The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-03-03
Another Speech from the Prcsi-
dent

lJoHNsoS was waited upon byn Committe,
from Baltimore, who presented to him IN,
resolutions adopted by amecting in tha
city on the 2Gth Of February. lie made IN,
following response:
Gentlemen: | can not make any speech
In reply, but In response to what has beer
lsaid, will simply remark that my policy
to which you have alluded rs before the
lcountry, was not announced as the result
Iof impulse, nor was IL thrown for any "a
lcdpftdndaDl purposes. IL was announced ms
the result of conviction. Of mature consd-
eration, as necessary consequence Of the
principles upon which this Government
rests. That policy, which honestly regard
as being the best for the country, will con-
tinue before the people, without the slight
est deviation, and without being swcrvcd
nom on my part. | do not say this in a
Ispirit OF menace or threat to any body, but
simply 10 give assurance that there will be
no abandonment and no shrinking from
that policy, because IL Is believed that the
very existence and pcrpetuty of the Gov
lernment depend on the maintenance of the
principles which have thus been cnun-
ciatcd.
IL am not insensible to the remarks
winch have been made accompanying the
presentation of these resolutions. The
I
more or less inspired and impressed by
what you have said must becxtrcmely duh
and barren. | feel the full force of what
| you have said and think know how to
appreciate 1t, and So feeling. am impressed
with the conviction that my duty must he
performed without regard to the conse-
Iquences. Your encouragement Mt this par
| ticular time seems to be peculiarly appro-
| pirate. Your conntenance and proiIcrs of
support under the present circumstances,
inspire me with confidence, and a strength,
and hope, that the country will ultimately
triumph, aud those great principles will be
sustained.
"lt is not necessary for me TO remark to
you that | entered this contest at its very
incipiency, and have not deviatcd n sin
gle hairs breadth from the line of policy |
then laid down. | stand now precisely on
the same ground stood on in the Senate,
ON the 18th and 10th days of December,
1860. know that 1t has been said. and no
doubt by many designedly said, that here
is President who was elected by n party,
and who on coming into power abandoned
that party that he has Tylerizcd his Ad-
ministTatiOn; that he has Joined the Cop
perheads, and things of that kind. Those
things have no influence upon me. They
fail wholly to drive me from the discharge
of my duty. But IL you and !, with Others,
have been employed for four years in re-
sisting n separation and dissolution of the
Union, and now have reached point when
resistance has cease ed, If we can be instru-
mental In cOncilating and bringing back
all the people to an honest loyal, aud thor
ough support of the Government. it seems
to me We are doing good deed and ac-
complishing the work we undertook.
1T happens sometimes, in the best of
families, If may be permitted to use the
Illustration; that there are differences and
leuds, but when these differences are under
stood aud arranged, and when the feuds
subsidc. the parties can approach each other
feeling more kindly toward those from
whom they had been estrangcd than they
did before. Then ! do not think we are
doing wrong, If we, while maintaining
principle, while trying to preserve the Gov
ment, have succeeded in convincing of their
error aud bringing back to the fold of their
fathers, those who straycd. l think this is
a result of which all would be proud, and
for which we should no be tainted. If
know myself my only object is to preserve
the Government. ! want it to continue In
loyal hands, and none others.
IL hope that the time will soon come
when the country will be thoroughly rec
oncilcd but to secure all that Is necessary
for this purpose. will require a severe
struggle, for am free to say to yop--it is
not worth while to disguise it-that the
bellion at one end of the line. now exists at
the other to some extent. Before the re-
cent rebellion, there were one set of gcn-
tlcmen who were trying to dissolve and
break up the Government for the purpose
of preserving the institution of slavery,
and another set of gentlemen were willing
to break up the Government for the purpose
of destroying slavery. and they so avowed.
Though these respective parties disagreed
in the object they wished to accomplish,
they agreed in one thing, and that was the
destruction of the Government, and so far
as that point is concerned, the one was as
Gflpable as the other.
The blow was struck ut the Southern
end Of the line. II being struck there, the
spirit which was making war upon the
principles of the Government must have
something TO vent itself upon, and it Joined
with those who were for the Union against
those who were for rebellion. But now,
when the rebellion is put down, if we find
an attempt to change the character of the
Government we must equally resist it.
The attempt now Is to consolidate, to con-
centrate absolute power here. 1t Is the
destruction of the Government, and IL is n
manifestation of the same spirit which mt
tempted TO break up the Government. |
stand opposed to both. | stand with you
for the Government for the Constitution,
for the supremacy of the law, and for
obedience TO the law and the Constitution.
'1let it be understood that so far rs maxi
ing candidates for the future Is concerned,
| have nothing TO do with it. If can be
instrumental In accomplishing the great
work we have undertaken TO bring about,
peace, and harmony, and reconciliation
among all our people, and again placing
this Government upon its firm basis, shall
feel that have reached the summit of my
ambition. | have no other object in view,
If know my own heart and my own feel
ings.
"Gcntlemen, permit me to thank you most