ve
they are as much laboring to pervert or destroy them, as were the men
who fought against them in the Rebellion. (A voice: 'Give us the
names.') I say Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsylvania. (Tremendous
applause.) I say Charles Sumner. (Tremendous applause.) I say
Wendell Phillips and others of the same stripe are among them. (A
voice: 'Give it to Forney.') Some gentleman in the crowd says, 'Give
it to Forney.' I have only to say that I do not waste my ammunition
upon dead ducks." (Laughter and applause.) . . . "They may traduce
me," continued the President, "they may slander me, they may
vituperate, but let me say to you that it has no effect upon me; and
let me say in addition that I do not intend to be bullied by my
enemies. . . . There is an earthquake coming, gentlemen: there is a
ground-swell coming of popular judgment and indignation. The American
people will speak for their interests, and they will know who are their
friends and who their enemies. What positions have I held under this
Government?--beginning with an alderman and running through all the
branches of the Legislature. (A voice: 'From a tailor up.') Some
gentleman says I have been a tailor. (Tremendous applause.) Now that
did not discomfit me in the least; for when I used to be a tailor I
had the reputation of being a good one and of making close fits (great
laughter); always punctual with my customers and always did good work.
(A voice: 'No patchwork.') No: I do not want any patchwork. I want
a whole suit. But I will pass by this little facetiousness. . . . I
was saying that I held nearly all positions, from alderman, through
both branches of Congress, to that which I now occupy; and who is there
that will say Andrew Johnson ever made a pledge that he did not redeem
or made a promise that he did not fulfill?"

Some one had spoken in Congress about the Presidential obstacle to be
gotten out of the way. Mr. Johnson interpreted this as meaning
personal violence to himself. "I make use," said he, "of a very strong
expression when I say that I have no doubt the intention was to incite
assassination and so get out of the way the obstacle to 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 which has been shed? Does not the murder of Lincoln appease
the vengeance an