Des Arc citizen., 1866-04-28
SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT.


 pay their respects to the President, President Johnson said:
 confess that in the peculiar posture ofpublic affairs, that yor presence and address give encouragement and confidence to mein my ef forts to discharge the duties incumbent on me as the Chief Magistrate of the Republic: and in what 1 have to say, shall address you in the character of citizens, sailors and soldiers. [Applause.j Weare to-daysinvolved in one of the most critical and trying situations that has occurred since the Government came into existence. The nation has another test still. to undergo, that is to give evidence to the na- tions of the earth, and to its owncitizens, that 1t has the power to restore internal peace; that it has strength enough to put down treach- cry and treason within it's own borders. Ap- plauses] We havecommenced an ordeal, and Fl trust in God that we may pass through it successfully. [Cheers.l feel complimented by the allusion of one presentation to the fact that in the Senate in 1861 and 1862, when the nation was entering on this ordeal I raised my hand against treachery, treason, and trait ors. Cheers and cries of ( good "l I stand here today holding to and maintaining the same position which Ithen enunciated. App plause.l stand here to-day opposing trait ors and treason wherever they may be in the South or the North. Loud cheers l stand here to-day as l then stood, using all my powers, both mental and physical, to preserve the nation in goingthrough the third phase of it's existence. The organized forcesand the combined powers that recently stood arrayea 1 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 Gov ernment, and our free institutions. T then stood in the Senate denying the doctrine of separation and secession. Tdenied then as I l now, that any State has the right of it's own I will to separate itself from the other States, l and the right to destroy the Union and break l up the Government; and | think l have given ! some evidence that have been sincere and in l earnest, and now want to know whiy it is that the whole train of slanderers and calumnia- tors have been barking and snappinga at my heels. [Cheers.] Why is it they have array 1 ed themselves against me? It is because I stood with the people, and when say the people. sIinclude sailors and soldiers. Loud cheering, Why is it they are arrayed in tra- ducing and falsifying and calumniating me? Where were they during therebellionj just end dep? l answer, at home ill bed. Laughter. | In the South, raised my voice against it, and l, when it was believed that it would be to- the ! interest of the nation and would assist in put l ting down the rebellion then did leave my place in the Senate, place of emolument, of ease and distincton, and take my position where the enemy Could be reached, and where mems lives were in danger. Whilst thus ex- posed personally and publicly, some of my present traducers and calumniators were far removed from the foe and were enjoying ease and comfort But care not forthem. care not that slander, the. foul whelp of sin, has been turned loose against me. lcare not for all that they may tell you here to-day. AL .though pretty well advanced in life, feel that Ishall live long enough to livedown the whole pack of traducers and slanderers. They have turned the whole pack loose to lower. me in your estimation. Verify, they can't do it. l Tray Blanche. and Sweetheart, little dogs and all, come along, snappng and snarling, at my i heels, but heed them not; ha The Ameri- can people, citizens, sailors and soldiers, know that from my advent into public life, topres- ! ent moment have always stood unwayering- l ly the advocate and defender of their rights and interests. [Cheers.1 .a.sNs e.ss.
 We are now in, the nations third ordeal
 We are not yet through. We denied that the States could go out of the Union. We denied I the doctrine of secession, and we have demon strated that we were right; we demonstrated l it by strong arms. Yes, the soldiers and the I sailors-God bless them--have demonstrated by their patriotism and strong aTms that the States have not the power to leave the Union. l The Confederate armies were overpowered and N disbanded, and there was asWillingness on the Il part of the people of those States to come I back in obedience to the laws, and acknowl- edge the supremacy of the Constitution of our fathers. For what have we passed through this ordeal? It was tos prove the principle that no State had the power to. break up the 1 Government. It was to put down rebellion. l The rebellion has been put down; and for I whatr Was it to destroy the States? Verify | -a I--- 4 l- IL ~.z. 1 feed and all this treasure expended :! Was it I for the purpose ofdestroying the States? No. I Ii was for the purpose of preserving the Union l of the States That is what we have. been contending for, and to establish the fact that ] this nation can liftits own head above and be- I yond internal wars and treason and traitors l at home. ~ When the rebellion in Massachu- I setts was put down, did that put Massachusetts l out of the Union and destroy the State? When ! the rebellion in Pennsylvania was put down, did that destroy the State and put 1t out of the 1 Union? So when the great rebellion was put down and the Constitution and the laws of the country restored to the States engaged in tho rebellion it'being crushed, the low restored
 andrthe Constitution acknowledged in them stood in the Union and the Constitution DOT, tion of the glorious and bright galaxy oi States In passing through this ordeal, whicl has been done in them under tho direction o my 1amented predecessor, we commenced this \ work of reform. We succeeded, before came here in restoring the relations whicl had existed between Tennessee and the rest 0
 the Union with one exception--the restora
 tion of representation. l came to Washing
 ton, and under extraordinary circumstances succeeded to the Presidential chair. The Con
 gress of the United States had adjourned with out prescribing any plan. I then proceed a' had done inmy own State in reconstructine
 the Goternment to restore the other States And how did we begin? We found the peo pie had no courts, and we said to the Judges District Attorneys and Marshals, go down agf hold your courts-the people need the tribu
 nals of justice to be opened. Was there any thing wrong in that? The courts were open l ed-and what else? We looked out and say that the people down there had no mails thel had been cut off and interrupted by the oper
 ations ofthe rebellion. We said 10 the Post master General, let the people have facilities for mails, and let them again begin to under