The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-05-03
President johnson Reiterates bis

'6n the ZZd'0f AFebfualy lasI mas oeeh ioi-
lowed by numerous declarations and acts
consistent with the principles avowed on
ahat occasion, and his boldness has every
where 'risceivea warm appreciation. On
Wednesday the 18th Of April, less than
fifty days from the time the country was
electrified by his fearless denunciation of
enemies, tho opportunity was offered for
smother outhurst. of those sentiments
&iiiidh will engraft his name permansntly
,Snsthee record of American history. A
procession of soldiers and sailors waited
upon the President, rendering him their
grateful Acknowledgements for his recent
order giving preference in appointments
to those who had performed honorable
service in the army and navy. The as
sethBlage numbered many thousands OF
citizens, besides soldiers and sailors. In
response to the address delivered by the
committee, the President plainly ayowed
his policy in speech of great power and
eloquence, from which We make the fol
lowing extracts:
repeat my thanks for hemanifesta-
,tionvefr reapprobations and your en-
couragement. We are to-day involved in
one of the most critical and trying strug-
giles that have occurred since the Govern
fnent was spoken into existence. Nations,
like individuals, must have beginning
must have u birth. In struggling into
existence; nation passes through its first
trying ordeal.
4t is not necessary for me now to carry
your minds back to the struggle when
this natien was born. 1t is.not necessary
for me to allude to tho privations and
hardships of those engaged in thst strug-
Gle to achieve the national birth. 1t is
not necessary: to point to the blood shed
and She lives lost in accomplishing that
result. The next ordeal through which
. anation has to pass is when it is called
upon to give evidence thatit has strength,
capacity and power to maintain itself
among the nations of the earth.
In giving such evidence, we passed
through the war of 1872, and through
the war with Mexico; and we passed
Shrough all the struggles that have
since occurred up. to the beginning Of the
rebellion. That was our second ordeal !!
But nation has another test still to un-
dergo, and that is to give evidence to the
nations of the earth, and its own citi
zens, tliat it has power to resist internal
foes that it has strength enough to put
down treachery at home and treason
within it's own borders. We have COM
menceds that ordeal, and trust in God
we will pass through it successfully. I
feel complimented by the allusion of yonr
representative to the fact that stood in
the Senate in 1860 and 1861, when the
nation was entering on this third ordeal
and raised my voice and hands against
treason, treaehery and traitors at home.
i stand here, to-day, holding to and main
tainlAg the same principles which 1 then
enunciated.
stand here, to-day, opposing traitors
and treason, whether they be III the South
or in the North. l stand here, to-day, as
I then stood, using all my powers, men
tai and physical, to preserve this nation
in passing through the third phase of its
combined powers that recently stood
farrayed against us are disbanded and
driven ffeaa the. field, but it does not fol
low that there are no enemies against our
present form of Government and free in
stitutions.
I then stood in the Senate of the United
States, denying the doctrine of separation
and secession. I denied then, as deny
bow, that any State has the right of its
own will to separate itself from the other
States, and thereby to destroy the Union
and break up the Government and l
think l havc given some evidence that |
have been sincere and in earnest; and now
4 want to know why it is that the whole
train efsianderers caluminators and tradu-
eershave been barking and swapping at my
heels. Why is it that they array them
selves against me? Is It because l stand
The side of the people? and when I
On, On y. tho ,ecple I include thu sailors and
said;ars say sns WIN isit that they are arrayod
soia.sds 3 tnsdmoOo and vinlll!fying and caumna-
II, tin@' ssIao 'moS Where were hey during the
rebellion? In the Senate, l r..seu iiy lS
voice against it.; and when it was 10.
liayed tSatsst would be to the interest OF
the nation, and would assist in putting
down the rebellion, did I not leave my
nlace in the Senate-a place of emolu-
roent. case and distinction-and take my
nos;tion where the enemy could be
reached, ard where mems lives We're in
danger?
While I was thus exposed personally
xna publicly, and in every way, some o.
my present traducers and ealuznniatorI
--sra far removed from the war, and were
sniovine ease and comfort. But care
& s.cs sSr them. I care not that slander
she foul whclp Of sin, has boen turned