Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-04-24
SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT.
Mr.. Johnson's Address to Deputation
Of Soldiers and Sailors,

by a deputation of soldiers and sailors. whom
he addressed as follows:
President johnson said: It is not affecta-
ton in me to say that language is inadequate
to convey the heartfelt feelings produced on
this occasion by your sentiments as expressed
by your representative in his address, and in
the resolutions which you have thought proper
S to adopt. l confess that in the peculiar nos
ture OF public affairs, your presence and add
dress give encouragement and confidence to
me in my efforts to discharge the duties in
cumbent upon me as Chief Magistrate of the
republic. And, in what l have to say, [
shall address you In the character of citizens,
sailors and soldiers. | shall speak to you in
those terms, and none others.
repeat my thanks tor the manifestation
OF your appreciation and of your encourage
ment. Applause. We are to-day in one
OF the most critical and trying struggles that
have occurred since this government was
spoken into existence. Nations, like indi-
viduals, must have beginning-must have
a birth. 1n struggling into existence nation
IS passing through its first trying ordeal.
1t Is not necessary for me now to carry
your minds back to the struggle when this
nation was born. 1t is not necessary for me
to atiude to the privatons and hardships of
those who engaged in that struggle to achieve
the national birth. 1t is not necessary to
point to the blood shed and the lives lost in
accomplishing that result The next ordeal
through which nation has to pass is when
1t IS cal led upon to give evidence that it has
strength, capacity and power to maintain
Itself among the nations Of the earth
In giving such evidence VIC passed through
the war OF 1872, and through the war with
Mexico; and we passed through all the strug-
giles that have since occurred up to the be-
ginning of the rebellion. That was our
second ordeal. But nation has another test
still to undergo, and that is to give evidence
to the nations of the earth and to its own
citizens that it has power to resist internal
foes; that it has Strength enough to put
down treachery at home and treason within
It's own borders. Cheers. We have COM
menced that ordeal, AMI | trust in God we
will pass through it successfully. GCheers 7
L feel complimented by the alIusion of your
representative to the fact that stood in the
Senate in 1860 and 1861, when the nation
was entering On this third ordeal, and raised
my voice and hand against treason, trcachery
and t.. ators At home TCheers, and cries Of
''GOod. y l stand here to day holding to
aud maintaining the same principles which |
then enunciated. ECheers
stand here to day opposing traitors and
treason, whether they be in the South or in
the North. loud cheers l stand here
today, as then stood, using all my powers,
mental and physical, to preserve this nation
IN passing through the third phase of its cx-
lstence. The organized forces and combined
powers that recently stool arrayed against
US are disbanded aud driven from the field
but it does not fo:low that there are still no
enemies against our present form Of govern
ment and our free institutions. TApp,uusc.
then stood in the Senate CT the Uai ed
States denying the doctrine Of separation and
secession. denied then, as l deny now.
that any State has the right Of its owu will
to separate it:e!f from the other Stl.cs, ard
thereby to destroy the Union and break ~
the government; AMI | think | have r;yen
some evidence that have been sincere aai
in earnest; aud now | want to know why it
is tlat the whole train Of slanGerers, calum.
nIators and t;aducers hare bcca barking and
snapPlng at my heels. LCAcers.1 why is
1t that they array Themselves against me
Is 1t because stand on the side of the peo-
pie, and when say the people, l include the
sailors and soldiers? [Gheers-1 Why is it
that they are arraj ed in traduc:ng and Will
tying, and ca!unnia;ing ne? Where were
they during the rebellion? IA voice
.SIome in bed" Laughter In the Senate
L raised my voice against il; aud when it
Was believed that it would be to the interest
OF the nation, and would assist in 1u,tiu,r
down the rebellion, did not leave nv place
In the Scnatc-a place Of c;noiumcmt, case
and dislnctlon-and take my position where
the enemy could be reached, and where
mems lives were i'll danger? CCheers, and
cries of That's so"
While was thus exposed personally and
T1Il, lIIly-
present traducers and calumniators were far
removed from the war and were ENJOYING
ease and comfort. [Checys and laughter.
But cannot fear them. l care not that
SANDER, the foul w!lelp of sin, has been turn
cd loose against me. l care not fer all that :;
and let me tell you here to day, that although
pretty well advance in liI5, feel that l
shall live long enough to live down the Whole
pack OF traducers atsd slanderers Applause
They have turned the whole pack loose to
lower mc in your estimation EVoices-
They can't do it'll Tray, Blanche and
Sweetheart, little dogs and all, come along
swapping and snariing at my heels, but [
heed them not. [Chcers. The American
people, citizens, soldiers and sailors. know
that from my advent into public life to the
present moment, always stood unyielding
and unwavering by the advocates and defend
ers of their rights and interests. ICheers. I
We are now in the nations third ordeal.
We are not yet through it. We said that
States could not go out of the Union. We
denied the doctrine Of secession, and we h We
demonstrated that we were rrght-we demon
strated it BY the strung arm. Yes, the SOL
diers and sailors, God bless them, have de-
monstrated by their patriotic hearts and str, ng
arms that States have not the power to leave
the Union Applause. What followed
The Confederate armies were overpowered
and disbanded, and there vas willingness on
the part of the people of those States to come
back, be obedient to the laws and acknowledge