The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1865-04-28
President Johnsoa's Reply to the Hi.
nois Delegates.
II ashInutnn

"'"'us,t oii, hPiE lc.
Gov. OeIesby, of Illinois, in ip,Ioducirp
The Illinois delegation, spo.. in high
praise Of MIR. Lincoln, ard expressed. in
behalf Of :he csegslon, ihe fullest con
/ tilenc- in Mr. JUhusou's abilities 10 CON
duct Lha affairs of the nation, aud pied .,eI
alm The earnest support Of his slate sud
The country:
Pres!den. Johnson replied-"I have
listened aith profound emotion to tbs
words you have addressed me- had no,
antlcipalod, in the mids. Of The sss!deninq
circumstances which surrounds, and lh.
'nmenss responsibilities that cIoaI upon
me, Ihe expression Of confidence Of iadi-
sldusis, snd still more Of Al infueu ,inl
body like that bsfora ns, representing =
great commonwealth. Il Strengthens Inv
heavily burdened mind IN an hour Ike
this Of deepest sorrow. We're il posaiba
tC einhoay in words the faeliag Of my bo,
som could not command my iips TO utter
them. Perhaps tue best reply | could
make, tie one mos. approprIate 10 your
kiui assGrs1Cs5 Q! CClh..euce, wuu!! be iu
receive them in silence. The thfobb'ngs
II nay heart since tie lad cAtas.!ophe
which las appalled, us, cannot os reduced
to so;ds, and oppressed as | an with tLe
ne" Aud great responsibilities which have
deVoiNed upon Ine, and sstt!eued with
gIief, can With difficulty respond 10 YOU
at al; hu. cannot permit such express
sions OF conhleuce reposed in lt.e by the
people 10 pass without acknow ledgemenr.
TO an individual IKE myself Who hsd
never c,.imod much, bat who has i, j.
true, received from a generous people
many mark Of trust and honor for a
long t}me, 40 occasion ike iha, and a
ma.ttestation Of pubic feelings 50 vel
timed are peculiarly acceptable. Spring
lng ftom iho people my aeif, every pu.sa
tiun OF lie popular heart finds 3 iGma
Ilate answer IA my own. BY m.ny men
n public life such occa- ;ons are Otter.
considered ineIey folEsl To me thav
a.e real. Your words Of coua.euauce and
encouragement sink deep Ia ny heart, and
were even comarl, | could bat gather
from .hela,; strength to carry OF! ury con-
yictions of right.
Thna feeling, | shall enter upon ths dir
charge Of my duty firmly anG s.ead tasty
if not with the signal ability exhibited by
my predecessor, which is stlll fseh 10 our
sorrowlng minds. And | repeat that 40
Heart feels more sensibIy than mine, this
great atilic;ion. In what say On TIL,
occasion shall indulge in no petty spirit
Of anger, no feeling Of revenge. ut We
have beheid q n>; able ayert in the history
ofmankind; il the midst Of the Amerc II
people, where every citizen is taught to
obey law and observe the rules Of Cl.r,s-
liam conduct, cur Chief Magistrate, belov
ed of ai hearts, has been a,=assinated aud
when We trace iLe crime 20 is cause
when We remember the source wheuce the
assassin drew his Inspiration, and then
lock al the result, We stand vet more
astonished at this most bar bai0us, taosl
dlaboHcal assassination. Such a crime
as ;he murder OF "a gleat aud good man.
honoIed and r-yereu, beloved, and the
hope OF the people, springs not from suiJ.
tary Individual u ever so desperate wick
eduess. We can tlace lis cause through
SUE cesalve steps, without enumeraiihg
them here. back 10 that source which is lh.
spring of ali our woes. No one can say
that, If the perpetrator Of this tiendish
deed should be arrested, should nol un-
dergo the extreme peus|ty which The las
provides for crime.
" hlie we STRAIN oar mind 10 compre-
bend the eno'mity OF the assassination,
shall We allow the nation 10 be aGsassina-
ted | speak IN no spirit of unkIndness
/ leave the events Of the future 10 be dts
posed Of AS they s'Ise,' regarding my self
as the humble ihstrumsn, of the AmerI-
lice and Judgment shall be determined by
them. do not harbor bitter or revenge
fuI feelings toward any. In general terms
would say ths, public meras and pub
!ic opinion should be e.,ab.isheu upon
sure and inilexlb!e principles Of justice
" hen the question OF exercising mercy
comes before ne, il will be considered
calmly, remembering thai am tie exc
cuGye Of the ration. kuou men love to
hs~e their names spoken in connection
with acfs Of mercy, snd how easy II is 10
yield 10 This Impulse, but We must not
forget that wba! may ba mercy to indi-
vlduss is cIusIiy 10 the stss. In the eI
eIoi.s Of mercy there saout bs 40 doubt
left that this high prerogativs is not used
to relieve lie lew a. lbs expenses Of the
maUy.
Be assured that shall never forge,
tbas am not TO consui. NY own feelings
alone, bus 20 give al Sccount 10 Tie vhuIe
people IN regard 10 my future course.
vii gov make ~ pledges. | have been
connected somewha, actively with pubic
affairs, and 10 the history ot the past pub
lie acls, which il familiar 10 yea refer
Tor those principles that have governed me
hereJotore, and will guide n.e hereafter
Ia general will say | have long labor
e1 for the elevation Of the great mass ot
all mankind Ny options as TO tie Ia
ture Of popular government have long
been cherished, AMI constituted as am.
/, is Bow too iate in life for rne TO change
them. believe that government wss
made for man, not man for government.
The Struggle Of the people against the
most gIga tic rebeiilon the world ever saw
has demonstrated that tie attachment OF
the people 10 their government is the
strOnGea. Galural defense human wisdUm
can devise. SO long as tbe gich man feels
tba. the Interests OF tie eoYernxeut ale