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'our " -........., eiO
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Auditor's Notices 3 w
Kdltorlat Notices twenty cent jn-r line.
Other advertisements Inserted according to sr
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Mviuwe, Two Dollars Mid Fifty Cents,
Adxkeu nil Utter to
oEonnn it. moom:,
Kdltor of tlio Colummax,
Illoomsburg, Columbia County, l'n.
VOL. I.-NO. 10.
BLOOMSBURG, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, I860.
PHIOE FIVE CENTS.
&hc (IpoIumbiaiT,
X INDEPENDENT JOURNAL,
M runLMiiio r.vtmr hatciiiiay, ih
Bloomsburg, ColnmblA County, Pa,
TtatMA.
Two DoUnrt e. year, bi advance. If not paid In
HT it I m ittfti iit
Wy IP l w fll )p f If W4
DRIFTING.
Is there rest for n burdened soul f
Is there eaen for n storm'tossed bnrkf
Is there light where dentil's surges roll?
Will Ood nuldo tno across the dark?
Vor oh I It Is hnnt to wait,
To watch and to slh for rest,
To Inns for the opened gate,
To linger In Id la unrest.
To stnnd 111 the pitiless storm,
Astray In tho path of sin,
And soo tha light, pure nnd warm,
That streams from the gate within ;
To feel the Waves, dark nnd cold,
Come gurgling qulto up to our feet,
To shiver without the fold,
And loiif? for the welcome sweet.
Tho river of life runs swift,
And to I to Its brighter shore,
My life-boat may never drift,
For tho surges that roll before;
My weak hands will novor guide,
For tho wavos that threaten me ;
Alono on temptation's tldo
I am drifting out toward the sea.
A NIGHT WITH WOLVES.
Away wo wont nt whirlwind speed
over tbo glistening sheet of snow which
covered tho wholo country for miles
around.
Four splendid horses drew our sledge,
nnd wo bounded nlong noiselessly,
smoothly, rapidly, like phantoms. Wo
hnd some thirty miles to travel ; but nt
tho glorious paco wo were going, wo
should accomplish it in three hours. It
was now eight o'clock; wo might fairly
expect to bo nt my chateau by a little past
eleven.
Away wo went! tho snow flew past
us like a vast foaming torrent, while I
could almost fancy that wo were nt rest,
so even, almost Imperceptible, was our
motion.
Suddenly one of the traces gave way,
nnd in nn instant all our four horses,
young nnd high-spirited, were kicking
nnd plunging fearfully. The broken
trace was only tho least of tho damage
tlono; and when 1 nnd Fritz, my ser
vant, scrambled out, and seizing their
heads, stopped their pranks, wo found
that they had kicked themselves almost
entirely free from tho sledge.
Had they but done so, and remember
ing what afterward occurred, I think of
ttto terrible consequences and tremble.
It took us n full hour's work to re
pair tho damage, nnd even when this
was done, wo were compelled to go nt a
comparatively slow pace, for fear that
something should again give way.
I lighted a cigar, and, well wrapped
in furs and cloaks, leaned lazily and
luxuriously back, enjoying the gentle,
easy motion, and watching the four
horses ns thoy bounded along with the
light sledge.
On n sudden, however, I noticed that
they seemed to afford Fritz more than
ordinary trouble.
I was aroused from my half dreamy
state by hearing him devote thom to
tho infernal gods, hi all the mingled di
alects of Poland, Germany, and Russia,
nnd that for a cause which seldom at
tacks tho indignation of tho traveller
, namely, for going loo fa.-t.
Iu splto of his exertions they had
burst into a furious gallop, llo cursed,
vore, pulled, nud tugged In vain.
"With alarmed eyes and erected ears the
, ager horses disregarded tho utmost of
, forts of curb and bridle, and dragged us
forward with n velocity I should have
thought impossible. As there was no
danger, 1 was rather amused than other'
wlso by tho glorious paco at which we
were going.
All on a sudden, however, Fritz ceos-
' cd to swear, and, with a hasty ejacula
' tlon, loosened tho reins, and allowed tho
horses to tear ahead at their utmost
t speed, without attempting to stop them
The beasts aro right, right, by a thous
' and devils ! I ought to have known it I"
" What do you meant" I asked.
Ho turned in his seat, and said in a
low voice, his faco palo with emotion :
"The wolves!"
I stood up lu tho sledgo and looked
back, but for a long tlmo could discover
. nothing.
At last, however, I could discern a
' "dark moss in tho snowat agrc.it distance.
thought, however, that It was only
' trees, and laughed at tho terror of Fritz,
j which oven tho horses seemed to share.
In about ten minutes, however, tho
Ijtcrriblo truth burst on me tho dark
mass was in motion, and approached
rapidly. 1 heard, too, a sound in tho
distance which at ilrnt I thought was
tho whistling of the wind.
ui It was tho howling of tho hungry and
.jjjerodous pack of wolves on our track.
.Closer ami closer came tho dark mass;
-plainer nnd plainer tho dreadful howls.
Tho territied horses could hear them
now, and dashed on with more desper
ate energy than before.
Nearer and nearer they came. Wo
could notouly hcarthelrdrendful howls,
rxbut oven tho tramp of -their cursed foot,
. us thoy galloped along tho frozen snow
on our track. Tho arms wo had con
sisted of two fowling-pieces and a braco
"of pistols. Unfortunately, wo had but
a very scanty stock of powdtaiitfid ball,
w nnd not moro than enough tip two or
J threo discharges. "
" What is to bo done'.'" I whispered
1 pto Fritz. "
" "Fight I fight to tho lastl" ho re.
piled; "wo must bo overtaken. Tho
: horses cannot hold out much longer. It
is yot qulto twenty miles to thochateau,
5 nud they will be upon us in a few lulu
utes. Ha!" fio cried, suddenly, " I had
t ' forgotten thero is yot a gleam of hopo !"
S," And now ho lashed tho horses, already
f nt tholr utmost speed, and even stabbed
them repeatedly with Ids hunting-knife,
m to urge them on to fresh exertions,
,1 Ahead of us was a small forest, or
" rather wood. It was dlstant'somo two
miles, but, owing to tho white sheet of
s now between, looked ration nearer.
"If we could only reach It I" ho ut
tered, furiously lashing tho horses.
Tho chaso continued. I stood ready
with my fowllng-pteco to flro Immedi
ately when they were within shot.
Tho fleetest of the pack dashed ahead
of tho others, and approached within a
few yards of tho sledge. Their howls
wero fearful. I fired two barrels, and
threo wolves fell dead or wounded. In
an Instant these wero surrounded by tho
others, who quickly tore to pieces and
devoured their fallen comrades.
This obtained us a respite but n very
short one; for in less than n minute
nothing remained of tho wolves I had
shot but their bones.
I again loaded my piece, and nga'In
tho pack dashed on in pursuit. We had
not gained half n mile when they wero
again up with us.
This tlmo they eamo on moro furious
ly and boldly than before tho brutes
had tasted blood.
When they wero near enough, I again
fired, and two wolves fell. This tlmo,
however, the dovouring of their com
panions did not take so long, for I had
only wounded two.
Once again I reloaded the fowling-
piece, nud found that all our ammuni
tion was thereby exhausted.
" Do not lire," said Fritz, when I in
formed him of tho fact, " till the last
moment rescrvo your flro for our hut
chance."
" Is there any?" I asked gloomily
"One, and one only. Not far from
this, In tho woods hence but I do not
know how far, perhaps not more than a
mile Is an old hunting-lodge ; -It we can
reach it wo are safe If not, wonrelost.
On eamo tho wolves and they were
many, and quite close upon the sledge,
Two terrlllc great monsters were ub
solutely Ju.it abreast of us, and were
striving to get nhead to the horses, who,
poor brutes, could hear nnd see them,
and tore away at such a terrible pace
that oven the swift wolves could not
gain upon us.
"Fire! lire!" shouted Fritz; "lire,
and aim well; for if those brutes reach
tho horses, wo are lost."
I fired a barrel at tho wolf on my left,
nud over ho went with a bullet through
his body.
I very nearly missed tho second, but
fortunately the ball grazed the bono of
his leg, breaking it, and causing him to
fall.
Hut several others took their places.
"Keep them off I keep them off!
shouted Fritz, " but for one minute, nud
we are saved. Tho hut is close by."
Frantically he Hogged and shouted to
the horses,and desperately they respond
ed to the call.
I llred the two barrels of the remain
ing fowling-piece, and then, sticking
my pistols in my belt, I shouldered my
gun, and standing up, struck right and
left at tho howling pack, which wero
now rapidly accumulating on our rear.
Tho next moment, and we pulled up
short at the hut.
" Firo your pistols right in their
faces!" shouted old Fritz.
I did so, and had the satisfaction of
seeing tho howling pack fall back for
minute.
This gave Fritz an opportunity of
Jumping out and cutting adrift the
horses, who immediately galloped off.
"Now, sir, now!" hu cried, holding
open tho hut door" haste."
Still holding tho fowllng-pleco by tho
barrel, and swinging it around me, I
leaped to the ground.
Some of tho wolves had dashed off in
pursuit of the horses, while others wero
between me and the hut.
I struck viciously at tho howling
brutes, and rushed through them to tho
open door.
Ono monster sprang at my throat, but,
fortunately, I succeeded in striking
him down, and he was content with
tearing a piece, with his horrid fangs,
from my leg.
Tho next Instant, faint and bleeding,
we were safe In tho hut, and Fritz bar
red and bolted tho door, leaving tho
pack outside.
For a moment or two they scratched
mil gnawed at tho door, and then dash
ed otf to Join their companions in the
chase after the horses.
Soon after wo heard heart-rending
and piercing screams.
" All, I thought so," said Fritz sadly,
11 my pour horses! They can stand a
,'reat deal ; but when ono comes to be
torn to pieces by wolves, It Is no wonder
they cry out."
It was not long boforo the furious pacl,
returned : for, having devoured tho
horses, nndappareutly not half satisfied,
they surrounded tho hut on nil sides,
and nothing could bo heard but their
horrible bowlings. We could hear them
scraping, scratching, and tearing tho
wood-work of tho hut with their teeth.
Next they attempted to climb to tho
roof, and soon some succeeded, for wo
could hear them crawling about outside
There was no chimney to tho hut, but
merely an aperture iu tho roof for tho
sitioko to escapo,
Tho hut in which wo had found tem
porary safety consisted only of four
walls, matlo of rough but strong slabs
of wood.
It contained a rudo fireplace, nnd, for
tunatoly for us, there wero still embers
smouldering. There was also a lit
tle green brushwood in tho hut,
which Fritz hastened to cast iu tho lire.
As it caught and burned up, it gave rise
to dense volumes of smoke, which, pour
ing through tho aperture In tho roof, ef
fectually kept tho wolves at bay.
Hut after a time tho smoko began to
clear, tho green wood was all gone, and
the wind, which now was high, blew I
nsldo tho smoko from tho hole in tho
roof.
In n very short tlmo wo perceived tho
gleamlngeyesnnd red mouth, half open,
of a monstrous wolf looking down on us.
We struck at him wltli tho butt-end
of our fowling-pieces, nnd soon brought
him, stunned nud bleeding, to our feet.
Fritz took 11 piece of burning wood,
mounted to tho nperture, and waved It
around.
Wolves, like all wild beasts, aro in
mortal dread of lire, and wo soon heard
them all scamper olf tho rcof
All through the long night wo heard
the howling of tho ferocious pack, who
laid now regularly terrified us ; for, al
though scared by the flro, they attempt
ed tho roof no more, but nil remained
around tho hut.
All things havo their end, nnd so at
lost had this long and dismal night.
Thoday broke at last, anil Fritz, arous
ing himself, piled on tho flro every
available bit of wood ho could Hud.
For full threo hours after sunrise noth
ing occurred beyond howling ; but what
nn awful three hours were they !
Suddenly our eyes, which were fixed
incessantly on the nperture, saw the
hideous forms of our enemies. Threo
of the lnrgest wolves had climbed the
roof and were looking down upon us.
I fired my fowliug-pieco our last
charge of powder. This drove them
away, and tho dead body of ono fell
through the aperture, and Into the hut
This, however, procured us but n short
respite; tho brutes knew the way; tho
sun was now bright in tho heavens, and
tho fire-brand was now useless.
Soon another and fiercer lot succeeded
those wo had driven away, and wo had
now no moro powder or shot to drive
them back.
Clubbing our guns, wo struck furious'
ly at them, all the time shouting loud
ly. Several fell wounded and incapable
of Injury into the hut, but others at
once took their places.
The furious monsters, ravenous with
hunger, which the two horses and their
comrades they had devoured but seem
ed to whet, glared down upon us from
the roof, howling incessantly, and wait
ing tho moment to spring.
At lat one great brute set the exam
ple, and crouching fornn instant, sprang
right at Fritz, at tho same time giving
a terrible yell.
Fortunately old Fritz was enabled to
spring on one side, and tho moment the
wolf lnndcd ho dashed out his brains
with tho gun ho wielded.
Hardly was this accomplished than
another and another leaped down, and
these wero followed by still more, which
all our efforts could not keep back. Fu
riously we fought with the desperation
of despair, for we had almost given up
hope. Several times I felt the fangs of
the wolves in my ilesh ; but by almost
superhuman exertion freed myself, and
laying about me right and left, sent tho
shaggy brutes sprawling under tho ter
rible force of my blows.
In vain ; as fast as thoy fell others
came leaping down, and the hut was
now alive with tho wild, savage beasts.
With a short prayer, and nerved with a
fierce determination, I threw myself in
their midst, and giving all my strength
to ono last desperate ellort, 1 created
fearful havoc among tho crowded mass.
The cry was still they come. Weary,
faint, and despairing, I staggered, and
was about to fall prostrate on the
ground among tho horrible sea of glar
ing eyes, white teeth, and red throats
which surrounded me, when a loudshout
from outside, followed by a rapid and
sustained discharge of lire-arms, gave
me fresh strength, and once again nerv
ed my arm.
At tills moment a wolf, leaping from
tho aperture, alighted on my shoulders,
md endeavored to fix his horrid fangs
in my throat. I tore him away, and
flung him on tho embers of the lire, re-
jardloss of a dreadful bite I received iu
the hand.
The sparks Hew in all directions, and
tho darkness of tho hut was illuminated
by a flame of light as tho fire blazed up.
Tho wolves wero steadied by this for
a moment, and in that moment I notic
ed with joy that no moro were on tho
roof.
Another shout outside, and a stillclos-
er discharge, informed us that friends
wero near. Shouting words of encour
agement to Fritz, who was terribly torn
by tho teeth of tho brutes, 1 again at
tacked them with my llttlo remaining
strength. Fritz, too, ably seconded me,
and iu half a minute our remaining en
emies wero killed or disabled.
Scarcely had tho glaring eyes of the
last disappeared, under a furious blow
from tho butt-end of my gun, than, ut
terly worn out by tho tremendous exer
tion of tho last ten minutes, bleeding
from half a dozen places whero the
wolves had torn my flesh, nature gave
way, and I fell forward on a pile of our
dead enemies, nnd fainted.
I'lio next moment the door was burst
open, nnd our friends from the chateau,
who had como to tho rescue, rushed iu,
and raising the apparently lifeless forms
of myself and Fritz, boro us out Into
tho air, where, laid on tho void snow,
wo soon recovered con sciousiiess, and
found that we were saved.
Thus ended thisadventure; but assur
edly, wero I to live to bo as old as Mo
thusalch, I shall never forget our night
with tho wolves.
A Mi'.itciiANT suddenly died after
writing a letter to ono of his correspon
dents. His clerk wroto nt tho bottom,
"Sinco writing tho above I have died,"
and scut the missive,
AN INTERESTING SCENE.
Wasiiisotos, I). C, August is, lf(M.
Tin: committee consisting of two dele
gates from each Slate, nppolnted by tho
National Union Convention to Wnit upon
tho President with nn ofnclnl copy of
tho proceedings of tho Convention, met
this morning and postponed until ono
o'clock tho tlmo for tho interview. It
was originally intended that ten a.m.
should bo tho hour nt which tho recep
tion would bo had.
About 0110 o'clock tho committee,
headed by a band of music, reached tho
White House. Thoy wero conducted
into tho Fast itooui by Marshal Clouding, '
and were so arranged as to form n circle.
The delegates to tho Convention who
were in tho city wero then Invited in,
nnd took n position in tho rear of tho
committee. Tho Presldentsoonupponr
ed, nnd was accompanied by Secretaries
M'Culloch, Welles, and llrowning, and
Postmaster-General lUmdnll. Tho Hon.
Iteverdy Johnson, of Maryland, then
advanced and said :
Mn. Pi(r.si nr.KT : Wo arc before you
as a committee of tho National Union
Convention, which met in Philadelphia
on Tuesday, tho fourteenth instant,
charged with tho duty of presenting you
with nn authentic copy of its proceed
ings.
Heforo placing it in your hands, you
will permit us to congratulate you on
the object for which tho Convention was
called; in the enthusiasm with which, in
every State and Territory, the call was re
sponded to; in tho unbroken harmony of
its deliberations; in the unanimity with
which the principled it lias declared wero
udontcd : and moro especially In tho
patriotic and constitutional character of
the principles themselves, we aro confi
dent that you and the country will find
gratifying and cheering evidence that
there exists among tho people n public
sentiment which renders an early and
comnlete restoration of tho Union as
established by tho Constitution certain
and inevitable. Party faction, seeking
tho continuance of its misrule, may
momentarily delay it, but tho principles
of political liberty for which our fathers
successfully contended, and to secure
which they adopted tho Constitution,
are so L'larliiL'lv inconsistent Willi the
condition In which thocountry has been
placed by such misrule, that it will not
be permitted a much longer duration.
Wo wish, Mr. President, you could have
witnessed tho spirit of concord and
brotherly affection whichanlmated every
nii'inhnr of the Convention, dreat its
your confidence has ever been in the in
tclligcnccnnd patriotism of your fellow
citizens, in tholr deep devotion to tho
Union, and their present determination
to reinstate and maintain it, that eon
fldcnce would have become a positive
conviction could you havo seen and
heard all that was done and said upon
Hie occasion. Kvery heart was evidently
full or Joy, every eye beamed with pa
triotic animation; despondency gave
nlaco to tho assuraneo that, our late
dreadful civil strife ended, tho blissful
reign of peace, under tho protection, not
of arms, but of the Constitution aim
laws, would havo sway, and be in every
part of our land cheerfully acunowi
edged, and in perfect good faith obeyed
You would not have doubted that the
recurrence of dangerous domestic insur
rectious in tho future are not to bo ap
prehended. If you could have seen tho
menol'MassacliusettsandSouthCarolina
coming into tho Convention on the tlrst
.invnf its moetlii''. hand to hnud.nmia
tho rapturous applause of tho whole
bodv.awakeuedbylieartfeltgratillcation
at theevent, filling the eyes of thousands
wltli tears of iov which they neither
could nor desfred to repress, you would
havo felt.ns every person present felt,
that '.ho time had arrived when all sec
tional or other perilous dissensions had
ceased, and that nothing should bo heard
in tho future hut tho volco of harmony
proclaiming devotion to a common
country,of prldoinbeing bound together
bv a common Union, existing anil pro
tected by forms of government proved
by experience to bo eminently fitted for
the exigencies of either war or peace
In tho principles announced bytheCon
volition, and in the feeling there mani
fested, wo havo every assuraneo mat
harmony throughout our entire laud
will soon nrovail. A o know that as
in former days, as was eloquently do
dared by Webster, the nation's most
gifted .statesman, Massachusetts and
South Carolina went "shoulder to
shoulder through tho ltovolution," and
stood baud in hand around tiio Admin
istratlon of Washington, nnd felt hi
own great arm lean on them for support
so will thoy again with liko magnanl
mlty, devotion, and power stand round
your Administration and causo you to
feel that you may also lean on tiiem for
support. In tho proceedings, Mr. Presl
dent, which wo aro to placo In you
bauds, you will find that tho Convention
performed tho grateful duty imposed
upon them by their knowledgo of your
"devotion to tho Constitution anil law;
nnd Interests of your country," as Illtis
trated by yourentlro Presidential career,
of declaring that In you they " recognize
a Chief Muglstratoworlhyof tho nation,
nnd loyal to the great crisis upon which
your lot is cast;" and in this declaration
It gives us marked pleasure to add, wo
aro confident that tho Convention has
but spoken tho intelligent nnd patriotic
sentiment of tho country. Kver Inac
cessible (o tho low influences which of
ton control tho mere partisan, and gov
erning alono by an honest opinion of
constitutional obligations and rights,
nnd of tho duty of looking bolely to tho
tmo interest, safety, and honor of tho
nation, such a class Is Incapable of re
sorting to any bait for popularity nt tho
expense of tho public good. In tho
measures which you have adopted for
the restoration of tho Union, tho Con
vention saw only n continuance of the
policy which for tho same purposo was
Inaugurated by your immedlnto prede
cessor, In his re-election by the people
after that policy had been fully indicat
ed, nnd lind been made ono of tho issues
of the contest. Those of his political
friends who aro now nssalllng you for
ternly pursuing It, forgetful or regard
less of tho opinions which thcirsupport
of his re-election necessarily involved,
being upon tho same ticket wltli that
much lamented public servant whoso
foul assassination touched tho heart of
tho civilized world-wlth grief and hor-
or you would havo been false to obvi
ous duty If you had not endeavored to
carry out tho samo policy; and judg-
ng now by tho opposite one which Con
gress lias pursued, its wisdom and pa
triotism aro Indicated by tho fact that
that Congress has but continued a brok
en Union by keeping ten of tho States
n which at 0110 tlmo tho Insurrection
xlstcd, as far as they could accomplish
it, in the condition of subjugated prov
inces, denying the rigid to be represent
ed while subjecting their people to every
species of legislation, including that of
taxation. That such a state of things is
it war with the very genius of our
Government, inconsistent with every
idea of political freedom, and most per
ilous to the peace and safety of tho
country, no reflecting man can fail to
believe.
We hope, sir, that the proceedings of
the Convention will cause you to ad
here, if possible, with even greater '.inn-
ness to the course you uro pursuing by
satisfying you that tho people t'.i'o with
you, and that the wish which lies near-
t to their hearts is that a perfect res
toration of our Union at the earliest mo
nient be allowed, and the conviction that
that result wm only be accomplished by
the measures which you aro pursuing,
And in the discharge of tho duties
which these impose upon you, we, as
did every member of tho Convention,
tin for ourselves Individually tenner
to you our profound respect and assur
ance of our cordial and sincere support
With 11 re-united Union, with no foot
but freemen's treading or peritted to
tread on our soil, with a nation's fnitl
pledged forever to a strict observance o
ill its obligation, with kindness and
fraternal lovo everywhere prevailing,
the desolations of war will soon bo re
moved ; its sacrifices of life, sad as they
have been, with Christina resignation,
be referred to a providential purpo.-e, of
fixing our beloved country on a firm
and endurable basis, which will forever
placo our liberty and happiness beyond
tho reach of human peril; then, too,
and forever will our Government chal
lenge the admiration and receive the
respect of the nations of tho world, and
we In no danger of any efforts to im
peach our lienor.
iVud permit me, sir, in conclusion, to
uilil, that great as your solicitude fur tho
restoration of our domestiu peace and
your labors to that end, you havo also a
watchful eyo to the nglitsof the nation,
and that any attempt by an assumed
or actual foreign power to enforce an il
legal blockade against tho Government
or citizens of tho United States, to use
your own mild but expressive words,
1 will be disregarded." In this deter
mination I am sure you will receive tho
unanimous approval of your follow
citizens. Now, sir, as thcehalrmau of this com
mittee, and iu behalf of tho Convention,
I have the honor to present you with an
authentic copy of its proceedings.
The allusion lu the above address to
tho determination of our Government
to disregard tho attempt of an assumed
or actual foreign power to enforco an
illegal blockade was greeted with loud
and continuous cheering.
When Mr. Iteverdy Johnson liad con
cluded, the President said :
.Vr, Chatriwm and Ctenttnne-n 0 the OtnunUlee:
Lanouauk Is Inadequate to express
tho emotions and feelings produced by
this occasion. Perhaps I could express
moro by permitting silence to speak,
and you to infer what I might and
ought to say. 1 confess that, notwith
standing tlio experience I havo had iu
public lire, and tho audiences I have
addressed, this occasion and this assem
blage aro well calculated to and do over
whelm me.
As I havo said, I have not languago
to convoy adequately my present reel
lugs and emotions. Iu listening to tho
address which your eloquent and dis
tinguished chairman has Just delivered,
the proceedings of tho Convention, as
thoy transpired, reeurrod to my mind.
Seemingly I partook of the Inspiration
that prevailed In tlio Convention, when
I received 11 dispntch, sent by two of Its
distinguished .numbers, conveying lu
terms tho scene which has Just been
described or South Carolina and Massa
ehusetts, urm-in-arm, marching into
that vast assemblage, nnd thus giving
evidence that tho two extremes had
como together ngaln, and that, for tlio
future, thoy wero united, as they had
been in tlio past, for tho preservation
of tho Union.
When tho dispatch informed mo that,
In that vast body of men, distinguished
for intellect and wisdom, every eyo was
suffused with tears on beholding tho
scone, I could not finish reading tho dia
patch to ono associated with 1110 In tho
ollleo, for my own feelings overcame
me. I think wo may justly coneludo
that wc nro moving under a proper in
splrntlon, nnd that wo need not bo mis
taken that tho finger or nn overruling
nnd unerring Providence is In this mnt-
tor. Tho nation Is in peril. Wo have
Just passed through a mighty, a bloody,
momentous ordeal, mid do not yet
find ourselves free from tho difficulties
nnd dangers that nt first surrounded us.
Willie our bravo men havo performed
their duties both officers nnd men
(turning to General Grant, who stood
at his right) while they have won lau
rels Imperishable, thcro aro still greater
nnd moro Important duties to perform ;
and while wo hnvo had their co-operation
In tho field, wo now need their
support in our efforts to perpetuate peace.
So far ns the Executive Department of
tho Government Is concerned, tho effort
has been mado to restore tho Union, to
heal the brench, to pour oil Into tho
wounds which wero consequent upon
tho struggle, and to speak In common
phrase, to prepare, as the learned and
wise physician would, a plaster healing
In chnraeter and eo-extenslvo with the
wound. We thought, and yet think.
that wo had partially succeeded. Hut
ns tho work progressed, as reconcilia
tion seemed to be taking place, and the
country becoming united, we found n
disturbing and marring element oppos
ing us.
In alluding to that element I shall
go no farther than did your Convention
and tho distinguished gentlemen who
has delivered to 1110 the report of its
proceedings. I shall make no reference
to It. That, I do not believe, the time
nnd tho occasion justify. We have
witnessed In one department of the
Government every effort, as It wero, to
prevent the restoration of peace and
harmony In tho Union. We havo seen
hanging upon tlio verge of Government,
ns It were, a body called, or which ns
sumes to be, the Congress of the United
States, but In fact n Congress or only n
part or the States. We have seen this
Congress assume nnd pretend to be for
tho Union, when its every step nnd net
tended to perpetuate disunion and make
a disruption of the States inevitable.
Instead of promoting reconciliation
and harmony, Its legislation has partak
en of tho character of penalties, retalia
tion, and revenge. This has been the
course and policy of ono department of
your Government. The humble indi
vidual who is now addressing you
stands tho representative of another de-
lmrtliUMit. nf tlin tlnvnrimipnt. Tim
manner in which lie was called upon to
occupy that position
n I shall not allude
to on this occasion ; suffice It to say that
ho Is here under tho Constitution of the
country, and being here by virtue of its
provision, lie takes his stand upon that
charter or our liberties, as the great
rampart or civil and religious liberty.
Having been taught 111 my early lire to
hold it sacred, and having practised up
on it during my wholo public career, I
shall ever continue to reverence the
Constitution or my fathers, nnd to innkc
it my guide.
I know it has been said, and I must
bo permitted to indulge in tho remark,
that tho Kxemtivo Department of the
Government has been despotic and
tyrannical. Ijt me ask this audience
of distinguished gentlemen around mo
hero to-day to point to a vote I over gave,
to a speech I over made, to a single act of
my wholo public llfo that has not been
against tyranny and despotism. What
position havo I ever occupied, what
ground havo I over assumed, whero it
can bo truthfully charged that I failed
to advocato tho amelioration and eleva
tion of tlio great mass of my country
men V So far as charges of that kind
aro concerned, I will say that they aro
simply Intended to deceive and delude
thu public mind into tho belief that
there Is some ono in power who is usurp
ing and trampling upon the rights and
perverting the principles of tho Consti
tution. It is dono by thoso who make
such charges for tho purposo or covering
their own acts. I havo fclt It my duty,
in vindication of principle and tho Con
stitution of my country, to call atten
tion to tlioso proceedings. When wo
como to cxamiuo who has been playing
tho tyrant, by whom do wo lind that
despotism lias been exercised V As to
myself, tho elements of my nature, the
pursuits of my life, havo not mado me,
either In my reelings or In my practice,
aggressive. My nature, on tho contrary,
Is rather defensive in its character. Hut
I will say that having taken my stand
upon tlio broad principles of liberty and
tlio Constitution, there is not power
enough on earth to drive- ino from it.
Having placed myself upon that broad
platform, 1 havo not boon awed, dismay
ed, or intimidated by either threats or
encroachments, but hnvo stood there in
conjunction with patriotic spirlts.souud
Ing tho tocsin of alarm when I deemed
tho citadel in danger. I said on n pre
vious occasion and repeat now that nil
that was necessary In this great strug
gle against tyranny and despotism was,
that tho struggle should bo sufficiently
audible for tho American people to hoar
and understand. Thoy did hear, nud
looking on nud seeing who tlio contest-,
ants wero, and what that strugglu was
about, they determined thoy would sot
tlo this question on tho side or tho Con
stitution nnd or principle. I proclaim
horo to-dny, a.s J havo on other occasions,
that my faith is abiding in this great
mass of the people. In tho darkest
struggle, when tho clouds soonied to bo
most lowering, my faith, instead of giv
ing way, loomed up through tho dark
cloud far beyond, nnd I saw that nil
would bo safe iu tlio end.
My countrymen, we all know that, In
tho language- of Thomas Jefferson, ty
ranny nud desj'Othm even can bo WW-
ciscd nnd exerted moro cffectiinlly by
1110 ninny tlian liy tho one. Wo hnvo
seen n Congress grndunlly oncroach step
by step upon constitutional rights, nnd
violate day nftcr dny nnd month nftcr
month the fundamental principles of
tho Government. Wo hnvo seen n Con
gress tltat scorned to forget thnt thcro
was a Constitution of tho United States
that thcro was n limit to tho sphero
and scopo of legislation. We haveseen
a Congress lnn minority assume to ex
ercise powers which, if nllowed to bo
carried out, would result in despotism
or monarchy itself. This is truth, and
because others ns well ns myself havo
seen proper to nppeal to tho patriotism
and republican feeling of tho country,
wo havo been denounced inthesevorest
terms. Slander upon slander, vitupera
tion upon vituperation of tho most vll
lnlnous character, has made its way
through tho press. What, gentlemen,
has been your and my sin? What luw
been tho cause of our offending ? I will
tell you. During to stnnd by tho Con
stitution of our fathers I (Approchlng
Senator Johnson.) I consider tho pro
ceedings of this Convention, sir, as moro
important thnn tnoso of nny convention
that over nssemblod In tho United States.
When I look with my mind's eye upon
thntcollectlon of citizens coming togeth
er voluntarily, nnd sitting iu council,
with Idcns, with principles, nnd views
commensurato with all tho States nnd
co-extenslvo with tho whole people, nnd
contrast It with the collection of gentle
men who nro trying to destroy tho
country, I regard it ns more important
than nny convention that has snt, nt
least, sinco 1787. I think I may also
say, that tho declarations thnt were thcro
mado nre equnl with the Declaration of
Independence itsolf, and I hero to-day
pronounce it n second Declaration of In
dependence. Your nddrcss nnd dcclnrntlons nro
nothing moro nor less than n reaffirma
tion of tho Constitution of tho United
States. Yes, I will go fnrther, nnd say
that tho declarations you have mado,
that the principles you have enunciated
in your nddresn, nre a second proclnma
tlon of emancipation to tho people of
the United States ; for in tho proclaiminsr
nnd reproclaiming these grent truths
you havo laid down n constitutional
platform upon which nil can make com
mon cause, and stand united together
for tho restoration of tho States and
preservation of tho Government with
01,1 Hcnco to party. The query onlj
onlr
is tho salvation of the country, for our
country rises above all party considera
tions or influences. How mnnv nro
there in tlio United Stntes that now re
quire to be free ! They havo the shack
les upon their limbs and aro bound as
rigidly as though they wero In fact in
slavery. I repeat, then, that vour dec
laration is tlio second proclamation of
emancipation to the people or tho Uni
ted States, and offers a common ground
upon which all patriots can stand.
Mr. Chairman and gentleman, let mo
In this connection ask you what I havo
to gain more than the advancement of
tho public welfare? I am ns much op
posed to tho indulgenco of egotism ai
nny one, but here, in n conversational,
manner, while formally receiving tho
proceedings of thi3 Convention, I may
be permitted again to nsk, whnt hnvo I
to gain consulting human ambition
moro thnn I havo gained, except in ono
thing ? My race is nearly run. I havo
been placed in tho high office which I
occupy under tho Constitution of tho
country, and I may say that I havo held,
from lowest to highest, almost every
position to which a man may attain in
our Government. I have passed through
every position, from alderman of a vil
lage to tho Presidency or the United
States; nnd surely, gcutienien, this
should bo enough to gratify a reasonnbln
ambition. If I wanted authority, or if I
wished to perpetunte my own power,
how easy would it havo been to hold nnd
wield that which was placed in my hands
by tho measure called tho Freedmcn's
Bureau Hill. Withanarmy which it plac
ed at my discretion I could havo remain
ed at tlio capital of tho nation, and with
fifty orslxtymilllonsofappropriationsat
my disposal, with tho machinery to bo
worked by my own hands, with my
satraps nnd dependent iu every town
nnd vlllago, and then with tho Civil
Ilights Hill following as nn auxiliary in
connection with nil tho other appliances
of tho Government, I could havo pro
claimed myself dictator.
Hut, gentlemen, my prido nnd my
ambition hnve been to occupy that po
sition which retains nil power lu tho
hands of tho people. It Is upon thnt I
hnvo always relied. It Is upon that I
rely now. (A volco, "And tho pcoplo
will not disappoint you.") And I re
peat, that neither the taunts nor Jeers
of Congress, uor of a subsidized calum
niating press, can drive mo from my
purpose. I acknowledge no superior
exeopt my God, the author of my exist
ence, nud tho people of tho United
States. For tho ono, I try to obey nil
His commands, as best 1 can, compati
ble with my poor humanity. For tho
other, in n political nnd representative
senso, tho hlgl( bohosts of tho peoplo
havo always boon respoctcd and obeyed
by mo.
Mr. Chairman, I havo add more thnn
I had intended to say. For tho kind
allusions to myself contained iu your
address, and in tho resolutions adopted
by tho Convention, let mo remark tltat
In this crisis, nud at this period of my
public life, I hold nbovo nil price, nnd.
shall ever recur, with feelings of pro
found gratification, to the last nwolu.
tlon, containing tho cnijorseiuvut gf