Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-04-19
PRESIDENT JoHNsoN's SPEECH.

PRESIDENT J0HNSON'S SfEhCa.
President johnson was serenaded last even
ing by a large body Of soldiers and seamen and
their friends, who joined in the procession
After an address had been delivered, in which
the hope was ezpressedthat he might harmon:
lie public opinion and restore the country to
peace and prosperity, President johnson re,
piled, thanking those present for the sentl-
ments expressed, and the complimentary reso-
buttons they had adopted, and asserted with
emphasis his determination to oppose all trait
ors and treason, whether they be in the South
or North. He declared that he had given
proof of being sincere and earnest in denying
secession, and in combating all attempts to
DESTROY the Union and break up the Govern
ment, and he wanted to know why it is that
the whole train of slanderers, calumnla!ors and
traducers are barking at his heels? Where
were these men, he asked, during the rebellion?
He continued in the same strain, hurting de-
fance on the malice of his enemies, and ex-
pressed the belief that he should live long
enough to live down the whole pack OF them
We make the following extracts from the
speech 30 80.
"We are now in the nations third ordeal
We arc not yet through it. we SAID that
States could not 60 out OF the Union we
denied the doctrine Of secession, and VIC have
demonstrated that we were right-wc demon
strated it by the strong arm Yes, the soldiers
and the sailors, God bless them, have demon
strated by their patriotic hearts and strong arms
C.,4o, bo,,, NOT bn ,,ouo- RI lpoyn Fl n
Union. Applause What followed? The
Confederate armies were ovcrpowered and dis
banded, and there is willingness on the part
of the people of those States to come back, be
obedient to the laws, and acknowledge the su-
premacy of the constitution Of our fathers
For what have we passed through to this third
ordeal? 1t was to establish the principle that
no State had the power to break up this gov
eminent 1t was to put down the rebelhon.--
The rebellion has been put down, and Tor what
Was it 10 destroy the States? Voices, New
err For what have all these lives tccn sac
rifced, and all this treasure expended Was
it for the purpose of destroying the States :!
No, it was Tor the purpose OF preserving the
States in the Union of our fathers. Cheers.
1t was for that you fought; it was Tor that l
toied not to break up the government, but
to break down the rebellion and preserve the
union OF the States That is what We have
been contending for, and to- establish the tact
that the nation can lift itself above and beyond
intestine foes and traitors at home
| A great principle is to be restored which
was established in our revolution When cur
| fathers were contendlng against the power OF
Great Britain, what was one OF the priuclpa!
causes of their complaint. 1t was that they
were denied representation. They complained
| ;.b M
| One of the great principles laid down by Our
fathers, and which fired their hearts, was that
| there should be no TAXATION without represent
| tatiop. How then, does the matter stand
! Who has been usurplng power, and who has
been defeating the operation OF the constltu'
| ton ? And what now remains to be done to
complete the restoration OF these States
to all their former relations under the
Federal Government, and to inish the great
| ordeal through which We are passing? 1t IS
to admit representation. Cheers. And
when we say admit representation We mean III
the constitutional and law abiding sense, as was
intended at the BEGINNING OF the government! -
Soldiers and sailors' let US rejoice that peace
has come; let us rejoice that the relations Of
the States arc about being restored to the Fed
eral Government; let Us make every effort we
can to restore the relations that existed between
the Federal Government and the States. Let
rs do this as soon as we can. On l. thank
God that peace has returned. | thank God
that our brave men can return home to their
families and their homes, there to renew the
avoca'ions of peace, and all the relations thai
] existed between the husband, wife, and chill
dren. Yes, that baleful planet Of fire and
blood, which a short time ago was in the ascen-
dant, has been chased away by the bengnant
star Of peace, and now that the bow Of peace
is suspended in the heavens, let US cultivate
the arts of peace, the relations OF peace, and
all those associations that pertain to man in
peace, and pray that the time may not be dis
tant when we can have political millennium,
political jubilee, and proclaim to our people
and to all the nations of the earth that we are
again united people; that the union Of these
States has been preserved.