Evening star., 1866-04-19
The Soldiers and Sailsrs' Demonstration,
THEY SERENADE THE PRESIDENT
HIS SpEE(uy
GREAT ENTHUSIASM.

GREAT ENTHUSIASM.
Last evening, Notwithstanding the threa,en-
ing appearance of the weather, a large number
OF sailors. soldiers and citizens assembled al
Willard's Hotel, where a procession was
formed, and, preceded by the Marine Band.
marched TO the White House, where hundress
OF ladies and gentlemen, among them several
Senators and Representatives, with their fam
lies, We're assembled awaiting the demonstra.
uon several patriotic airs were PLAYED by
the band, when the President, accompanied by
Marshal Gooding, Col. Cooper, and Others
mace MS appearance. and was enth husiasucally
greeted with loud cheering by the assem- bled
thousands. President johnson took hIs posi-
ton on the coping Of the wall outside the car
riage-way, on the north front of the Executive
Manslon, when, after the applause subsided.
he was addressed on behalf of the soldiers an a
sailors by Mr.. c. II. Buxton, one of their mum
DER. The address was highly complimentary
and concl luded IN these words :-"In return
Ior yoEr kindness, we can but offer our sym
pathes and prayers, and trust that an all wise
providence, who has brought our nation
through baptism of blood, and 10 whom we
consecrate II anew, free from slavery. and nv
natlons g tears, viii so guide and direct YOU
tnat you may calm the troubled waters har-
monte public opinion, and restore our whole
Dressed country once more 10 peace and pros
perity"
The President then addressed the assembled
multitude, and his remarks were frequently
interrupted by enthusiastic applause
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
President johnson said 1t is not affectation
IN me to say that language is inadequate TO
convey the heartfelt feelings produced on this
occasion by your presence here, and the pre-
sentatlon of your sentiments, as expressed nv
your representative In his address, and in the
resolutions which you have thought proper to
adopt. i confess that in the peclliar posture
OF pubic affairs, your presence and address
give encouragement and confidence to me in
my enoTts 10 discharge the duties incumbent
hlaf aNft ID
and IN what have to say | shall address Won
in the character of citizens, sailors and soldiers
snail speak 10 you on those terms, and on
none others.
/ repeat my thanks for this manifestation ~
your appreciation and of your announcement.
tApplause.1 We are to- day involved i'm one of
the most critical and trying struggles that have
occurred since this Government was snol,en
INTO existence. Nations, like individuals must
nave beginning. must have a birth. In struR-
gIlng INTO existence nation passes through its
nrst trying ordeal. 1t is not necessary for me
now 10 carry your minds back TO the struggle
When this nation was born. 1t is not neces-
sary for me to allude 10 the priyations and
hardships OF those who We're engaged in that
5 uuggIe 70 achieve the national birth. 1t is not
necessary to point to the blood she'd and the
lives sacrihced in accomplishing that result
The next ordeal through which a nation has 10
pass is when IT is called upon TO give evidence
that 1t has strength, capacity and power to
maintain itself among the nations of the earth.
In giving such evidence, we passed through
tne war OF 1872 and through the war with Mex.
ico, and we passed through all the struggles
lnht nave since occurred, up to the beginning
OF the rebellion. This was our second ordeal
But nation has another test still TO undergo.
ana tnat IS, TO give evidence to the nations of
the earth, and to its. own citizens that il has
power TO resist internal foes that in has
strength enough TO put down treachery at home
and treason within its own borders fCheers
we nave commenced that ordeal, and L trust
IN tfod we VIII pass through IL successfully
lCheers. feel compIimented by the aIlusion
OF your representative to the fact that / stood
IN the Senate in 1S60 and 1861, when the nation
my voice and hand against treason, treachery
and traitors at home. TCheers and cries OF
Good" y stand here to day holding TO and
maintaining the same principles which L then
ennnclated. lCheers. 1 stand here TO-DAY
traitors and treason, whether they be
in the South or in the North. Loud cheers I
l stand here to-day, as l then stood, using ali
my powers, mental and physical, to preser We
this nation in passing through the third phase
OF It's existence. The organized forces and
com bined powers that recently stood arrayed
against us are disbanded and driven from the
nelo, but II does not follow that there are still
No enemies against our present form of Gov
E: :nment and our free Institutions TAppIause
then stood in the Senate of the United States
denylng the doctrine Of separation and seces-
sion. denied then, as deny now that any
state has the right, Of its own will, TO separate
itself from the other States, and thereby TO
destroy the Union and break mp the Govern
i-cht. anu L Link nave given some evil
dence that have been sincere and in earnest
nd now i want TO know why it is that the
whole train of slanderers, calumniators and
trad ueers have been barking and swapping at
my heels tCheers.l Why is il that they array
themselves against met Is it because i stand
on the side Of the peoplel And when saw
t6e people, 1 include the sailors and soldiers.
[Cheers.l Why is it that they are arrayed i'm
aducing and vilifying and caIumniatine mei
w mere were they during the rebellioni TA
voice, 1home in bed" Laughter.l In the
Senate l raised my voice against it; and when
u was believed that it would be to the interest
OF the nation, and would assist in puttinr down
me rebellion, did L not leave my place in the
Senate-a place OF emolument, ease and dis
IN nction-and take my position where the enemy
could be reached. and where mems lives were
IN danger! [Cheers and cries OF "That's so."l
lille was thus exposed, personally and
publicly, and in every way, some Of my pres
moved from the foe, and were ENJOYING ease
and comfort. fCheers and laughterI But i
care not for them. care not that SANDER. the
[oui Whelp OF sin, has been turned loose against
me. care not for all that; and let me tell Won
here to-day, that although pretty well adj.
vanced in life, l feel that / shall live long
enough to live down the whole pack of ira.
aaSs fnraaS anS ,s sandeTers Applause They
N your estimation. Voices, "They cannot do
It" Tray, Blanch and Sweetheart-littIe dogs
ana alI-eome along swapping and snarling at
ny neels; but heed them not. ICheers.l The
american peopfe-cihZens, soldiers and sail
ors-know that from my advent into public
NE 10 the present moment, have ALWAYS
'tood, unyleldingly and unwaveringly, the ad-
vocate and defender of their rights and inter
ssts. (Cheers.l We are now in tne nations
third ordeal. We are not yet through it, We
said that States could not go out of the Union
We denied the doctrine OF secession; and we
have demonstrated that we were right. We
it by the strong arm. Yes. the
soldiers and the sailors-God bless them-ha We
demonstrated by their patriotic hearts and
strong arms that States have not the power to
cave the Union. [Applause.I What followedl
ne Confederate armies were overpowered and
11sbanded, and there was willingness on
ne part of the people Of those States 70 come
BACK, be obedient TO the laws, and acknow ledge
ne supremacy of the Constitution of our Ia
ners. For what have we passed through this
nird ordeal Z 1t was TO establish the principle
nat no States had the power to break up the
government. 1t was TO put down the rebel
ion The rebellion has been put down; and for |
what's Was il 70 destroy the Statesl Voices,
Never. For what have all these lives been
acrifieed, and all this treasure. expended .
as 1t for the purpose Of destroying the States
No 1t was for the purpose of preserving the |
states in the Union OF our fathers. IOheers.l j
II was for that you fought. 1t was for that 1 |
elled-not to break up the Government but TO |
put down the rebellion and preserve the Union |
,f the States That Is what we have been con-
ending for; and to establish the fact that the |