The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-24
: ,r,rppaY FEBRUARY "a, 1865.
From the National Intelligenccr.
Revival of Principle i'm National Politics
Great Speech OF President Johnson.

Creat speech OF President Johnson.
Yesterday was a grand and memorable day
q, mis- city TO the residents of this District.
Al an early period In the morning, notwlth-
.,andinr the muddy state of the walking,
throncs were moving on every street and ave-
nma and long before noon, the designated hour
&C. the organization of the assemblage, the
masses were flowing in tides into the broad
entrance to Growers Theatre, which was soon
densely packed i'll all its parts, while the
streets and avenues outside were literally filled
from side TO side with the moving throng.
Ii was magnificent spectacle
The view from the stage OF the immense
audience inside the theatre, piled as they
were strong, earnest, and intelligent men,
Tier above tier TO the very roof, was indescri-
baby imposing. There We're very few ladies
present, and quite as few boys. The space
was packed with men, and their faces told
YOU that they were there for no trifing pur-
poses and very noticeable incident of the
occasion was the entrance shortly after the
meeting was called TO order, OF large dele,
CATION of the Oldest Inhabitants, a dignifed
and venerable body, who, with the Mayor OF
the city ut their head, were conducted TO seats
reserved for them in the gallery.
Mansion, where an immense crowd had pre-
ceded it, Mr.. Fendall, the President of the
meeting, and the following gentlemen of the
committee, viz: Messrs. William L. Hodge,
Dr Johu il. Blake, Charles KNAPP, James G..
Bcrret ]. ID. Hoover, Thomas Is. Florence, Z.
Wendell, Joseph ii. Bradley, J. G. Mcclure,
Ward II. Lamon, Augustus L. Perry, John
T. Covle, and William L. Spalding, presented
10 the President the resolutions which had
passed the meetng, with a brief and pertinent
address from Mr.. Fendall, in which he in.
formed him that the assembly had adjourned
10 the Presidential Mansion to pay their re-
spects 10 him. The President was then form
ally conducted by Mr.. Fendall and the gentle
men named above, accompanied by Colonel
UBeirne, Colonel Reeves, ana others OF ms
household, to the front portico, from whence
silence having been obtained in the vast assem-
blage through the efforts of the Hon Green
Clay Smith, who stood with the President-he
addressed them substantially as follows:
After returning his thanks TO the committee
which had waited upon him and presented him
with the resolutions which had been adopted,
the President said: The resolutions, as I'M
derstand them, are complimentary OF the
policy which has been adopted and pursued by
the Administration since it came into power.
am free to say TO you on this occasion that IL
is extremely gratifying TO me tc know that SO
large portion of our fellow citizens endorse
the policy which has been adopted, and which
is intended TO be carried out. Great ap.
plause.I
10 restore the glorious Union-to bring those
great States, now the subject OF controversy,
to their original relations 10 the Government
of the United States. And this seems TO be
day peculiarly appropriate for such mani
festation as ths-the day that gave blrth 10
him who founded the GoVernment-thatg gave
birth to the Father of our Country-that gave
these States entered into this glorious Confede-
racy. / say that the day is peculiarly appro-
pirate to the endorsement OF measures 1or the
restoration of the Union that was founded by
the Father of his Country. Washington
whose name this city bears, is embalmed In the
hearts of all who love their Government Ia
voice so is Andy johnson" and applause
Washington, in the language OF his euloglsts,
was first in peace, first in war, and first in the
hearts of his coun1rymen. NO people can
claim him-no nation can appropriate INN.
His eminence is acknowledged throughout the
civilized world by all those who love Tree
government / have had the pleasure OF 4
visit from the association which mas been
directing it's efforts towards the completion OF
a monument erected TO his name. was pre-
pared 10 meet them and give them my hunpie
influence and countenance in aid OF the WORK.
Let the monument be erected 10 MN VINO
founded the Government, and that almost
within the throw of q stone from the spot1ron
which L now address you Lett be completed.
Applause Let the pledges which all these
States and corporations and associations nave
pat in that monument be preserved as an earn
est of our faith in, and love OF, TINS Union,
and let the monument be completed ANA III
connection with Washington, in speaking OF
the pledges that have been placed III that mon
ument, let me refer TO one from my own state
God bless her which has struggled Tor the
preservation of this Union i'll the field and In the
councils of the nation. Lex me repeat that she Is
now struggling in consequence OF an innovation
that has taken place in regard 10 ner RELATION
with the Federal Government, growing out OF
the rebellion-she is now struggling TO renew
her relations with this Government, ana take
the stand which she had occupied SINCE 1870.
Let me repeat the sentiment which that
State inscribed upon her stone that is deposited
within the monument of freedom and In COM
memoration of Washington she is struggling
10 stand by the sentiment INSCRIBED on that
stone, and she is now willing to MAINTAIN Lnat
sentiment. And what is the sentiment! ILLS
the sentiment which was enunciated by the
Immortal and illustrious Jackson" Inc feae
raj Union, it must be preserved" lCheers.I
Were il possible for that old man, who IN
statue is before me, and ia portrait behlnd me,
10 be called forth-were 1t possible 10 comlnu,
nicate With the illustrious dead, and ne couid
be informed OF the progress in the work OF lac
ton, and rebellion and treason-that old man
would turn over in his coiiin he Wonid rise
shake off the habiliments of the tomb and again
extend that long arm and nnger anu isi. s'a1
the sentiment before enunciated-" the Federal
Union, ii must be preserved" lCheers But we
witness what has transpired since his day. we
remember what he said in 1888 When urea
son, and treachery, and ln1idellty 10 tne
Government and the Constitution OF the Uni
ted States stalked forth, 1t was ms power anu
influence that went forth and crushed IL IN us
iacipiency. 1t was then stopped But IL was
only stopped for time, and the spirit con
tinued. There were men disaffected TOWARDS
the Government in both the North and South
There Were peculiar institutions IN the coun-
try TO which some were adverse ana osheIs
attached We find that one portion OF our
countrymen advocated an institution In the
south which others opposed in the North
This resulted in two extremes. Ihat In the
South reached point At which the people
there were disposed to dissolve the Govern
rccnt o. the United States, and they sought 10
preserve their peculiar institutions. tWhat
say on this occasion want to be understood
There was a portion of orr countrymen
opposed to this, and they went toShat extreme
lnat they We're willing TO break up the Co.
vernment to destroy this peculiar institution
of the South -
l assume nothing here to-day but the citi-
Zan--one of you-who has been pleading ioh
his country and the preservation OF the Con-
stitution. ICheers.l These two parties nave
been arrayed against each other, and stand
before YOU as did in the Senate OF the United
States in 1860 I denounced there those who
wanted 10 disrupt the Government, and
portrayed their true character; l toid tne m
that those who were engaged In the enort 10
break up the Government were ,rai.oss, !
have not ceased 70 repeat that. and, ms lar as
egdeayor could accomplish IL. TO carry OUT the
sentiment. [Cheers.l ! remarked, though,
that there were two parties. One would
destroy the Government TO preserve Slavery sef -
the other would break up the Government 70
destroy slavery. tCheers.l The objects 70 t 90
accomplished were different, 1t is true, 30 iar
at. ,oA MT