The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-08-22
is NOT AWED, DISMAYED NOR
-r. aai INUNDATED. nua
But Occasionally, for Recreation,
Sounds the Tocsin of Alarm"
is OPPOSED TO THE INDULG-
ENCE OF EGOTISM.
UNDER PROTEST, RELATES A LITTLE
IS OF THE HISTORY OF HIS LIFE.
A BRIEF ALLUSION OR TWO TO
) - ANDREW JOHNSON.

We published, on Monday, what the
telegraph gave us of the visit of the
Committee of the Philadelphia Con-
vention to the White House, but did
not receive the speech of the. Presi-
dent. AS it is a matter of public IN
terest to know what the Chief Execu-
tive officer of the Government has to
say, we give his speech in full. The
speech on behalf of the Committee
was made by REvERDY JOHNSON,
Senator from Maryland, to which the
President replies. ea .'79dil
n REPLY OF THE PRESIDENT.
When Mr.. johnson had concluded
the President said:
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen of the
Convention. Language is inadequate
to express the emotions and feelings
produced by this occasion. Perhaps
I could express more by permitting
silence to speak and you to infer what
I ought to say. I confess that not
withstanding the experience l have
had in public life, and the words |
heard addressed on this occasion and
to this assemblage, are well calculated
to overwhelm me. AS / have said, l
have not language to convey, ade-
quately, my present feelings and emo
tons in listening to the address which
your eloquent and distinguished
chairman has just delivered.
The proceeding of the Convention
as they transpired occurred to my
mind; seemingly, / partook of the IN
spiration that prevailed in the Con-
yention, when I received dispatch
by two of its distinguished members,
conveying in terms the scene which
has lust been described, of South Car
olina and Massachusetts arm in arm,
marching into that vast assemblage,
and thus giving evidence that the ex-
tremes had come together, and that
for the future they were united as
they had been in the past, for the pre-
servation of the Union, when the dis
match informed me that in that vast
body of men, distinguished for intel
lect and wisdom, every eye was SUI
fused with tears on beholding the
scene. could not finish reading the
; dispatch and handed it to one in the
, Office. for my own feelings overcame
me. 1Cheers.] ] [ think we can just
I " conclude we are moving under a
: proper inspiration, and that we need
{ not be mistaken, and that the finger
of an overriding and unerring Provi-
: dence is in this matter. Loud
: cheers The nation is in peril. We
have just passed through a mighty
- ordeal of blood-a momentous ordeal
Yet, we do not find ourselves free
: from the difficulties and dangers that
at first surrounded us, While our
brave men have performed their du-
ties-both officers and men-(turning
to General Grant, who stood at his
right )-while they have won laurals
imperishable, there are still greater
, and more important duties to perform
, and while we have had their co-opera-
ton in the field we now need their
support In our efforts to perpetuate
peace. Loud. cheers So far as the
Executive Department of the Gov.
ernment is concerned, the effort has
been made to restore the Union, tC
heal the breach, to pour oil into the
u wounds which were consequent upoI
the struggle, and to speak in com.
mon phrase, to prepare, as the learned
and wise physician would, a plaster
healing in character and co-extensIyt
with the wound. Loud cheers,I we
thought, and you think, that we hae
partially succeeded, but as the work
OF progressed, as reconstruction seemed
e. to be taking place and the country be,
RS coming united, we found a warTlnt
to element opposed to us. In alludIne
to the element, I shall go no farthel
10 than did your Convention and the dls,
y, tinguished gentlemen who has deny
,e- cred to me the report of the proceed,
h. ing. [ shall make no reference 10 II
that / do not believe the time and the
occasion Justify. We have witnessed
Est in the Department of the Govern-
ment every effort, as it were, to pre-,
vent the restitution OF peace ano
harmony in the Union. We have
seen hanging upon the verge of the
Government. as it were, body called
Or which assumed to be, the Congress
of the United States; and in fact in ;
Congress of only part of the States
We have seen this Congress assume
and pretend to be for the U-iol
when its every step and act tended t,
perpetuate disunion and make dis
ruption of the States inevitable. In
stead of promoting reconciliation ant
harmony its legislation has partakel
of the character of penalties, retal.a
tions and revenge. This ha
Is been the course and policy