Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-07-10
The Gettysburg Celebration.
A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT.

The following is the letter from President John
son read at the Gettysburg celebration on Tues
| day:
WASHINGTON July 3 1860.
DEAN Sir: I had promised myselfthe pleasure
OF participating in person in the proceedings OF
tomorrow. That pleasure am, by indisposluon,
reluctantly compelled TO forego. should nave
been pleased standing on that twice consecrated
spot TO share with you your JOY at the return OF
peace 70 greet with you the surviving heroes OF the
war. who come back with light hearts, though
heavy laden with hOnors, and with yon to drop
grateful tears 10 the memory OF those that Will
never return. Unable 10 do so Ia person, / can
only send you my greetings, and assure you oil
NV full sympathy with the purpose and spirit OF
your exercises tomorrow. OF all the anniver.
saries Of the Declaration Of Independence, none
has been more important aud significant than
that upon which you assemble. Four years OF
struggle for our nations life has been crowned
with success; armed treason is swept from the
land; our ports are reOpened our relations with
other nations are OF the IN - satisfactory char
ter our internal commerce is free our soldiers and
sailors resume the peaceful pursuits OF civil life,
our flag floats in every breeze, and the only bar
rier 70 our national prOgress-human slavery-is
at end. Let Us trust that each recurring 4th OF
July shall fnd our nation stronger in numbers,
stronger in wealth stronger in the harmony Of the
CITIZEN stronger in its devotion 20 nationality and
freedom. As | have often said, believe that God
sent this people on a mission among the nations of
the earth aud that when He founded our nation
he founded It in perpetuty. That faith sustained
me Through the struggle which is passet-it sus
tains me now that new duties are devolved upon
NE and new dangers threaten Us. ! feel that
whatever the means he uses, the Almighty is de-
termined 70 preserve US as people. And since
have seen the love our lelOw-citizeLs bear their
country, and the sacddces they have made for it
my abiding faith has becom5 stronger than ever
that government of the people is the stro ngest
rs well as the best Of governments. In your JOY
tomorrow ] trust you will not forget the thou
sands Of whites as well as blacks whom the war
has emanCipaie ed who will hail this Fourth OF
July with q delight which no previous anniver-
ssry CT the Declaration OF Independence ever
gave them. Controlled 50 long by ambitious,
setsh leaders who used them for their own IN.
worthy ends, they are now free 10 serve and
cherish the Government against whose life they
IN their blindness struck. / am greatly mistaken
it ia tie States lately in rebellion we d. not
henceior,h have an exhibition Of such loyalty
a1d patriotism a. were never or felt there
before. When you have consecrated a national
cemetery, you are 10 lay the cornerstone OF a
national monument which, ia all human proba-
bility, will rise 10 the full height and prop rtion
Of your design. Noble as this monument Of
sloue may be, Il will be but faint symbol of tie
grand monument which, if We do our duty, We
sh Al raise among the nations OF the earth upon
the foundation LAID nine and eighty years ago in
Philadelphia. II ne shall wear away aud crum.
bic thii monument but that, b sed ss II is upon
the consent virtue, patriotism aud intelligence Of
the people each year shall make hrmer and more
Inposing. Your friend and feo w-citizen,
ANDREW JOHNSON