Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-04-20

|
Speech, and asks the Band to play Dicie-
[ Immense E,tthusiasnl- General Butler o.
Reconstructten-,Spee Jy Governor Den
, nison, DC. ....
Special Dispatch to the Cincinnati Gazette. 4
WASHINGTON, April 10.
Washington is intoxicated with joy owe
the news Of the surrender, and the earl
prospect OF peace. The merchants hav,
closed their places of business, and tn,
workmen and mechanics have left theil
shops, and are marching through the streets
with bands Of music, banners and cannon
The town is a perfect babel of excitement
such as has never been witnessed here be-
fore. All the departments are closed, and
the clerks are participating in the general
rejoicing. Several popular demonstrations
were made by the people in front of the
Executive mansion. During the morning
the President was engaged with his cabinet,
and declined to respond to he FIRST two calls,
but he could not resist the third. 1t was a
grand outpeuring of the people. They
were accompanied by a band of music,
which played Hail to the Chief" "Yan-
kee Doodle" and America" the people
joining In the latter by singing
"AIy county, it's of thee,
Sweet land OF liberty,
To thee sing,n &c.
The mechanics and working men Of the
Navy Yard, with two cannon, saluted the
President with one hundred guns, fred i'm
mediately in front of the mansion. At
twelve clock the President made his ap-
pearance, and was received in the most en-
thuslastIc manner, the people waving their
hats and swinging their umbrellas, and
ladies waving their handkerchief
When order was restored the President
spoke as follows
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
am very greatly rejoiced that an oc-
people cannot restrain themselves. Laugh
ter and cheers. suppose arrangements
are being made for a formal demonstration
tonight or tomorrow night Cries Of
Cant wait. l shall have to respond |
shall have nothing to say then, if dribble
It all out before. Laughter. | see you
have band Of music with you. l propose,
tor closing up, that you will have them play
an air or tune called Dixie" I have al
ways thought it the best tune ever heard.
Our adversaries over the way have attempt
ed to appropriate it as their national air.
l insisted yesterday that we had fairly cap
tured it, and that we are entitled to it. |
asked the opinion of the Attorney General,
and he stated that we had lawfully captured
1t, and 1t was ours l new request the band
to perform it. [Cheers. a
The band then played "Dixie." During
its performance the President remained at
the window, and after the band concluded
he proposed three good rousing hearty
cheers for Lieut.. Gen. Grant and all under
his command. This proposition was re-
sponded to with will. The President then
proposed three more cheers for our gallant
navy. The crowd responded as heartily as
before.
When the President bowed and retired
the band struck up Hail Columbia" aud
the immense crowd dispersed, moving away
in different professions, to call upon the
other officers Of the Government.
SPEECH OF GEN. BUTLER.
Gen. Butler, upon being called out, spoke,
in substance, as follows:
FELLOw-cITIzENs: lam profoundly CRATE
fu, and thank you ence again that you have
called upon me to join you in your congrat-
ulatlons upon this great triumph of our
arms, which conquer and subjugate finally
q most heinous rebellion against the Ameri-
can people. The surrender of Lee and his
army puts an end to this traitorous war,
waged to overthrow the Government Even
now, while the. heart turns in gratitude to
God for His good providence, while the soul
burns with gladness at the result which,
rightly understood, renews the life of the
nation forever, now, vital and controlling
questions, to be settled in the immediate !
future, arise and mingle, pcrforce, with cur
Joy. There are four classes Of men in the |
rebellious States. What shall be done with |
them! What shall be done with men edu-
Gated in the Military Academy at the pub
lle expense, sworn to protect our flag, OBJ
tanning livelihood, honor and promotion
under it children OF the nation, who, with.
out quallhcatlon, excuse, or ground even,
betrayed the country, forfeited henor, struck
down its flag used the knowledge obtained
at the nations school to break down the
Government which nurtured them, the ma
tion which honored them and have now
ceased from the unholy strife which has
cost millions of money and hundreds of |
thousands Of lives, only because they have
been beaten, conquered and subdued by the
valer of the soldiers, whose comrades they
have starved inloathsome prisons. tCheers,
and cries of Hang every one of them,"
Hang them" "Give them the rope In
the future danger to our liberties can GENE
only from the mad ambition of those in the
army who may conspire against the life OF
the nation, Shall we not by example teach |
every officer who deserts his flag, that he
shall suffer the same penalty for desertion
which the Government enforcedupon many
of our soldiers for the same crime?
What shall bs done with those whom the
people North and South ence delighted to |
honor, who with the truth efGod upon their
lips, but treason in their souls, put in yonder
capitol in the seats Of the law-givers, day by
day plotted how to destroy the country,even
while in the name ofthe Constitution they |
claimed to sacrifice at the altar her most
cherished liberties? Shall they ever again
have power, place or vote to destroy the |
country [''No,i mol Never, never!"l
Shall they ever again be. allowed to have
the loved, and honored and glorious privilege
now made sacred by the blood ofpatriotr: he'd
to save us from their acts? The rights of
American citizens? [''Ne,n neverl'4 '.The |
traitors" Hang themP The next class
are the soldiers in, the ranksof the rebellion,
deceived by false statements and arguments,
and prejudieed until their judgments were
overborne, conseripted and driven until
their wills were overawed into TIE support |
OF the rebellion who, even in bad cause, |
have illustrated the valor of the American