Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-02-23
Fhe 6reat Demonstration Yesterday.
THE SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT.

White House, where the resolutions adopted
by the meeting were presented 10 the Presi-
dent, by the committee having them IN charge.
An immense throng had gathered in front of
the Mhlte house, ana the pressure to get
Standing room near the portico was the most
intense we ever remember witnessing, after q
pretty long experience in crowds
After the performance of s'Rail 70 the Chief
and other AIRS by the two bands in attendance.
the President made his appearance upon the
front portlco, accompanied by Philip X. Fen
dail Esq, Col. Rlves, of his official household,
and Col. OBeirne, Assistant Deputy Marshal.
After the applause that greeted the Presidents
appearance had subsded. he proceeded to ad.
dress the assemblage in substance as follows
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
felloW-clLZens-for L presume L have the
right TO address you as such-to the committee
who have conducted and organized this meet
ing so far, have to tender my sincere thanks
Tor The compliment and appreciation they have
manifested in their personal address to myself,
and in the resolutions they have adopted The
resolutions are, rs L understand, compliment
ary 10 the policy pursued by this AdminIstra-
uOn since II came into power. L am free to say
TO you, on this occasion, that it is extremely
gratifying 10 me 10 know that so large portion
OF my fellow-citI2ens approve and indOrSe the
policy that has been adopted and is intended to
be carried out. TGreat applause
This policy has been one which was intended
to restore the glorious UniOn-to bring those
great States, now the subject of controversy. to
Their original relations to the Government of
the United States. And this seems to be day
peculiarly appropriate for such a nantes a
tiOn as this-the day that gave birth to him
who founded the Government-thatl gave
birth TO theFather of our Country-that gave
birth TO him who stood at the portal when all
these States entered into this glorious Confpd-
eracy. l say that the day ispeculiarly apprO-
pirate 10 the endorsement OF measures for the
restoration of the Union that was founded by
the Father of his Country. Washington, whose
name this city bears, is embalmed in the hearts
OF ali who love their Government. a voice,
80 is Andy Johnson and applause1 Wash
ington, in the language of his eulogists, was
inst in peace, first in war, and first in the
hearts of his countrymen. NOpeople can claim
him-nO nation can appropriate him. His en-
lnence is acknowledged throughout the civil
lied world by all those who love free govern
ment. have had the pleasure of a visit from
the association which has been directing its
efforts towards the completion of a monument
erected to his name. l was prepared to meet
them and give them my humble influence and
Countenance in aid of the work Let the mon
nment be erected to him who founded the
Government and that almost within the throw
OF stone from the spot from which now ad-
dress you.. Let 1t be completed TApplausel
Let the pledges which all these States and cor
poratlons and associations have put in that
monument be preserved as an earnest of our
faith in and love of this Union, and let the
monument be completed. And in connection
with Washington, in speaking of the pledges
that have been placed in that monument, let
me refer to one from my own State-Go cd bless
her!-which has struggled for the preserya-
tion of this Union in the field and in the coun
ellis of the nation. Let me repeat, that she is
now struggling in consequence of an inn ovation
that has taken place in regard 20 her relation
with the Federal Government, growing ont of
the rebellion-she is now struggling to renew
her relations with this Governmen mt and take the
stand she had occupied since 1896. Let me re-
peat the sentiment which that State inscribed
upon her stone that is deposited within the
monument of freedom and in commemoration
of Washington: she is struggling TO stand by
the sentiment inscribed on that stone and she
Is now willing to maintain that sentiment. And
What Is the sentiment! 1t is the sentiment
which was enunciated by the immortal and il.
lustrious Jackson-"The Federal Union, it
must be preserved TCheersl Were il possi-
bic for that old man. who in statue is before me
and III portrait behind me, to be called forth
were IT possible TO communicate with the il
lustrlous dead, and he could be informed of
the progress in the work of faction, and rebel
lion, and ueason-that old man would turn
over in his coffin, he would rise. shake off the
habiliments of the tomb, and again extend that
long arm and finger and reiterate the sentiment
before enunciated, s'the Federal Union, it must
be preserved" lCheersl But we witness
what has transpired since his day. We remem,
Der what he said in 1893. When treason, and
treachery, and intidelIty to the Government
and The Constitution of the United States stalked
forth, 1t was his power and influence tina went
forth and crushed it in its incipiency. 1t was
then stopped. But il was only stopped for a
time, and the spirit continued. There were
men disaffected towards the Government in
both the North and South. There were pecu-
liar institutions in the country to which some
were adverse and others attached. We find
that one portion Of our countrymen advocated
an institution in the South which others op-
posed in the North. This resulted in two ex-
trtmes. That in the South reached point at
which the people there were disposed to dis
solve the Government of the United States, and
they sought to preserve their peculiar institu-
tions. What say on this occasion i want to
be understood.) There was portion of our
countrymen opposed to this. and they went TO
that extreme that they were willing to break
mp the Government to destroy this peculiar IN
stitution OF the South.
assume nothing here to-day but the citizen
one OF yOu-WlO has bpen nlpa6inp for biS
country and the preservation of the Constitu-
ton. tCheers.l These two parties have been
arrayed against each other, and stand before
you as did in the Senate of the United States
in 1860. denounced there those who wanted
TO disrupt the Government, and i portrayed
their true character. / told them that those
who were engaged in the effort to break up the
Government were traitors. have not ceased
to repeat that, and, As far as endeavor could
tCheers.] l remarked. though, that there were
two parties. One would destroy the Govern.
ment TO preserve slavery; the other would
break up the Government to destroy slavery
|. tCheers.l The objects to be accomplished were
dinerent, II is true, so far as slavery was con-
cerned, but they agreed in one thing-the de-
struction OF the Government. precisely what
was always opposed TO; and whether the dis
unionists came from the South br from the
North, stand now where did then, yindica-
ting the Union of these States and the Consti-
tuition OF our country. GGreat cheering.1 The
rebellion manifested itself in the South. /
stood by the Government. said was for the
Union with slavery. j said L was for the
Union without slavery. In either alternative
was for the Government and the Coustitu-
ion. The Government has stretched forth its
strong arm, and with its physical power it has
put down treason in the field. That is, the
section Of country that arrayed itself against
the Government has been conquered by the
force OF the Government itself Now, what
had we said to those people! We said: "No
compromise; we can settle this question with
the South in eight and forty hours"
have said IL again and again, and repeat
II now, "Disband your armies, acknowledge
the supremacy OF the Constitution of the Uni
ted States, give obedience to the law, and the
whole question is settled" ICheers.l
What has been done sincef The armies have
been disbanded. They come now to meet us in
spirit OF magnanimity, and say, "We were
mistaken; we made the effort to carry out the
doctrine OF secession and dissolve this Union,
and having traced this thing TO its logical and
physical results, We now acknowledge the flag
of our country, and promise obedience to the
Constitution, and the supremacy of the law"
tCheers.] say, then, when You comply with
the Constitution, when you yield to the law,
when you acknowledge allegiance to the Gov
eminent, say let the door of the Union be
opened and the relation be restored 10 those that
had erred and had strdVed from tha lde n N