Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-04-26
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.

TO the President for his order lately issued direct
ing the heads of the different departments to give
preference in appointments and promotions TO
the subordinate Offices to persons who have rem
6ered honorable service in the army and navy,
was formed and marched to the Executive Man
sion with the Marine band, to serenade President
Johnson, who signified to the committee that he
would accept the compliment.
A very large number OF persons Of both sexes
were previously on the ground awaiting the de-
mOnstration At quarter past o'clock the band
performed several patriotic airs, when the Presl-
dent made his appearance, and was greeted with
huzzas by the assembled thousands. He took a
stand on the coping of the wall near the carriage
way the north side Of the Mansion, when he
was addressed on behalf of the soldiers and sailors
by one of their number III highly complimentary
terms. saving, in conclusion
In return your kindness but offer sym
pai prayers, and trust that al-wise Providence
who has brought nation through baptism of blood
and cOnsecraC 1t anew free from slavery and
by nations tears, will guide and direct you that YOU
may calm the troubled waters harmonic public opinion
and restore our whole blessed country once more to peace
President Johnson said: 1t is not allectation in
to say that language IS Inadequate to carry the
heartfelt feelings produced on tins occasion by
YOUR presence here, and by the presentation Of
your sentiments as expressed by your representa-
tive in his address, and in the resolutions which
you have thought proper to adopt L confess that,
a the peculiar posture Of public affairs, your
presence and address give encouragement and
confidence to me i'll my efforts to discharge the
duties incumbent upon me as Chief Magistrate of
dress yOu in the character OF citizens sailors and
soldiers. / shall speak to you on those terms, and
on none others. / repeat my thanks for the
manifestation OF your appreciation and encourage
inent Applause.
We are to-dav, i,.-9.ved in one of the most crti-
al and trying struggles that have occurred since
his Government was spoken into existence. Ma
lions, like Individuals must have IL beginning
must have a birth Ia struggling into existence
nation passes through its first trying ordeal. It is
not necessary for me now to carry your mind
back to the struggle when this nation was born 1t
f. not necessary for me to aude to the privations
md hardships of those who were engaged III that
strUeglc to achieve the national birth. 1t IS not
necessary to point to the blood shed and the lives
lost in accomplishing that result,
The next ordeal through which Il nation has to
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
~Ich evidence we passed through the war of 1912,
md through the with Mexico and We passed
through all the struggles that have since occurred
mp to the beginning of the rebellion. This was
our second ordeal But nation has another test
still to undergo and that is to give evidence to
the nations of the earth and to It's own citizens
that 1t has power to resist internal fOes-that it
has strength enough to put down treachery at
home and treason within its own borders Cheers.
We havc commenced that ordeal, and trust III
liod we will pass through it successfully. Cheers.
J feel COMMUNICATED by the allusiOn of your
representatives. to the fact that stood in the Senate
IN 1866 and 1861, when the nation entering
ordeal.
Iganst treason, treachery and traitors at home.
Cheers and cries OF good. / stand here to-day,
holding to and maintaining the same principles
which then enunci ted Cheers. island here
to-day opposing ira tor and treason whether they
l,c in the South or i'll the North. Loud cheers
stand mere. uo-day, [ then stood, using all my
powers, mental and physical, to preserve this ma
on passing thrO the third phase of its existence
TIL" organized forces and combined powers that
recently stood arrayed against are disbanded
nd drawn from the field but 1t does not follow
hat there still no enemies against our present
arnuf 60. eminent ( our demonstrations. Cheers
then stood in the Senate OF the United States
..ruvg the doctrine of separation and secession.
7 denied then, L deny now, that any State has
the right OF its will to separate itself from the
other States, and thereby to destroy the Union
and break up the Government and [ think [
have given some evidence that have been sin
reTc and in earnest
And now I want to know why it is that the
whole train OF sianderers. caumniatOrs and ira
tUcers have been barking and swapping at my
heels Cheers. Why is it that they array
Themselves against me ? Is it because | stand on
lac side of the people, and when | say the people
/ include the sailors and soldiers. Cheers. ii
Why is it that they arrayed in traducing and
vilifyingand eliminating me ? Where were they
during the rebellion ? \ voice" Home in bed
laughter. In the Senate [ raised my voice
against it, and when it was beliey ed that it would
he to the interest of the nation, and would assist
IN putting down the rebellion did [ not leave my
iace IN the Senate-a place of emOlument, ease
#nd ulStnctOn-anu take my position WnelO the
.ucmv could be reached, and where mems lives |
.cre in danger Cheers and cries of - that's SO.
While [ was thus exposed personally andPublic- |
y and IN every way, some of my present traducCrS
nd calumnators were far removed from the war
and were enjoying ease and comfort. Cheers and
laughter But I care not for them | care not
hat SANDER the foul whelp of sin has been turned
loose against me- | care not for all that; and let |
ne tell you here to-day that although pretty well
advanced in life, feel that shall liyelOnS enough
to live down the whole pack of traducers and SLAM
.lerers. Applause They have turned the whole |
Jack loose to lower i'll your estimation. OlccS
- They can't do it. Tray, Blanch and Sweet
heart little dogs and all, come along swapping and
narling at my heels bat Iheed them not. lChcers.
The American people, citizens, soldiers, and
-ailOrs knew, that from my advent into public life |
ia the present moment have always stood un-
defenders of their rights and interests. Cheers.
We are now in the nations third ordeal. We
,src not vet through it. We said that States could
not go out of the Union. Wcdenied the doctrine |
# secession, and we have demonstrated that we
we're right We demonstrated by the strong arm
Yes, the soldiers and the sailors, God help them,
have demonstrated by their patriotic hearts and
trong arms that States have not the right to leave
the Union. applause. What followed? The
Confederate armies were dispersed and disbandcd |
lnl there was Il willingness on the part of the
pcople OF those States to come back, be obedlent
81 the laws, and acknowledge the supremacy OF
he Constitution of fathers.
For what have we passed through this third or
cal 1T was to establish the principle that no
state had the power to break up this Government
t was to put down the rebellion. The rebellion |
..,s been put down, and for what Was it to de-
the STATES Cries For what !