Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-07-07
GETTYSBURG.
PRESIDENT JOHNSON's LETTER TO THE
COMMITTEE OF CELEBRATION.

At the Gettysburg celebration, on the Fourth,
General Geary announced that the President of
the United States hal been prevented by sick
ness from participating in tho exercises, hut
that he had addressed a letter to the Chairman,
which would be now read by Judge Gooding,
Marshal of the District Of Columbia. Mr.. Good-
ing then proceeded to read the following;
ExEcufIvE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, b. c., July 3, 1865.
Mr.. DaUid Wills, Chairman, &c &c., GeIys-
burg, PSnnsyiUania
DEAN Sin had promised myself the plea
sure Of participating in person in the proceed
ings at Gettysburg to morrow.
That pleasure, owing to my iudisposition,
am reluctantly compelled to forego.
should have been pleased, standing on that
twice oonsecrated spot. TO share with you your
joy Mt the return Of peace, to greet with you the
surviving heroes Of the war, who come back
with light hearts, though heavy laden with
homo $, and with you to drop grateful tears to
the memory of those that will never return.
Unable to do so in p rsOn, can Ouy send you
my greetings, aud assure you Of my full sympa-
thy with the purpose aud epirit Of your exer.
cises Tomorrow.
OF all the anniversaries Of the Declaration of
Independence, none has been more important
and signiheant than that upon which you as
semble.
-Four years Of struggle for our nations life
have been crowned with success, armed treason
is swept from the land, our ports are re.opened,
our relations with other nations are Of the
most satisfactory oharacter our uternnl COM
meIce is free, our soldiers and sailors resume
the peaceful pursuil Of civil life, our lag floats
in every breeze, aud the only barrier to our
national progTeas-human slavery--is .arcver m
an end.
Let US trust that each recurring Fourth of
July shall find our nation stronger ia numbers ;
stronger in wealth stronger in the harmony Of
ITS citizens; stronger in it's devotion to nation
ality and freedom.
AS have often said, ! believe that God sent
this people on mission among the nations of
the earth, ana that, when He founded our nation.
He founded it in perpetuiiy. That faith sus
tanned me through the struggle that Is past. 1t
sustalus me now that new duties are devolyed
upon me, and new dangers threaten us. feel
that, whatever the means lie uses, the Almighty
is determined TO preserve US ms people
And since | have seen the love our fellow
citizens bear llieir country aud the sacrifceD
they have made for il, my abiding faith has
become stronger than ever that 'gOveruinent
Of the people" is the strongest as well as the
best Of governments
In your joy to morrow trust YOU will not
forget the thousands of whites as well q, blacks
Wnonl the war has emancpaed, who will hail
this Fourth of July with delight which no
previous anniversary Of the Declaration of
Independence ever gave them. Controlled so
long by ambitious, selfish leaders, who used
them Tor their own unworthy ends, they are now
free to serve and cherish the Government against
whose life they, in their blindness, struck. /
am greatly mistaken, if in the States lately in
rebellion, we do not hencelorward have an
exhibition of such loyalty aud patriotism as was
never seen nor felt there before. Where you
have consecrated National Cemetery you are
to lay the cornerstone Of National Monument
which, in nll human probability, will rise to the
full height and proportion you design. Noble
as this monument OF stone may be, it will be but
a faint symbol of the grand monument, which, if
we do our duty, we shall raise among the nations
of the earth, upon the foundation laid nine and
eighty years ago in Philadelphia. Time shall
wear away and crumble this monument. but
that, based as it is, upon the consent, virtue.
patriotism, and intelligence of the people, each
year shall make iirmer and more imposing,
Your friend and fellOw-citizen,
ANDREW JOHNSON.