Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-02-23
rTE DEMONSTRATION IN WASHING TON
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.


ion. Yesterday, to sustain the President In bis
recent course, and in his general policy of recon
struction. Growers Theatre was filled to over
flowing, stands were erected In the neighbor-
hood from which speakers addressed the null
titude, and there was much enthusiasm. Phil
lin R. Fendall presided, and the officers were
composed of some of the most respectable clti-
yens Of Washington and Georgetown. After
the adoption of resolutions expressive of the
sense Of the meeting, the crowd adjourned to
the front of the Presidents House, and the
proceedings, which had taken place were COM
municated to him. He came forward and ad-
dressed the vast crowd. In the course of this
addressed the PRESIDENT said.
sThe Government has stretched forth it's
strong, arm, and with it's physical power it
has nut down treason in the field. That is,
the section Of country that arrayed itself
against the Government has been conquered
bV the force of the Government itself. Now,
What had we said to those people? We said:
mo compromise; we can settle this question
with the South in eight and forty hours.
] Ihave said it again and again, and | repeat it
now, 'Disband your armies, acknowledge the SUI
] premacy of the Constitution Of the United
States. give obedience to the law, and the
4 whole question is settled. [Cheers.
What has been done since? Their armies
have been disbanded. They come now to
] meet us in spirit Of magnanimity and say,
| "We were mistaken; we made the effort to
8 carry out the doctrine OF secession and dissolve
1 this Union, and having traced this thing to its
a logical and physical results, we now acknoWl-
edge the flag of our country, and promise obe-
3 dience to the Constitution, and the supremacy
a Of the law" TCheers.
a | say, then, when you comply with the
8 Constitution, when you yield to the law, when
81 YOU acknowledge allegiance to the Government,
q Isay let the door of the Union be opened and
q the relation be restored to those that had erred
aud had strayed from the fold OF our fathers"
q Cheers.
1T is not the course to deal with whole
people in spirit of revenge. l know there
has been great deal said about the exercise
y Of the pardon power, as regards the Execu,
q tive; and there is no one who mas labored
harder than to have the principals, the IN
& tlgent and conscious offenders, brought to
q Justice, and have the prlnclple 7lnolcateo tha5
81 treason is crime Cheers.
But, while conscious and Intelligent traitors
q are to be punished, should whole communities
81 and States be made to submit to the penalty OF
81 death? have quite as much asperlty, ana
q perhaps as much resentment, as man a: ooght
Ito have: but We must reason regarding man
Has he is and must conform our action and cur
Ienduct to the example of Him who founded
Jour holy religion. " -.
"a Isaid in the Senate, in the very Inception OF
Athis rebellion, that the States had no right to
81 acede, That question has been settled. thus
kdeermined, I cannot turn around and give. the
AGe direct to all that I profess to have done
3during the last four years. l say that when
Aae States that attempted to secede comply
NTH the Constitution, and give sufficient cyl
adence of loyalty, I shall extend to them the
hight hand of fellowship, and let peace and
Union Be restored. | am opposed to the
alaVises, the Toombses, the Sldels, and the
1bng list of such. But when perceive on the
I99her hand men A voice, "Cal them on /
aIcare not by what name you call them SUI
lpposed to the Union, I am free to say TO- you
1AatI am still with the people. l am still toi
aaAe preservation of these States-tor the pre-
IarVation of this Union, and In favor OF 1nls
Aeeat Government accomplishing its destiny
81 Here the President was called upon to give
AAe names Of three of the members OF Congress
A3qv whom he had alluded as. being opposed to
Aae Uniop.
81 The gentleman calls for three names. an
aaking to nv friends and fellow-cltizens here.
u lCheers. Suppose I should name to you
Aaose whom I look upon as being opposed tc
aaefundamental principles Of this Government
aSSd as now laboring to destroy them. | say
aSS3addeus Stevens, of Pennsylvania; l. sa!
59arles Sumner, Of Massachusetts; | say Wen
el Phillips, of Massachusetts. lGreat cheer
s and a voice, s'Forasy|]