The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-04-25
Important Speech OF President John.

Important bptNNh ~ AAN'tN' ~ -''haA
son.
GA the 18Th inst GOV 0GtEsHY, and a
delegation Of other citizens of Illinois,
called on President johnson. The
Governor, on presenting the delegation,
made brief speech, appropriately cue
logizjng the late President Lincoln, and
pledging 70 bis successor The cordial
support OF the people Of llliuo-
rnE PRESIDENTS RlwY.
President johnson replied
GESrLrM.x: have listened with pro-
found emotion to the kind words you
have addressed TO noe. The visit Of this
large delegation to speak TO me through
YOU, sir, these words of encouragement
/ had not anticipated In the midst Of
the ssddeniug circumstances which
surround Us, and the immense respor
sibility thrown upon me, an expression
Of the confidence of individuals, and
still more of an influential body like
that before me, representing great
commonwealth, cheers and strengthens
my heavily bu5dencd mind ! sm st
loss for words TO respond. Ina Sn hour
like this, Of deepest SORROW, were il pos
sible 10 embody IN words the feelings
o. my bosom, could not command my
Inns ID utter them Perhaps the best
reply I could make, and the ono
most readily appropriate 10 your
kind assurances Of confidence would
be 10 receive them in silence.
TSensalion The throbhinF7 of nv
heart since the catastrophe which
has appalled, US cannot be reduced 70
words and oppressed az am with the
new and great responsibility which has
devolyed upon ME, and sadjened with
grief I can with difficulty respond 10
YOU at ALL But J cannot permit such
expression OF the confidence reposed in
me by the people to pass without ac-
acknowledgement Toan individual like
myself who has never claimed much, !
but who has, il is true, received from q /
generous people many marks Of trust 1
and honor Tor q long lime, an occasion /
like this, and a manifestation Of public 1
feeling 50 wolitimed are peculiarly ac- /
ceptable. Sprung from the people .
myself, every pulsation of the popular .
heart hnds 81 immediate answer IN my /
own. BY many men in public life such
OCCASIONS are often considered merely F.
formal To me they are real Your
words Of countenance and encourage
ment sank deep in my heart, and were
l even "a coward ! could net but gather
nom them strength TO carry out my
convictions OF right Thus feeling, /
shall enter upon the discharge Of my
great duty firmly, steadfastly, Tsp- I
plause II not with the SIGNAL ability
exhibited by my lamented predecessor, /
which is still fresh In our Borrowing
minds Need repeat tast no heart
feels more sensibly than mine this great
atlictIon Ia what ! say on this oc
caslon ] shall indulge in no petty spiT-
IL OF anger no feeling of revenge But
We have beheld notable event in the
history OF mankind In the midst Of
the American people, where every citi-
IN is taught 10 obey law and observe
the rules OF Christian conduct, our Chief
Magistrate, the beloved OF all hearts
has been assassinated, and when we
trace this crime TO its cause, when we
remember the source whence the assas-
aln Grew las inspiration, and then look
AZ 'he result we stand Yet more as
49, 1liGe1 Al THIS most baTbarOus, most
ulatVilea4 assassination. Such a crime
me murder OF great and good man,
"0nored and reYerei, the beloved and (