Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-04-20
Speech of the President

WASHINGTON, April L. In reply to
the crowd of soldiers and sailors assem-
bled at the White House this evening, to
pay their respects 10 the President,
President johnson said:
confess that in the peculiar posture
of public affairs your presence and ad-
dress give announcements and confidence
10 me d my efforts to discharge the
duties incumbent on me. the Chief Mag
istrate of the Republic, and in what
have to say, ] shall address you in the
character of citizens, sailors and soldiers
Applause. We are to-day involved in
one of the most critical and trying
situations that have occurred since the
Government came into existence The
nation has another test still to undergo,
and that is to give evidence to the ma
tons Of the earth, and to its own citizens,
that it has the power to restore internal
peace; that it has strength enough to
put down treachery and treason within
its own borders Cheers We have
commenced an ordeal, and | trust in
God we will pass through il successfully.
lCheers | feel complimented by the
allusion of one presentation to the fact
that, in the Senate in 1860 and 1861,
when the nation was entering on this
ordeal, | raised my hands against trea-
son, treachery and traitors. Cheers and
cries of good stand here to-day hold
ing 10 and maintaining the same position
which ! thenstnunciated [Cheers.l |
stand here to-day opposing traitors and
treason wherever they may be, in the
South or in the North. Loud cheers.
l stand here to-day as then stood, using
all my powers, both mental and physical,
to preserve the nation in going through
the third phase of its existence. The
organized forces and combined powers
that recently stood arrayed against us
are disbanded and driven from the field
But it does not follow that there are still
no enemies against our present form of
Government, and our free institutions.
lApplause | then stood in the Senate
denying the doctrine of separation and
that any State has the right of its own
will TO separate itself from the other
States, and the right to destroy the
Union and break up the Government
And think have given some evidence
that / have been sincere and in earnest
And now | want to know why it is that
the whole train Of slanderers and calum-
niators have been barking and swapping
at my heels. [Chsers.l Why is it they
have arrayed themselves against me2
Is il because ! stood on the side Of the
people; and when / say the people in
clude the sailors and soldiersP [Cheers
Why is it that they are arrayed in ira
ducing, and classifying, and eliminating
me? Where were they during the re-
bellion just ended2 aver at home in
bed. Laughter.
In the Senate raised my voice against
il. and when it was believed that IT would
be 10 the interest of the nation, and
would assist in putting down the rebel
ion. did leave my place in the Senate,
4 place Of emolument, ease and distinc-
ion. and take my position where the
,peny could be reached, and where mems
ives were in danger. Cheers, and cries
# 4 That's so. Whilst / was thus ex-
,osed personally and publicly, some Of
nv present traducers and calumniators |
,ere far removed from the foe, and were
ease and comfort lCheers and |
,ughter1 But care not for them
are net that SANDER, the foul whelp Of
M. has been turned loose against me.
care not for all that l tell you here
,-dav. although pretty well advanced in
r. / feel that / sballlive long enoughto !