The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-06-12
Inauguration of the Fair of the Sol
diers' and Sailors Orphan Home.
Speech of PRESIDENT Johnson.

''-8 O~-' ONAAS3 OChs IOWdIuj
Representative Mckee, Senator Lane,
Of Indiana, and the President.
The following is sketch of Mr..
Johnson's speech:
| The President remarked that he came
here tonight merely to say a word in the
cause OF humanity, and to unite in the ex-
| preston Of gratitude of the nation for the
nations defenders. [ApplaRse.l He did
not come prepared to make a speech, but
simply to give his countenance and encour-
egement in aid of the enterprise which the
ladies had so nObly undertaken. He ap-
peared here with no set phrase Of speech, or
nicely rounded periods, to play upon the
ear and to please but for a moment. If
there was a cause which more than another
| should engage their sympathies, it was that
OF the orphans, especially of those who lost
| their all and perilled their lives to save the
Government.
What nobler and better work could YOU
be engaged in2 He was proud that this
great move should have its origin here at
| the seat of the National Government. Wo-
man, God bless her, has been instrumental
in the performance Of great and noble acts
in all periods Of history, and it is not less
becoming TO them now than in the time
=
vite his hearers to go back and review the
causes of the new-made graves Of the nefa-
rieus rebellion, nor 10 excite angry feeling
In connection with the contest, nor to revive
the scenes of the battlefield, where brother
was arrsyed against brother. No, no. God
forbid and relieve US from the repetition of
such cslamitiesi We can now rejoice that
the land is no longer to be drenched by frat
ricidal blood. He would not reopen. the
wounds and make them bleed afresh. That
was the work of war, and contest, and
struggle, growing out of mistaken appre-
tensions. Yours, he said, was the work of
peace; to pour the balm, that healing may
take place; and what is more proper to that
end than to take up the destitute or
phans, and educate and guide them, and
thus laying a solid, moral basis which may
control them throughout their future lives.
You will find in these caskets precious
gems (though now dimmed by poverty.)
Talents and genius are not confined to par
ticular localities and places. Provide for
them and educate them, and you cannot
fail Of accomplishing the great end you
have undertaken. You all remember the
story of Cornelia, the mother of the
Gracchi, the two greatest Romans who ever
lived, and who lost their lives in Vindicat-
ing the great cause of the people. A num-
pany she was, expatiated on their fine
dress and accomplishments and the iewelry
they wore, and other articles with which
they were decorated and adorned. Cor
nelia attentively listened to each in turn,
and then looking out at the door, saw her
two boys running hOmeward from school.
Her cheeks flushed with matronly pride,
and eiasping them, one each side, she ex-
claimed, "Ihese are my jewels" You,
ladies, can gather around you the orphans,
the little boys and girls, and say, these are
our jewels. This is your work, and no
doubt it will be well accomplished.
Let women be engaged IN the noble work,
God bless her ! Yes, woman can accom-
plsh it if she will. None, none on earth is
above her, GAS pure in thought as angels
are, 10 see her is to love her." Applause
Go on; your efforts viii be crowned with
success. One view is OF war, the other of
peace-yes, of peace. The other day, near
this city, and not only once but several
times, he walked among the graves of the
dead, and when he passed along and looked
at the head-boards, and saw the names of
soldiers from New York, Indiana and 9TH
er State regiments Of the Federal army.
There they sleep in peace-the ereensward
growing upon their graves. They were
Federal soldiers. He looked next on the
other side and what did he aee2 ga. b,
rebel soldier, belonging to such a regiment"
The strife had ended-the conflict closed. |
There was peace. When they were on the
field engaged in strife, it was war; now
they sleep in alternate graves, while it is
peace. Applause Let peace do its work |
Ho trusted our country and Government
would be blessed with peace, and that con-
fdence and respect for one athother every
where would be restored, Lapplause,l and |
II = 4
which separated aud divided us in the past |
may pass away. He trusted, too, that the |
asylum which it was proposed TO es- |
tablish might be extensive enough to |
bless all orphans. We should not inquire /
what made them orphans. Charity doth |
not thus behave. They are human beings, |
and deserve your protection, kindness and |
instruction The President thanked the |
ladies and gentlemen for the compliment of |
inviting him to be present. lie should not |
have liked to come as an intruder but in |
an association of this kind he was not sure |
that he would be an intruder. This was a
cause in which he had large amount Of
stock and interest. Laughter He knew /
how to appreciate and admire the efforts and /
motives of the friends of organizations of /
this kind and, so far as in him lay, physi-
cally, mentally, pecuniarily, and intellectu-
ally, he would give this great work his aid.
[Applause.] 1t was not his purpose to make
any allusion TO politics or the condition of
the country. But as this asylum had been
at the seat of the General Gov
the metropolis of the nation
he trusted it would take the character of
national orphan asylum. If it is a msfor-
tune to be an orphan, it ought to be our
pride, as it is our duty, TO care for him. lie
wished a great national church could be
provided, not by law, but by the consent Of
the American people, so that in this church
there could be pew for every orphan and
a new for every loyal man from every State.
Let our religion be national, end this orphan
asylum be national. Let them be the con-
trolling and supreme idea which runs
through all our maternal institutions.
The President thanked the ladies and
gentlemen for indulging him in his desulto-
~ and crude remarks. Under no circum-
stances, though he had long been in the
habit of public speaking, had it been his
custom 10 prepare written addresses. He
had always thrown them off without pre-
paration. He always tried to address him.
self to the brains and sense Of males and
females, and not merely to please the fancy.
The work in which they were engaged was
A reality and should have a Judgment in
their hearts and minds. It was not a mere
idea it was something which would bear
thinking about and acting on, something
requiring effort and not mere profession.
We know what can be done in a great work
IF this kind. Their lives consult our hearts
rec from anger, which has existed in them
100 long. Let the breach be healed, and let
he difficulties be done away, that we may
become great and happy people. ZAP