The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-07-14
President Johnson,s Gettysburg Let.

The following is the letter written by
the the President upon the occasion of the
Gettysburg celebration on the Fourth. In
the fourth paragraph Mr.. JOHNSON gives the
negro worshippers pregnant hint Of his
intense disgust at their incessant howlings
about the condition of their ebony idol,
and their utter Indifference to the fate Of
twenty-e;ght millions of whites. In the
same sentence he takes occasion to express
confidence in the loyalty and patriotism Of
the Southern masses, which sentiment will
be anything but agreeable to those who
are clamoring against the plan Of recon-
struotion adopted by the President, and
who wish to hold every State of the South
for an indefinite period in the grip Of mill
tary power, as the only means whereby
large proportion of the American people
shall be governed. President JOHNSON
knows there is not the remotest reason to
fear that the authority of the Federal gov
eminent will be resisted in any Of the
States, if the people are not driven to
desperation by the military and negro rule
that the radicals are attempting to fasten
upon them, and the denial of their rights
as American citizens:
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER.
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
WASHINGTON, D. c., July 3, 1865.
Mr.. Ddcid WIS, Chairman, &C.. Gettysburg,
PENN:
DEAR SIR: / had promised myself the pleas
ure of participating in person In the proceed.
ings at Gettysburg tomorrow. That pleasure
owing to my indisposition, am reluctantly
compelled to forego. should have been
pleased standing on that twice consecrated spot
to share with you your icy at the return Of
of the war who come back with light hearts,
though heavy laden with honors, and with you
to drop grateful tears to the memory of those
that will never return.
Unable to do so in person, can only send
you my greetings, and assure you of my full
sympathy with the purpose and spirit of your
exercises tomorrow. OF all the anniversaries
of the Declaration of Independence, none has
been more important and significant than that
upon which you assemble.
Four years Of struggle for our nations life
have been crowned with success; armed
treason Is is swept from the land, our ports are
reopened; our relations with other nations are
of the most satisfactory character; our inter-
nal commerce; our soldiers and sailors resume
the peaceful pursuits of civil life our flag
floats in every breeze; and the only barrier to
our national progress-human slavery-is for
ever at an end. Let us trust that each recur-
ring Fourth of July shall find our nation
stronger in numbers-stronger In health
stronger in the harmony Of its citizens
stronger in ite devotion to nationality and free.
dom,
In your Joy, tomorrow, trust You will not
tHn nd Hf yuyol IA
blacks, whom the war has emancipated, who
will hail this 4th of July with delight which
no previous declaration of independence ever
gave them. Controlled so long by ambitious,
selfish leaders, who used them for their own
unworthy ends, they are now free to serve and
cherish the government against whose life they
in their blindness struck. I am greatly mis-
not hencetorward have an exhibition OF such
loyalty and patriotism as was never seen or felt
there before.
As / have often said, 1 believe that God sent
this people on q mission among the nations OF
the earth, and that when he founded our ma
ton he founded it in perpetuity. That faith
sustained me through the struggle that Is past.
| 1t sustains me now that new duties are de-
volved upon me and new dangers threaten rs.
| feel that whatever the means he uses, the
Almighty is determined to preserve Us as a
people.
| And since know the love our fellow citi-
zens bear their country, and the sacrifices they
have made for it, nay abiding faith has become
stronger than ever that "a government of the
people" is the strongest as well as the best OF
| governments.
| When you have consecrated o national Gem
etery you are to lay the corner stone of ma
uonal monument which, in all human proba-
bility. will rise to the full height and proper.
ton you design. Noble as this monument OF
stone may be, it will be but faint symbol of
the grand monument which, if we do our du-
ty, 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 crumoie this monument, but that
based, as it is, upon the consent, yirtue patri.
otism and intelligence of the people, each wear
shall make firmer and more imposing
Your friend and fellow citizen.
ANDPEIU IO1IN,r.aa,