October 31

"Let peace and prosperity be restored to the land. May God bless this people: may God save the Constitution."

Andrew Johnson, 17th President, 1865-1869. From a speech given to a special session of the Senate on March 22,1875. Ten years after the end of The Civil War, Reconstruction had attempted to bring the nation back together. However, the nation was still in turmoil, with among other issues, disputes in elections as Republicans accused Democrats of of unfair and violent election practices and Democrats accused the Republicans of corruption. In one instance, government troops were sent to Louisiana to attempt to restore order. In that state, two competing legislatures had been elected and each attempted to send their chosen Senator to Congress. A dispute ensued whether or not President Grant had the right to send government troops to solve state election issues. Johnson, who had been recently elected to the Senate, gave his speech opposing the Federal intervention, siting numerous examples from the Constitution. It was to be his last public speech, as he died on July 31, 1875. From The Senate, 1789-1989: Classic speeches, 1830-1993, Volume 3, edited by Wendy Wolff.