The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1865-05-03

| Presldent JOHNSON. ..'
Many state delegations have waited or
the new President to assure him of thu
confidence Of the country and the deter
mination Of all parties to give him gener
Gus supposrt Gov. Parker Of N. J. head
ed large delegation from that State and
was most cordially received. We sre glad
to see this. 1t is time our country rested
from thu machinations of partisans of diff
ferent faith. ANDY is now at the helm sne
he must have fair chance at the wheel.
As significant Of the future policy W.
give his speech inreply to Gov. Osiesby
who introduced the Illinois delegation. Tha
johnson has ability as we'll as flrmnes:
will be discovered in shorter time tha,
many suppose The language below is ex
ceedingly well chosen ;oe4 fdg sg z.a.L
President johnson replied-"I havt
listened with profound emotion to thu
words you have addressed me. had moi
anticipated, in the midst of the saddeninp
circumstances which surround, and the i'm.
mense responsibilities that crowd upon
me, the expressions of confidence Of indi-
viduals, and still more Of an influential
body like that before me, representing a
great commonwealth. 1t strengthens nv
heavily burthcned mind in an hour like
this Of deepest sorrow. We're it possible
to embody in words the feelings of my bo.
som could not command my lips to utter
them. Perhaps the best reply I could
make, the one most appropriate to your
kind assurances of confidence, would be to
receive them in silence. The throbbings
Of my heart since the sad catastrophe
which has appalled, US, cannot be reduced
to words, and oppressed as I Am with the
new and great responsibilities which have
devolved upon me, and saddened with
grief, l can with difficulty respond to you
at all but cannot permit such expires
sions Of confidence reposed in me by the
people to pass without acknowledgement.
To an individual like myself, who had
never claimed much, but who has, it is
true, received from generous people
many mark of trust and honor for a
long time, an occasion like this, and a
manifestation Of public feeling so well
timed, are peculiarly acceptable. Spring.
ing from the people myself, every pulsa,
ton of the popular heart finds an imme
date answer in my own. By many men
in public life such occasions are often
considered merely formal. To me they
are real Your words Of countenance and
encouragement sink deep in my heart, and
were even a coward, could but gathe,
from them strength to carry out my con.
victions of right.
| Thus feeling, shall enter upon the dis.
charge of my duty firmly and steadsastly
if not with the signal ability exhibited BY
my predecessor, which is still fresh in our
sorrowing minds. And I repeat that nc
heart feels more sensibly than mine, thi.
great afilction. In what say on this
occasion shall indulge in no petty spirit
of anger, no feeling Of revenge. But w
have beheld notable event in the history
of mankind in the midst of the American
people, where every citizen is taught t.
obey law and observe the rules of Chris
tian conduct, our Chief Magistrate, beloved
| Of all hearts, has been assassinated and
when we trace the crime to its cause
when we remember the source whence the
assassin drew his inspiration, and then
look at the result, We stand yet more
astonshed at this most barbarous, most
diabolical assassination. Such crime
as the murder Of great and good man,
honored and revered, beloved, and the
hope Of the people, springs not from soil
tary individual Of ever so desperate wick.
edness. We can trace its cause through
successive steps, without enumerating
them here, back to that source which is the
spring Of all our woes. No one can say
that, If the perpetrator Of this fendish
deed should be arrested, he should not
undergo the extreme penalty which the
law provides for crime. -..- ......-
While we strain our minds to compre-
bend the enormity Of the assassination,
shall we allow the nation to be assassina-
ted ? speak in no spirit of unkindness.
leave the events of the future to be dis,
posed Of as they arise, regarding myself
as the humble instrument Of the Amcri.
can people. In this, as in all things, jus
tics and judgment shall be determined by
them. do not harbor bitter or revenge.
full feelings toward any. In general terms,
would say that public morals and pub.
lie opinion should be established upon
sure and infexibls principles of Justice
When the question of exercising mercy
comes before me, it will be considered
calmly. remembering that am the exc.
cutive Of the nation. know men love to
have their names spoken in connection
with acts of mercy. and how easy it is to
yield to this impulse, but We must not
forget that what may be mercy to indi.
viduals is cruelty to the state. In the
exercise of mercy there should be no doubt
left that this high prerogativs is not used
to relieve the few at the expense Of the
many.
Be assured that I shall never forget
that am not to consult my own feelings
alone, but to give an account to the whole
people in regard to my future course. l
will now make no pledge. have been
connected somewhat actively with public
affairs, and to the history Of the past pub,
lie acts, which is familiar to yod, l refer
for those principles that have governed me
heretofore. and will guide me hereafter.
In general will say have long labor
cd for the elevation Of the great mass Of oil
mankind. Ny opinions IS to the nature
Of popular government have long hoop
cherished, and constituted as am, il IS
now too late in life for me to change them.
believe that government was made for
man, not man for government. The strug
gle of the people against the most q gantic
rebellion the world ever saw has demon
strated that the attachment Of the people
to their government is the strongest natural
defense human wisdom can devise. So
long as the rich man feels the interests Of
the government are his interests, so long
as the pubic heart turns in the right direc-
ii m, aud the people understand and ap-
preciate the theory Of our government and
love liberty, our constitution will be trans
mitted unimpaircd. II the time ever cones
when the people shall fail, the government
will fail and we cease to be one Of the ma.
tons Of the earth. 1t may be that it was ne
cessary for uy to mass tho last ordeal Of str. n.