Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-07-14
PREsIDENr JoHNsONs -LETTER,
The fdllOwag Is the letter " Mr. JphnsOH
read at Che Gettysburg celebration on the 4th~
10 aESEOUTIvE MAssIoS, a asIl
Was! wAsHTssTos, : e P; o,.ygly 2, 1865; )

WASHINGTON, d. c., July 3, 1865.
To David Willis Oh mn. &c., Gsttysburg, Pa:
DEAR Sir: l had promised myself the pleas
ure of PaLtieIPating IN person in the proceedings
at Gettysburg to-morrOw. That pleasure Ow
ing to my indisposition, am reluctantly COM
PEELED to forego. I should have bean pleased,
standing on that twice eenseerated spot, to share
with your JOY. at the return. of peace, sogTeet
with you the surviving heroes Of the war who
come back with light hearts, though heavy Ia
den with honOrs, and with you to drop grateful
tears to the memory of those who VIII never re-
turn. Lfos sFz.r1.fFF rst
Unable tosdO 30 in person. i can onlysend 3
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, T. .s.ss.szs. ..sse,-
-Four years of struggle for our nation s life
have been crowned with success; armed treason
is swept from the land our ports are reopened;
our relations with other nations are of the most
satisfactory characters our soldiers and sailors
resume the peaceful pursuits of civil life; our
flag floats in every breeze; aud the only barrier
to our national progress-hunan slavery-is
forever at an end. Let MS trust that each reeur-
ring Fourth of July shall find our natiou stron-
ger in number-stronger in health-stronger IN
the harmony Of its citizens-stronger IN its de-
votion to nationality and freedom. 2 sf
As have often said, believe that God sent
this people on mission among the nations Of
the earth, and that when be founded our nation,
ne founded 1t IN perpetuity. That faith sus-
tanned me through the struggle that is past
It sustains me now that new duties are devolvsd
upon me and new dangers threaten US. / feel
that whatever means he uses, the Almighty is
determined to preserve US as apeople
And sinceI know the love our fellow citizens
bear their country, and the sacrifices they have
made for it, my abiding faith has become stron-
ger than ever that a government of the people"
IS the strongest as well as the best of govern
ments. secs a-a " ttsfr DTS '..srr-
In your Joy tomorrow, trust you viii not
forget the thousands of whites, as well as blacks,
whom the war has emancipated, who viii hail
this Fourth 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. | am greatly mistaken If
In the States lately in rebellion we do not hsnce-
forward have an exhibition of such loyalty and
patriotism as were never seen nor felt before
When you have consecrated national Gem
etery YOU are to lay the corner stone of ma
tional monument which, in all human probabil-
ity, will rise to the full height and proportion
you design. Noble as this monument Of ttone
may be, It viii 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 PhiladeIphia. Time shall wear away and
crumble this monument, but that based as il is.
upon the consent, virtue, patriotism and intel
ligence of the people each year shall make firm
er and more imposing
Your friend and fellow citizen,
49, ~ A ,rrnrur InrI,rsral