Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-08-18
SECOND EDITION,
O'CLOCK p. d,
5 O'CLOCK p. d
COVER NMENr SECURITIES.
THE NATIONAL UNION COMMITTEE
Their Visit to the President.

toat tne committee would assemble ut Willard's
at ten O'Clock this morning, a large concourse
of people began to gather even before tina
time The rooms and halls of the hotel were
crowded, and groups of individuals vel
known to the Political world met the eve at
every turn, assuring one another upon the
great success of the National Union Con ven.
ton, and congratulating one another on the
part taken by them in its proceedings
A notice was posted at different points
around the hotel announcing that, by order,
the committee to wait upon the President
would assemble at balf-past eleven O'clock
winch was subsequently changed to half.past
twelve. The committee, it was stated. would
form in procession, and would be followed by
all the delegates of the Con vention who were
present, and these again to be followed by the
citizens generally. - -
AT half.past II O'Clock the gentlemen of the
committee issued from the hotel, arm in arm
those from the Gulf States side by side with
those from New England, and led by the Hon.
Reverdy johnson and United States Marshal
u. 5. GOoding, proceeded towards the Execu-
tive Mansion. The rest Of the vast assemblage
End when the head OF the line arri yed at the
White House, temporary halt was made
Marshal Gooding then announced that the
Committee would enter, and the remainder of
the procession should b ALT for further Instruc
tons. The Committee were then admitted 10
the East Parior and ranged in a circle in the
centre of the room, after which all those on
the outside were admitted that could get in
The room was soon densely packed, the only
vacant space being that within the circle
formed by the Committee At quarter to one
stand inside the circle before mentioned, sur
rounded by Secretary Welles, Secretary NC
Cnlloch, Secretary Browning, Postmaster
General Randall. General Grant MaIor CEN
prominent officers Of the Government
All arrangements having been completed
senator Reverdy johnson stepped in front o.
the President and addressed him as follows:
SPEECH OF SENATOR JOHNSON
MT President We are before you as a co...
mittee OF the National Union Con ven ion viii
met In Philadelphia, on Tuesday, the 14th in.
slant, charged with the duty of presenting Won
win an authenticated copy OF its proceedings
Before placing 1t in your hand, permit us 10
Congratulate you that in the object for which
the Convention was called, in the enthusiasm
with which in every State and Territory the
call was responded to, in the unbroken har.
mony OF its deliberations, in the unanimity
with which the principles il has declared were
adopted. and mere especially in the patriotic
and constitutional character of the principles
themselves, We are confident that you and the
country Will IND gratifying and cheering evi.
oence that there exists among the people a
pubic sentiment which renders an earIy and
complete restoration of the Union as estab-
table.
Party faction, seeking the continuance OF ire
misrule. may momentarily delay It. but the
principles OF political liberty, for which our
loleiat1ers successfully contended. and to Sc
so gIaringly inconsistent with the condition in
which the country has been placed by sucb
mlsruie that 1t will not be permitted a much
longer duration.
We wish. Mr.. President, you could have per.
sonally witnessed the spirit OF concord and
orotneriy anection which animated every
member of the Convention. Great as your
confidence ever has been in the inteIlieence
and patriotism Of your fellow citizens mn theIr
deep devotion to the Union, and in their pres.
ent determination to reinstate and maintains
confidence would hpcn a
conviction II you could have seen and heard
all tnat was done and said upon the occasion
a Every near, was evidently full OF JOY; every
ponoency gave place TO assurance that our
late dreadful civil strife ended. the blissfnI
reign Oh peace under the protection, not of
arms, out OF the Constitution and laws
would have sway, and be, in every part of our
lano, cheerfully acknowledged, and in perfect
good faith ooeyed-you would not have doubted
that the recurrence of dangerous domestic in
surrecnon in the future, are not 10 be anpre
hended. Ii You could have seen, sir the men
OF Massachusetts and South Carolina, coming
INTO the Convention, en- the first day of its
meeting, hand in hand. amidst the rapturous
applause OF the whole body, awakened by
heartfelt qualification at the event filling the
eyes OF thousands with tears OF Joy which they
neither could nor desired to suppress, YOU
would have felt, as every person present felt.
that the time had arrived when all sectional
or otner perilous dlssensions, had ceased and
that nothing would be heard in the future but
the voice Of harmony, proclaiming devotion TO
common country, OF pride Of being bound
together by common union, existing and pro-
rienee TO be emlnently fitted for the ex,gencies
OF either peace or war.
In the principles announced by the conven
ton, and in the feeling there manifested. we
nave every assurance that harmony through
out our entire land will soon prevail. We
know that In former days. as was eloa uently
declared by Webster, the nations most gifted
statesman, Massachusetts, and South Caro-.
lima, marched ssshoulder to shoulder throneh
the revolution" and stood hand in hand
around Tie administration Of Washington. and
leit MS own great arm lean on theirs for sup
port" so will they again, with like unaniuii.
", devotion, and power, stand round your adj.
ministration, and cause you TO feel that Won
may also lean on them for support
In the proceedings, Mr.. President, which
we are to place in your hands. you will find
that the Convention performed The grateful
duty imposed upon them by their kno Wedge
OF your devotion to the Constitution. the
laws. and interest of your country - as illus-
trated by your entire Presidential career OF
declaring that in you they s.recognize CHER
magistrate worthy OF the nation and co ual to
the great crises upon which your lot is cast"
and In this declaration il gives us unmixed
pleasure to add we are confident that the Con
vention have but spoken the intelligent and
patriotic sentiment Of the country. Ever in.
accessible TO the low influences which often
control the mere partIzan. governed alone by
an honest opinion of Constitutional obligations
a ,r r,Snts OF tue duty Of looking solely to the
III.
sneh class Is incapable Of restoring to any
stale bait for popularity at the expense Of the
public good. On = -
In the measures which you have adopted for
the restoration OF the Union, the Con yention
saw only contin uance Of the policy, which.
for the same purpose, was inaugursted by your
immediate predecessor. In his reelection nv
the people after that policy had been fully i'm.
dicafed and had been made one of the issues OF
the contest, those OF his political friends who
are now assailing you for strictly pursulne II
are forgetful or regardless of the Opinions
which their support Of his reelection necessa-
rily involved. Being upon the same ticket
with that much lamented public servant
whose foul assassination touched the heart of
the civilized world with grief and horror. Won
would have been false 10 obvious duty il Won
bad not endeavored TO carry put the same policy.
And judging BY the opposite enc which Con.
gIet has pursued, its wisdom and patriotism are
indicated bv the fact that that of Congress has
but continued broken Union by keeping ten of
the States, in which at one time the iusurrec-
ton existed as far as they could accomplish 1t.
in the condition of subjugated provinces, deny.
ing to them the right TO be represented. whilst
sublectinR their people to every species OF iegis.
iation, including that Of taxation. That such
a state of things Is at war with the very genius
Of our Government, inconsistent with every
idea OF political freedom. and most perilous to
the peace aid safety OF the country, no reflect.
Ing man can fail TO believe We hone. sir that