Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-09-05
r,ae,. speech by the President.
sNgw York. August so.


The Banquet 10 the President last NIGH
was splendid affair. Among those preseh
wera Grant, Farragut. Seward, Welies, Rous
saan Mexican aud Brazilian Ministers, 4. /.
Stewart. Astor, and upwards OF t.vo bu 'aie'
rrnn;nent citizens 1he President spike u
great length, and said, ill the Course ot H.
remarks. that the Government went TO wal,
for The txpress purpose " preserving Tile u
ION ot these S at-S, anu that ihe H"fcrn'lici''
h,,.i established Tue sleaL tac, that the State
have not the power ur the right ei,ncr b,
f,r,.,ble or peaceful n,eius 10 separate ir''h =
,.,.n other but .llr Congress pract Call,
assumed, an !, up 70 the present time, caF'ec
ann rho in,.t,,ne that Tue Government vas
d.>sol. ed, AID these States were out OF INT
U.ion. We denied their right to s,cede even
u.aceabic, aud now We ind when these D a'eS
seek agaii To renew their practical Relations
with III. Uuion by sending representatives
10 Con res, there are nel il that body
who in violation OF our great charter OF io
crty refuse to-edmit them. The question Is
will we submit, will tbs American people
subnit to this practical assertion OF the doc
,rne they repudiated and overthrow ny tue
war? That issue is before yau. # we sub
,a;t TO this we give the lie direct To every
o,si.;on taken by us since the war colnmenc-
"a He asked, il the esprit OF christianity
and sound philosophy ii we are prepared
,.,,aip 10 sec one portion OF the Country ar
rsyea against the olherln deadly conflict, OF
shall we make every effort to urite the whole
country in harmony and brotherly affection.
Referring to the Philadelphia Convention, he
said the last evidence that can be shown ol
LOYALTY, are loyal pr, fessions and loyal actions,
and when those gentlemen, met in Coayel-
lion, from the North and South, Come for.
ward and profess devotion to the Union and
Constitution, and whel their actions and pro
f.ssioas correspond, whJ shall dare to doubt
them? Have we reached that point thai all
confidence is lost in men? Ii We have, !
tell YOU that your Government is not as strong
rs = rope of sand il has no weight, and will
tambe to pieces. The adhesive pcweT oil
thi, Government is in the confidence which
the people put in each other. He said the
South had accepted the arbltrament ol the
sword and lost, and wanted to return agal''
10 the Union. lie did not want 10 SEE them
come back degraded and debased; but wantea
them TO come with all their manhood. They
have aaain taken up the Constitution, and ask
that iis laws shall be enforced. What, then,
was the cause OF iistrust an'i lack ol conn
tence in them Z There is 10 cause. He
also said General Grant and himself had
fought for Union at one eni of the line, ana
now they were fighting Tor it at the other, and
Gran. was not il the field he was'doing
equally good service, laughter andapplau>r
,l, ~ ,,,I nj
could be paid only by the consolidation OF
our nationality and the perpelu;ty and union
of the States. In conclusion, he said the
demonstration in New York Confirmed him
in his opinion that the people viii take care
of the Gayernment aal l..-ia ,-.,-- $500
out of the way. For himself, he had reached
the summit OF his ambition, with one excep-
ton. de said there is but one thing waut-
ing. Would you hear it? Cries OF "yes. j
At this particular crisis and period OF our
.hister;, when the St,t are in p ril, If can
be the instrument in the hands of the people
Of restoring this Union and making 1t COM
plete, causing the Government to re COM
mence its glorious and mighty career of pros
pert and greatness, will be willing to.ex-
Gle; as did Simeon of old, when he saw the
b. born in the manger: e have seen the
y of Thy salvation; let Thy servant de
part in peace" Enthusiastic applause
That being done, my ambition is complete
ask nothing more. | would rather live in
history-rather live in the affection and hearts
of my countrymen, as having consummated
the great end, than be President OF the United
States forever. Here the audience broke in
to an rrepressible burst of applause, and on
the call of General Sandford, gave three
cheers for Andrew johnson, the restorer OF
the Union. After drive through Central
Park, the President and General Grant took
boat at Manhattanville for Albany.