tho
great mass of the people. In the darkest
moment of this struggle, when the clouds
seemed to be most lowcriug, my faith, instead
of giving way, loomed up through
their gloom : lor, beyond, I saw that all
would be well in the end. My countrymen,
we all know that, in the language of
Thomas Jefferson, tyranny and despotism
can be exercised and exerted more effectually
by the many than the one. Wo have
seen Congress gradually encroach step by
step upon constitutional rights, and violate,
day after day and month after month, fundamental
principles of the Government.?
[Cries of "That's so," and applause.] We
have seen a Congress that seemed to forget
that there was a limit to the sphere and
scone of legislation. We have seen a Congress
in a minority assume to exercise
power which, il allowed to be consummated,
would result in despotism or monarchy
itself. [Enthusiastic 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 tho severest
terms. Slander upon slander, vituperation
upon vituperation, of the most virulent
character, has made its May through the
press. What, gentlemen, has been your
and my sin ? What lias been the cause of
our offending ? I will tell you. Baring
to stand by the Constitution of our fathers!
Mr. Chairman, I consider the proceedings
of this Convention enual to. if not
? I /
more important than those of any Conven
tion that ever assembled in the United
States. [Great applause,] When 1 look
upon that collection of citizens, coming to!
gothcr voluntarily, and sitting in council,
with ideas, with principles and views com
mensurato with all the States, and co extensive
with the whole people, and contrast
it with a Congress whoso policy, if
persisted in, will destroy the country, 1
regard it as more important than any Convention
that has sat?at least since 17S7.
[Renewed applause.] 1 think I may also
say that the declarations that wore there
made are equal to those contained in the
Declaration of Independence. [Cries of
"Glorious," and most enthusiastic aifd pro
longed npplauso.] Your address and dec
larations arc nothing more or less than a
re affirmation of the Constitution of the
United States. [Cries of "Good," and applause.]
Yes, I will go farther and say that the
| declarations you have made, that the prin
ciplesyou have enunciated in your address,
are a second proclamation of emancipation
to the people of the United States. [Renewed
applause.] For in proclaiming and
rc-procluitiiing these great truths, you
have laid down a constitutional platform
on which all, without reference to party,
can make common cause, engage in a common
effort to break tho tyranny which the
dominant party in Congress has so rolentles-ly
exercised, and stand united together
for the restoration of the States and the
preservation of tho government.
The question only is tho salvation of
> the country; for our country rises above
[ all party considerations or influences.
[Cries of "Good/' and applause.] I low
! many arc there in tlio l/iiitcd Slates that
now require to be free ? They have the
shackles upon their limbs, and are bound
as rigidly by the behests of party leaders
in the National Con as though they
were in fact in slavery. I repeat, then,
that your declaration is the second proclamation
of emancipation to the people of
the United States, and offers a common
ground upon which all patriots can stand.
[Applause ]
In this connection, Mr. Chairman and
gentlemen, let mc ask what have I to gain
more than the advancement of the puldic
welfare? I am as much opposed to the
indulgence of egotism as anyone; but here,
in a conversational manner, while formally
receiving the proceedings of this Convention,
I may ho permitted again to inquire
what have 1 to gain consulting human ambition
more than I have gained, except
one thing?the consummation of the great
work of restoration ? My race is nearlyrun.
I have been placed in tho high office
which I occupy by the Constitution of
tho country, and I may say that I have
held from lowest to tho highest, almost
every Mat ion to which a man may attain
in our Government. I have passed through
every position, from alderman of a village
to the Presidency of the United States.
And surely, gentlemen, this should lie
enough to gratify a reasonable ambition.
If I had wanted authority, or if I had
wished perpetuate my own power, how
easily could 1 have held and wielded that
which was placed in my hands by tho
measure called tha Frccdmcn's JJurcau
bi>l. [Laughter and applause ] With an
amy which it placed at my discretion, 1
could have remained at the capital of the
nation, aud, with fifty or sixty millions ol
appropriations at my disposal, with the
machinery to be unlocked by my own hands,
with my satraps and dependents iu every
town and village, with the civil rights bill
following as an auxiliary, [laughter,J and
with the patronage and other appliance:
of the (government, I could have proclaim'
ed myself dictator. ["That's true !" and
nnnlause.l
" 11 J
13ut, gentlemen, my pride and my ainbiiiun
have been to occupy that position
which retains all power in the hands ol
the people. [Great cheering.} It is upon
them I have always relied; it is upon them
I rely now. [A voice, and the people will
not disappoint you, and I repeat that neither
the taunts nor jeers ol' Congress not
of a subsidized, calumniating press can
drive me from my purpose. [Great applause.]
I acknowledge no superior ex
cept my God, the author of my existence,
and the people of the United States. [Pro
longed and enthusiastic cheering.] The
commands of the one I try to obey as best
I can, compatible with poor humanity. At
to the other, iu a political and rcprescn
tutive sense, the high behests of the people
bavo always been and ever will be respect
ed and oboyed by inc. [Applause.]
Mr. Chairman, I have said more than I
intended to say. For the kind allusion te
myself, contained in your address, 1 thank
you. In this crisis and at the present
period of my public life, I hold aoovc all
price and shall ever recur with feelings of
profound gratification to the resolution
containing the endorsement of a Convention
emanating spontaneously from the
great mass of the people. With conscientious
conviction as my courage, the Constitution
as my guide, and my faith iu the
people, I trust and hope that my iutuie
action may be such that you and the Convention
you represent may nut regret the
assurance of confidence you have so generously
expressed. ["We are sure of it."~
licfore separating, my friends, one and
all, please accept my heartfelt thanks lot
the kind manifestations of respect you have
exhibited on this occasion.
rt'YJc. r-. u A-r*;y.
va Wtf|pj\>y WOJtfAU JJCI)
RANGES, FIRE BRICKS &c,
ADAMS, DAMON & Co ,
HAVE REOPENED BUSINESS AT T11LII1
OLD STAND,
18, Broad Street, Charleston, S. C.,
.Iw7 keep Constantly on llaml
or Tiir.
Lalfsl Improted r?Hern<i,
ll:iiigo's Urate , Marlile Mantles, Tinners
Machines ami Tools, Plumbers' Material.'",
Iron and llr.iss, ilcop well Force and
Light I'titup", She'd Load, Lead
uiul Iron Piping, Ilailroad
Force Pumps. Also the
Great Labor-Saving Washing
Mac It i ii u and W r i n g e r.
BPX-.l/Z t/rd-rs alt-n b I to vith Dispatch....ffM
Mob 1 5 ly
PHILIP FOGARTY & CO.
Wholesale Grocers
AND
COMMISSION MERCHANTS
Corner of Atlantic Wlitirf & Kn>t Bay.
P. FOG AII TV, \ ol . . c _
s. fugauty, ,v Charleston, S C.
.1 >/??/.? /".r IJOi'D J;ID'S. <V CD'S ('/-ram ,\1<
Melt 1 ly
n. Fleming
WILLIAMS & COVERT
(Formerly l>. K. Williams A; Co.,)
? wiiou'.s.ii.r. !>i:.\t.ut!S in
Hals, Caps Straw and Milliucn
GOODS,
NO. l-'J MKKTING STltKET,
Next ?L < ?r to Charleston Hotel.
CIIAIll.LSTON, S. C.
We aL.i ti ive .. f.rni.el. ...... 1 :.
Charlotte, N. ( whore we have a large slocl
of Ilats, Cap", Straw and Millinery Goods.
P. It. wil l.1AM", II. C. CALVRUT
May 21 17 8m
charles helloise ct co.
C y 12.: 7
ANIi HI Al.l Its IN
(Iani?, Sides, Shoulders, Smokei
Beef, Tongues,
FL 0! 7,\ y; l I T/:It, < //FFS / :,
LARD, EGGS, SO VI', STARCH, CAN
DEES, Ac., Ac.
120 A 1'2'J i:\ST IIAV STKKT,
Consignments Solicit d.
H. KKLOHS, } eifAllLESTON, S. C.
V. e would respectfully notify Merchants thn
we tire strictly in the {'rovnion Jtusiness, an
arc enabled to supply the trade at lowest prices
JMch 1 ? 1 y
uoi51nson & .nelson,
pfi "\Vliolo?i?I?* tinii
iColiill Dealer* in
StD'JJtfSy
TRAVELLING HAGS, Ac.
RING HT11EET,
AVnr.'y opposite Victoria Hotel,
Charleston, South Carolina.
J. B. ROBINSON, A NLLSO^
I HUNT Ac BRO.
! Shipping, Commission & Forwarding
Merchants,
> Accommodation Wharf,
| J. H. HUNT, Jn. } Wiarlcston, S. C.
I (Formerly of NF. Wit EUR Y, S. C.)
:o.
| Promptly forward all Merchandise consigned
to us arriving iu the City from
> n r/iF.y o foe[qx ro ts
. We will give strict attention to Sale and Purchase.
of Cotton, /{ice, Flour, .j-c.
I
i Liberal Advances on Consignments.
Keif.rexcks.?O. W. Williams & Co., Charleston,
8. C.; Ktissel & Ellis, Wilmington, N.
C.; lliglow & Sargent, llaltitnore.; Lolhbury,
1 Wickersham & Co., Philadelphia., N. L. Mc
Cready A Co., New York ; Hay Walter, Uoston
; O. W. Oarmauy, Savannah, Ua.; G. K
Wilson, esq*, Norfolk, Va.
' Mcli 1 5 Cm
; WILLIS & CHISOLM,
FACTORS ,
. COMMISSION MERCHANTS
AND
SMUrFW.YG JiGEJYTS,
Will attend to the purchase, pale and shipment
to Foreign and Dome ' * "arts, of Cotton, llice,
I Lumber and Naval 8t?,i.
Atlantic Wharf, Charleston, S. C.
1 E. WILLIS, ALEX. H, CHISOLM.
Mch 1 6 If
~J. A, HENNEMAN
; ttawji /p^aiAisa^
AND JUWKLJLEU.
Siuirtuiibiii'K C. II., So. la.
HAS J VST RECEIVED
A 8 E L F. C T ASSORT M V. N T O v
WATCHES, JEW EERY,
PLATED WARE
A X 1?
Fancy Ooods.
A L S O
A NEW LOT OF EIGHT-DAY AND TWENTY1
FOLK HOUR C LOCKS, A FIRST-RATE
ARTICLE.
W A It UK.NT KI>
TWO YEARS.
Spectacles lbr all Eyes and Agft?.
TTTATCIII-S, CLOCKS. AND JEWELRY
[ YY neatly repaired, aud warranted.
J. A. II EN NEMAN,
At the (Hit Place on Main-Street.
Feb 2*2 I _ if
W. J>. Milster
RESPEt"TFULLY announces to ihc public,
lint lie lias again commenced the
Tinning JJusinoss,
and feels himself well prepared and |tctliEt*<l
. to do all kinds of work in his line, with neatness
and dispatch, lie has a tnn/e stock on
hand, of every thing usually found in nil establishment
of ihis kind All articles of TIN
WAIIll, will be kept on hand, thereby rendering
himself able to supply the wants of any who
may call on hint.
He i? prepared to do such work as ROOFINti,
GUTTERING AND REPAIRING, lie
will work and sell, wholesale or retail, LOW
FOR CASH. All work warranted.
SHOP NEAR THE SPARTAN OFFICE.
Feb 1 1 tf
! C. 0. II U (I G IN
rr .v i Ij c> r.
Having returned to the tow:
Spartanburg, he lakes occasion to inform
h s ti ieads that I he is prepare I to do work with
liealliess Hoi dispaleh. lie re-peet fully a-ks
a sli ire of public patronage, and pledges h s
f best endeavors to give .satisfaction to Ins customers.
lie may be found at bis Shop in rear of J.
R \ KCIIEE'S STOKF., where his customers
P w ill find plates of the latest fashions.
Feb 1 1 tf
TAILO RING.
HAVING just returned from a trip North
and West, takes this method of informing
^ ! his former Patrons and Friends, thnt he is now
prepared to fill all orders with neatness and
dispatch in the very LATEST STYLES, as
cheap as any one for Cash or Rarter. I
\|y shop is over the store of FOSTER &
Jl'PD'S, opposite the Court House.
' The latest SPUING FASHIONS have just
been received. WM. LOCK WOOD.
L'^L 1 "* "
I rru i l II
1 FARROW & DUNCAN,
ATTO ItNE YS AT L A W
and
Solicitors ill Equity,
!?""<in llrick Huilding, upstairs, over
former Office of James Furrow,
J vmi'.s Farrow. 1). 11. Duncan.
April 15 11 1 j
WILLIAMS, EVINS (ilOHE,
j ATTORNEY'S AT LAW,
SPARTANBURG, S. (J.
Geo. W. Wii.liams, Yorkville, 8. C.
Jso. II. Evixs,
William Choice.
I June 11 i fun
LAW COPAlu, EI SHIPT
j t TTAVING associated C. J. ELFORD, o
I L Greenville, 8. 0 , with me in the practice
ol law for Spartanburg District, under the name
nnd style ot KLFORDjt ELFORD; all business
entru-ted to my care will receive the prompt
and faithful attention of said firm.
.1. M ELFOPP.
> April 5 10 Gmos
]
DRY GOODSSTORE
Teppe Ac Smyth
WOULD respectfully inform the LADIES
that they are now receiving their
SPRING STOCK,
CONSISTING OF
White Long Cloth, Brown Shirtings and Sheetings,
White nnd Brown Linens, Merrimack,
Amoskeag, Schwabeand American CALICOS,
warranted fast colors. Jaconets, Cambrics and
J Victoria Lawns.
A complete and choice assortment of Needle
WORK and Linen Setts, Needles, Spool Cotton,
Working Cotton and Thread in every variety.
ALSO, a great assortment of
DRY GOODS, FANCY GOODS, Liens and!
Hosiery, Bonnet and Lute-String. Ribbons,
Thread and Cotton LACES and EDGINGS.
Having been connected for a long time witb
tlie Dry Uooits business, we are confident or
giving satisfaction
ALSO, on hand a general assortment of
BOOTS and SHOES, Tin Ware, Hats and Caps,
and a general assortment of GROCERIES, at
the UP TOWN STORE.
FKEDK. TEPPE, ALEX. H. SMYTH.
N. It. State Money Bought.
April 26 18 tf_
NEW SPRING GOODS.
O
WE HAVE just received from Charleston, a
j fresh supply of
BOOTS, SHOES, PRINTS,
i o
nud many other articles too numerous to mention,
which we offer at cheap rates.
CALL AND SEE US.
1). Sl J. L. WOFFORD,
No 4 opposite Court Houae.
April 6 10 ^ tf
NEW GOODS.
?o
\\7 E nre "<>w receiving a capital assortment
v J of GOODS, selected by a member of our
firm in the Northern market.
i GENTLEMEN'S AND LADIES
DRESS GOODS,
4
LATEST STYLES OF
LADIES'HATS,
S EC O 3D 33,
TRIMMINGS, NOTIONS,
e^rCALL AND KNOW OUR PRICES.
VAN DIVER, BLAKE & CO.,
Ma/ 24 17 tf
]\cw EnlxM'prisc !
! SOUTHERN TMPOirriNG
AND
V:V JI RING DRUG HOUSE,
i V, WILSON & BROS.,
o. King' Srcct,
CHARLESTON, S. C.
The Proprietors are Native
Southerners.\'o
such enterprise South <\f Philadelphia, Will
Southern Houses give us their Patronage ?
: WE OFFER AT RATES T1IAT COM!
PARK FAVORABLY WITH NKNV
YOKE PRICKS. ALL DRUGS,
C HEMIC A1A MEDICI N ES,
SPICES, &c., THAT LEGITIMATELY
RK1.0NG TO
OUll LINE OF 1HTSI
NESS, AND
KEEP.ON
HAND
ONLY THE EEST
?r Packages put up to suit
Country Trade.'W
V A PR ATT. rhetnial Jn Ut? n S tilt** .-A
Mining Bureau, L. W. WILSON,
I*. 1$. WILSON, Chemist to lato (J. S., Or
Department.
April 11 b Ij
Merchants Hotel.
Oihli2li?s4(D)2l, So (Do
Cheapest and best llotcl in the State.
Transient l?oarJ $3.00 "3ft day.
Weekly ? 14.00 week. a>
March 1 5 tf
A. ILTANG,
Millinery and Fancy Goods,
AT NEW YORX PRICES.
262 KING STREET,
Opposite Uufaln Street,
CHARLESTON, SO. CA.
| March 1 6 tf
i DRS. B. & J. L..W0FF0RD
OFFER TIIEIR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
to the citizens of the Village and
I surrounding country. One or both of us will
| be found constantly in the offioe at the STORB,
during the day, and at our Residence, opposite
Wofford College (Church Street) At night.
I Feb IS 3 tf
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