PRESIDENT JOHNSON ON HIS POSITION,

West Coast Times, Issue 228, 12 June 1866, Page 2

PRESIDENT JOHNSON ON HIS POSITION,

From a speech delivered at tho White House, Washington, Fob. 22, wo extract tho following passages :—: — " I have fought traitors and treason in the South. I opposed the Davises and Tombses, and Sliddella, and a long list of others whose names I need not repeat, and now when I turn round to the other end of the line, I find men, I care not by what name you call them — (a voice — ' Call them traitors ! ') — who ;§till stand opposed to the restoration of tilei le Union of these states ; and lam fi'e^to say to you that I am still for the Lip reservation of this compact. I am f s;i]|V|pi' the restoration of this Union. ft fljpi still in favour of this great Go/Njernment of ours going on and following out its destiny. (A voice — 4 Give us the names.') A gentleman calls for" their names. Well; suppose I should give them. (A voice —' We know them.') I look upon them. I repeat it, as president or citizen, as much opposed to the fundamental principles of the Government, and believe they are as lr-uch laboring to prevent or destroy them, as wore the men who fought against us. (A Voice — ' What arc the names?') IsayThaddous Stevens, of Pennsylvania. (Tremendous applause.) I say Charles Suinner. (Great applause.) I say Wendell Phillips, and, others of the same stripo aro amongst us. (A Voice — ' Give it to Forney.') Some gentleman in tho crowd says, • Give it to Forney.' I have only just to say that I do not wssto my ammunition on dead ducks. (Laughter and applause.) I stand for my country ; I stand for tho constitution where I placed my feet from my outrance into public life. They may traduce me, they may vituperate mo' ; but lot me say to you, it has no effect upon me. (Cheers.) And lot me say in addition, that I do not intend to bo bullied by my enemies. (Applause, and a cry of ' The people will sustain you.') I know my countrymen, that it has been insinuated, and not only insinuated, but said directly — the intimation has been given in high places, that if such a usurpation of power had been exercised 200 years ago, in a particular reig^n, it would have cost a certain individual his head. What usurpation has Andrew Johnson been guilty of? (' None, None.') Tho usurpation I have been guilty of has always been standing between the people and theoncroachnieutß of power. And because I dared to say, in a convnrsation with a fellow citizen, and a senator, too, that I thought amendments to the Constitution ought not to bo so frequent ; and the effect would be that it would loso all its dignity ; that the old instrument would bo lost sight of in small tiino ; because I happened to say that if it was amended such and such amendments Bhould be adopted, it was an assumption of power that would have cost a king his head at a certain timo (lauglner and applause) ; and iv connection with this subject, it was explained by the same gentleman that we wore in the midst of an earthquake, that ho trembled, and could not yield. (Laughter.) Yes, there is an earthquake coming. There is a ground swell coming of popular judgment and indignation. ('That's true.') The American people will speak by their interests, and they well know who are their friends, and who their enemies.

' What positions have I held under this Government ? Beginning with aft alderman, and running through all brauohes of the Legislature. (A voice — "From a tailor up!") Some gentleman says I have bean a" tailor. (Tremendous applause.) Now, that did not discomfort me in the least, for when I used to be a tailor I had the reputation of being a good one, and making close fits. (Great laughter.) Always punctual with my customers, and always did good work. (A voice—" No patch!} work ?") No, Ido not want any patohwork, I want a whole suit. But I will pass by this little facetiousness. My friends may Bay you are President, and you must not talk about such things. When principles are involved, my countrymen; when the oxistenco of my country is imperilled, I will act as I have on former oocasiqns, and speak what I think. I was saying that I had held nearly all positions from alderman, through both branches of Congress, to that which I now ocoupy, and who is there that will say Andrew Johnson over made a pledge that he did not redeem, or made a promise that he did not fulfil ? Who will say that he has ever acted otherwise than in fidelity to the great mass of the people ? • They may talk about beheading and usurpation; but when I am beheaded I want tho Ameroian people to witaess. I do not want by inuendoes, by indirect marks in high places, to see the man who has assassination brooding in his bosom exclaim—" This Presidential ob» stacle must be gotten out of the way." I make use of a very strong expression when I say that I have no doubt the intention wag to

incite . assasination, and so get out of the way the obstacle from place and power. Whether by assassination or not, there are individuals in this Government, I doubt not, who want to destroy our institutions, and change the character of the Government. Are they not satisfied with the blood that has been shed? Does not the murder of Lincoln appease the vengeance and wrath of the opponents of this Government ? Do they still want more blood? Have they not got honor and courage enough to attaiu their objects otherwise than by the hands of the assassin ? No, no. lam not afraid of assassins attacking mo where a brave and courageous man would attack another.

* I only dread him when he would go in. disguise, his footsteps noiseless. It is blood they want, let them have.. . courage enough to strike like men. I .' know they are willing to wound, but they are afraid to strike. (Applause.) If ray blood is to be shed because I vindicate the Union and the preservation of this Government iv its 'original purity and character, let it be shed — let an altar to the Union be erectod, and then, if it ia necessary, take me and lay mo upon it, and the blood that now warms and animates ray existence ehall be poured out as a fit libation to the Union of these States. (Great applause.) But let the opponents of this Government remember, that when it is poured out, ' the blood of the martyrs will be the seed of the Church.' (Cheers.)"