The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-02-28
REVIVAL OF PRINCIPLE IN Ma
TIONAL POLITICS.

kEvlvHL VI II NANVu UH LIN NA.
TIONAL POLITICS.
GREET SPEECH OF PRESIDENT JOHNSON.
On the procession reaching the Exec
utive Mansion, where an immense
crowd had preceded it, Mr.. Fendall,
the President of the meeting, and the
following gentlemen of the committee,
viz: Messrs. VIM. L. Hodge, DR.. John
B. Blake, Chas. KNAPP, James G.. Berret,
J. D. Hoover, Thos. B. Florence, G.
Wendell, JOS. H. Bradley, J. G. Nc
CURE, Ward H. Lamon, Augustus E.
Perry, John F. Coyle, and VIM. E.
Spalding, presented to the President
the, resolutions which had passed the
meeting, with brief and pertinent adj
dress from Mr.. Fendall, in which he in
formed him that the assembly had ad-
journed to the Presidential Mansion to
pay their respects to him. The Presi-
dent was then formally conducted by
Mr.. Fendall and the gentlemen named
above, accompanied by Col. O'Beirne,
Col. Reeves and others of his household,
to the front portico, from whence 81
lence having been obtained in the vast
assemblage, through the efforts of the
Honorable Green Clay Smith, who stood
with the President-he addressed them
substantially as follows:
After returning his thanks to the COM
mittee which had waited upon him and
presented him with the resolutions that
had been adopted, the President said
The resolutions, as understand them,
are complimentary of the policy which
has been adopted and pursued by the
Administration since it came into pow
er. l am free to say to you on this oc-
casion that it is extremely gratifying to
me to know that so large a portion of
our fellow-citizens endorse the policy
which has been adopted and which Is
intended to be carried out. Great ap-
plause.
This policy has been one which was
intended to restore the glorious Union
Ito bring those great States, now the
subject of controversy, to their original
relations to the Government of the Uni
ted States. And this seems to be a day
peculiarly appropriate for such mani
festation as this-the day that gave birth
to him who founded the Government
that gave birth to the Father of our
Country-that gave birth to him who
stood at the portal when all these States
entered into this glorious Confederacy.
l say that the day is peculiarly appro-
pirate to the endorsement of measures
for the restoration of the Union that
was founded by the Father of his Coun-
try. Washington, whose name this city
bears, is embalmed in the hearts of all
who love their Government A voice,
So is Andy Johnson and applause.
Washington, in the language of his eu-
logists, was first in peace, first in war,
and first in the hearts ofhis countrymen.
No people can claim hin-no nation
can appropriate him. His eminence is
acknowledged throughout the civilized
world by all those who love free gov.
eminent. have had the pleasure Of a
visit from the association which has been
directing its efforts towards the compile
ton of a monument erected to his name.
was prepared to meet them and give
them my humble influence and counte-
nance in aid of the work. Let the mon
ument be erected to him who founded
the Government, and that almost with
in the throw of stone from the spot
from which / now address you. Let it
be completed. Applause. Let the
pledges which all these States and
corporations and associations have put
in that monument be preserved as an
earnest of our faith in and love of
this Union, and let the monument be
completed. And in connection with
Washington, in speaking fthe pledges
that have been placed in that monu-
ment, let me refer to one from nv own
State-God bless her which has
struggled for the preservation of this
Union in the fild and in councils
of the nation. Let me repeat, that she
now is struggling in consequence of an
innovation that has taken place in re-
gard to her relation with the Federal
Government, growing out the rebellion
she is now struggling to renew her
relations with this government and take
the stand which she had occupied since
1895. Let me repeat the sediment which
that State inscribed upon her stone that
is deposited within the monument of
freedom and in commemoration of
Washington; she is struggling to stand
by the sentiment inscribed on that stone
and she is now willing to maintain that
sentiment. And what is the sentiment ?
1t is the sentiment which was enuncia-
ted by the immortal and illustrious
Jackson" The Federal Union, it must
be preserved" Cheers. Were it pos
!. sible for that old man, who in statue is
before me and in portrait behind me. to
be called forthwere it possible to com
municate with the illustrious dead. and
he could be informed of the progress IL
the work of faction, and rebellion. and
treason-that old man would turn
over in his coffin, he would rise. shake
off the habiliments of the tomb.
and again extend that long arm and
finger and reiterate the sentiment before
enunciated, "the Federal III MON. it must
be preserved. " Cheers. But we Wit
ness what has transpired since his day.