The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-09-18
The President nj Home.
BRILLIANT CLOSE OF THE SEASON"
Correspondence of the Boston Adyertiser.l



Correspondence Of the Boston Advertiser.l
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 1866.
The home reception of the President, last
evening, at the CITY Hall, was attended by an
immense number of people. The excursionists
singly and in squads. Posmaster-General
Randall came on an early train in the fore
noon, and went actively to work on the ar
rangements for the reception of the President.
MIR. Seward, very sick, with symptoms of chol-
era, was brought home in the afternoon. Gen.
Grant came on the regular evening train, and
quietly got out OF the rear car and stole home
ward across lots, almost unObserved. Last of
all came the President, Secretary Welles and
Admiral Farragut, whose arrival at halfpast
seven, announced by the firing of salute, was
most welcome relief to the various organiza-
tiOns and the crowds of citizens who had been
standing for more than two hours awaiting
their coming. 1r
Everything which foresight and manage
ment could do, had been done to give eclat to
the occasion. The city authorities of Wash
ington, Alexandria and Georgetown, the vari-
GUS city and ward Democratic associations,
the fire department., the marine corps and all
the available foot and mounted troops in the
department, the employees at the arsenal and
navy yard, the present Philadelphia conven-
tion committee, the Oldest inhabitants associa-
tion,and finally the johnson departmental club.
which, under the seducing influence of "bread
and butter" turned out by actual count sixty
one men, or about one in a hundred of the GOV
ernment clerks in Washington, were paraded
to welcome their chief. Tne principal hotels
and public buildings were decorated with flags,
although the number flying from private resi-
dences was very meagre. The old resident reb-
el sympathizers, having for the past five years
had few occasions for the display of national
bunting, have no stock on hand for an occasion,
like this. The departments had been closed at
one o'clock, the clerks in some of the bureaus
having previously been called upon to furnish
/ funds for fireworks. "7I ile'f abs ~ t,si
When the Presidents carriage arrived in
front of the City Hall the horses of the caval-
ry escort rushed upon the crowd with such un-
necessary violence that the various organiza-
tions which were drawn up in line, and the
johnson departmental club in particular, be-
came in an instant a hustling, scattering mob.
The President, upon being conducted up the
steps, was addressed by Mayor Wallach in a
short speech of welcome, and replied briefly
repeating the burden of his many previous
speeches. And here was noticeable to q criti-
cal observer the nature of this reception prob
ably the most friendly one Mr. johnson has
yet received Among the old residents who
had turned out en- naGsse, among hundreds of
returned rebel soldiers who swelled the crowd
among all the salaried officials, there could be
perceived plenty of exultation at the unlocked
for conquest of an accidental executive, plenty
of hatred of republicanism and the Niger but
not one of those marks, SO easily discerned
which show the love and respect of the people
for their hero. The genial smiles which always
answered Mr.. Lincoln's kindly face were want
ing. The eagerness to hear, the rapt silence
which attends a popular speaker when his au-
ditors are practically unanimous, were alto
gether lacking. Such was the turbulence of
the assemblage that neither the speech of the
mayor nor the Presidents reply was audible at
the distance Of few PAGES. 'i''f2'9" % faI
When the reception speeches ended, the pro-
cession reformed and marched up Pennsylva-
mia avenue, past the White House, the Presi-
dent standing on the steps as they passed In
the UrOcnaqion several 0ftiao hnldoru ~
served, who were particularly persevering in
their efforts to attract the Presidential eve by
repeated bowings and hat wavings, looking
back as long as there was the slightest hope Of
securing notice or recognition. One enthusias-
tic individual shook his hat with extraordinary
energy, and called out at the top of his voice,
"God bless you, Andy" which he repeated as
long as he was in sight. After all had passed
by, the President assembled the wall ON the out
er side of the porch, and spoke as follows:
hu Felloso- Citizens For this demonstration |
you tepder me upon my return home to assume
the discharge OF my official duties, you will |
please accept my heartfelt thanks. Such |
welcome from people who have been the dali |
ly eye-witnesses of the manner in which / |
have discharged my duties is peculiarly graft |
flying. All l can promise you for the future is |
that it will be q continuance of my conduct in
the past. 1 have tried to discharge my official
duty in compliance with the Constitution and
the principles which I deemed to be right /
will add that the sentiment which you exhibit
tonight is not peculiar to yourselves, but that
which pervades the country wherever / have
been My own opinion is that the expression
which has gone abroad to the country with re-
gard to sustaining a government Of constitu-
tional law is unmistakable and not to be mis-
understood, and 1 believe the tlay not far dis
tant when the Judgment of the American peo-
pie will be made manifest that this Union must |
be restored, that peace and prosperity and har-
mony must again prevail throughout the Uni.
ted States. 1 believe can safely testify tnaf
the great portion of your fellow,citzens tnat
have visited-and have seen millions OF them
since Ileft you-will accord with you In sus-
tanning the principles of free government, In /
compliance with the Constitution of the coun |
try. Permit me, in retiring this evening, again
to tender you-a people whom have known
ionc in whose midst have served in various |
ofie;aI capacities, and now in that, of chief |
maeistrate-my heartfelt thanks for this cor
dial welcome, which shall be remembered by |
me as long as there is a pulsation of my heart"
Mr.. johnson then retired into the White |
House, to make another speech to the survivors
of the war of 1872, who were waiting there,
and under the influence of an unasked-for ad- /
press from Marshal Gooding the crowd quietly
dispersed.