The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-09-17

The PresIdent,s speeeh.

GESTLENEN: ! can only say, n reply 10
the remarks Of your chairman, that / am
highly gratifed 20 receive the assurances he
has given me. They are more than I could
have expected under the circumstances. /
must say ] was unpreparsd 10 receive 30
numerous delegation on this occasion; it
Yves unexpected; ! had no idea Il was to be
50 large, OF represent so many states. When
] expressed my willingness to see at any
time 30 many OF YOU as chose 20 do me the
honor 70 call upon me, and stated that
should be gratihed at receiving any mani
festions Of regard YOU might think proper
make was totally unpTepared for anything
equal TO the present demonstration. am
free 10 say ii excites in my mind feelings
and emotions that language is totally mad
equate 70 express. When look back upon
nv past actions and recall period scarcely
more than four short years ago, when /
stood battling for prime Piles which many of
YOU opposed and thought were wrong, was
battling for the same principles thst aetnate
me to-day, and which principles I thank
my God you have come forward on this oc-
casion TO manifest disposition 10 support.
/ say now, a. / have said on many former
occasions, that I entertain no personsl re-
sentiments, enmIties, or animosIties 10 any
living south Of Mason and Dixon's line,
however much be may have differed from
me in principle. The stand I then took /
member how I stood pleading with nay
Southern brethren when they stood with
their hate in their hands ready to turn their
backs upon the United States; how i'm
ulored Inern 10 stand with me there and
maiutsin our rights and fight our battles
under the laws aud Constitution OF the
United States. / think, as l thought then,
and eudsavored to induce them 70 believe,
that our true position was under the law and
under The Constitution ofthe Union with the
institution Of slavery IN il; but II that prin-
ciple made an itsue that rendered dIsin-
1egrstion possible-f that made an issue
which should prevent us from transmit
ing 70 our children country a. bequeathed
% as bv our fathers-I had nothing
csc 70 do but stand by the Govern
ment, be the consequences what they
might / said then, what you all know,
thai / ives for the institutions Of the c0un-
trv as guaranteed by the Constitution, but
above all things ] was for the Union OF the
States / remember the taunts, the jeers,
The scoWls with which / was treated. / re-
member the circle that stood around me,
aud remember the threats and intimidations
that were freely uttered by the men who
opposed ne, and whom ! wanted 90 befriend
aud guide by the light that led me; but,
feeling conscious in my own integrity, and
that IVES right, 1 heeded not what taey
might say or do 10 me. and was inspired and
encouraged To do my duty regardless Of
auphl e.se aud have lived 10 see the real
izaticn OF my predictions and the iat 4 error
Of ibnse whom vainly essayed TO save from
the results I could not but foresee. Gentle.
ruCn. We have passed through this REBEL on.
saw We, for IT was We who are responsible
iar a. Yes the South made the issues, aud
] kuow the nature of the eouthern people
well enough 20 know that when they have
become convinced Of an error they frankly
IT. an "a GOT
muuuer; and now, in the Performance Of
that du y, or, indeed in ony act thy under
tske 10 perform. they do il heartily and
frankly: aud now that they come 10 me /
understand them as saying that ave
made the issue. We Set up the nuion
OF the States against the institu-
zion OF slavery; We selected as arbitra
tr the God Of battles; the arbtrament was
the sword. The issue was fairly and hon
srably met. Both the questions presented
have been settled against us, and We are
prepsred 20 accept the issue" ! fined on
ali sides this spirit OF candor and honor pre-
EailnE. Il is ssid by all-the issue was
ours, and the judgment has been. given
against us, and the decision having been
made against us, we feel bound in honor TO
abide bv the arbitrameut. In doing this,
We are doing ourselves mO dishonOr, and
should not feel Inundated or degraded, but
rather that We are ennobling ourselves by
our action, and we should feel that the
Government has treated as maguanimously,
Hud meet the Government upon the terms IL
has so mnguanimously protiered Us. So far
az sm concerned, personally, am uuin-
Hu,ucrd by any question, whether it affects
lhe North or the South. the East or the
West / stand where / did Of old, battling
Cor the Constitution and the Union of these
United States. In doing 50, know 1 OPP
posed some Of you gentlemen of the South
when this doctrine of secession was being
urged upon the country, and the declare
tlau uf your right 10 break up the Govern
rnput and disintegrate the Union was made.
1 stand to-day, rs ] have ever stood, firmly
iu the opinion that ID "a monopoly contends
aFauzt this country the monop0 must %
down, and the country must go up. Yes,
1hei --uc was made by the South against the
Government, aud the Government has tri-
umphed and the south, true 10 her ancient
instincts of frankuess aud manly honor,
comes forth and expresses her willingness
Co abide the result of the decision in good
I,ith. While / think that the rebellion has
been arrested and subdued, and am hsppy
Boa the consciousness Of duty well perfo IN
ed. I want not only YOU, but the people Of the
world % know that while ! dreaded and
feared disiutrCration OF the States, / ana
equally opposed 10 consolidation OF concen-
uatiau of power here under whatever guise
or uame. aud IL the issue is forced upon us,
shall still endeavor 60 pursue the same
efforts 30 dissuude from this doctrine Of run
ming ta extremes; but ! say let the saUle
rules he applied. Let the Constitution be
cur guide. Let the preservation of that and
she Union of the States be our principal
Bfm. Les 10 be our hope that the Govern
meut may be perpetual, and that the pTn-
rIples of the Government founded IS they
ere on right and Just &c. may be handed
down without spot aud hlemish 10 our pos
A.. L.. d. ~
am grutihed 20 see 10 many Of yon here
to-day. IL mnnifests spirit 1 am pleased
O. observe. know il has been said of me
that my a~perities ave sharp, that had vim
dictiyc feelings 20 crafty, and that 1 should
u,t fail Co avail my self of the opportunities
thst would present thcmselve. 10 crafty
such dc-picable feelings. Gentlemcn. IL my
acts viii not speak for me and for them
selves. then any professions ] might now
make would he equally useless. But, gen
ti~msu, Al l know myrcli, ~ ! think I do
know that ! am of the suuthe.u people
aud love them and will do 81 in my low
or to restore them 10 that state Of happiness
aud prosperity which they enjoyed before
The madness Of misguided men IN whom
they had reposod their confidence led them
asiray 90 their own uudoing. II there is
anything that can be done on my part on
correct principles, on the principles of the
Constitution, 20 promote these ends, be as
suIed 10 shall be done. Let me assure YOU,
also. that there Is no disposition On IN,
part oi the Government 10 deal harsblv
with the southern people. There
NAV be- speeches published from vRrious
quarters that NAV breathe different spirit
DO Do let them trouble or excite Won. bui
believe that % Is, as ID TO-, the great object o
the Government 60 make the Union Of these
states more complete and perfect than ever,
and Ca ma ntain ID ON constitutional prinei-
gaIh inn hon 10 h.
before been. Then WHY cannot we all cOrae
mp 90 The work IN proper spirit? In other
words. let Ms look 90 the Constitution The
issue his been made and decided then. as
wise men-as men who see right and are
determined 30 follow il as fathers and br,tb
ere, aud ss men who love their obuntr- in
this hour of trial and sufiering-whv cannot
we come up aud help Go settle the Questions
cot the hour and adjust them according 10
The principles OF honor and justieeg The
institution Of slavery is gone. The former
status oi tho negro hsd TO be- changed. aud
We, a. wise men, must recognize 80 patent a
'.'t hha adapt ourselves g circumstance as
thr2 surround us, [Voices-Weara willing
y" "o tn- les, SIR, We are willing 20 do 40
believe You are, ] believe yyb,p w.
isith Is pledged, when your consent ba.
been gwen, IS / have already said, I heli,y,
VIII o. maintained in good faith, and
every pledge snd promise fully CARED M,
itrrs-li WILL All ] ask or des;re al
the S"uth or the North, the Fast ~
'hc West, is TO he Sustained in car
rylug out the principles Of the Coo
sitIuon. 10 is not 10 DE denied tba,
We have been great sufferers on 10Th
sides. Good men have fallen on both
,ide', an6 much IA sery is being endured
~ the necessary result Of 50 gigantic a r,,n
test Why tAon, cannot We come together
end around the common altar Of our caup-
tIy heal the wounds that have been made ,
Deep wounds have been inflicted. Oprc o,,,-
Try has been SCARED al over Then WIN,
cannot We approach each other upon princi.
pies which are right in themselves ana
which WIll be- productive Of good 10 eIly
NJ. --- !. NJ ---L.--- L.. = -. II