orious
Constitution. These are the things that make me think that you are a
mighty good people."

Here the speaker was interrupted by great applause.

"Gentlemen, I believe I have spoke the truth, and not flattery; I ain't
used to oily words; I am used to speak what I think, of men, and to
men. I am, perhaps, more of a come-by-chance than any of you ever saw;
I have made my way to the place I now fill, without wealth, and against
education; I was raised from obscurity, and placed in the high councils
of the nation, by the kindness and liberality of the good people of my
district--a people whom I will never be unfaithful to, here or
elsewhere; I love them, and they have honored me; and according as God
has given me judgment, I'll use it for them, come of me what may.

"These people once passed sentence upon me of a two years'
stay-at-home, for exercising that which I contend belongs to every
freeman in this nation: that was, for differing in opinion with the
chief magistrate of this nation. I was well acquainted with him. He was
but a man; and, if I was not before, my constituents had made a man of
me. I had marched and counter-marched with him: I had stood by him in
the wars, and fought under his flag at the polls: I helped to heap the
measure of glory that has crushed and smashed everything that has come
in contact with it: I helped to give him the name of 'Hero,' which,
like the lightning from heaven, has scorched and blasted everything
that stood in its way--a name which, like the prairie fire, you have to
burn against, or you are gone--a name which ought to be the first in
war, and the last in peace--a name which, like 'Jack-o'-the lantern,
blinds your eyes while you follow it through mud and mire.

"Gentlemen, I never opposed Andrew Jackson for the sake of popularity.
I knew it was a hard row to hoe; but I stood up to the rack,
considering it a duty I owed to the country that governed me. I had
reviewed the course of other Presidents, and came to the conclusion
that he did not of right possess any more power than those that had
gone before him. When he transcended that power, I put down my foot. I
knew his popularity; that he had come into place with the largest
majority of any one that had gone before him, who had opposition: but
still, I did not consider this as giving him the right to do as he
pleased, and construe our Constitution to meet his own views.

"We had lived the happiest people under the sun for