The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-04-26
SERENADE TO THE PRESIDENT
HIS SPEECH IN RESPONSE.


serenade in grateful acknowledgment
for his order directing the heads of de-
partments to give preference, in appoint-
ments and promotions to the subordi-
nate offices, to persons who have render
ed honorable service in the army and
navy, and he having signified to the
Committee his acceptance Of the compli-
ment, on Wednesday evening, 18th inst,
large procession Of soldiers and sailors
marched to the Executive Mansion with
4he Marine Band. A very large number
Of both sexes were previously on the
ground awaiting the demonstration. At
a quarter past six o'clock the Band per-
formed several patriotic airs, when the
President made his appearance, and was
greeted with huzzas by the assembled
thousands. He was addressed on behalf
Of the soldiers and sailors by one OF their
number, in highlycomplimentary terms,
and replied as follows:
President johnson said: II is not af-
fectation in me to say that language is
inadequate to convey the heartfelt feel
ings produced On this occasion by your
presence here, and by the presentation
OF your sentiments as expressed by your
representative in his address, and in the
resolutions which you have thought
proper to adopt. [ confess that in the
peculiar posture of public affairs, your
presence andaddressg give encouragement
and confidence; to me in my efforts to
discharge the duties incumbent upon
me as Chief Magistrate of the Republic.
and in what have to say, l shall adj
dress you as citizens, sailors and soldiers.
| shall speak to you in those terms and
in none others. | repeat my thanks for
the manifestation of your appreciation
and of yourencouragement Applause.
We are to-day involved in one of the
most critical and trying struggles that
have occurred since this Government
was spoken into existence. Nations,
like individuals, must have beginning,
must have birth. In struggling with
existence a nation passes through its
first trying ordeal. 1t is not necessary
for me now to carry your minds back to
1t is not necessary for me to allude to
the privations and hardships of those
who were engaged in that struggle to
achieve National birth. 1t is not neces-
sary to point to the blood shed and the
lives lost in accomplishing that result.
The next ordeal through which nation
has to pass is when it is called upon to
give evidence that it has strength, ca
pacity and power to maintain itself
among the nations of the earth. In
giving such evidence we passed through
the war of 1912 and through the war
with Mexico and we passed through
all the struggles that have since occur
red up to the beginning of the rebellion.
This was our second ordeal. Buta nation
has still another test to undergo, and
that is to give evidence to the nations
of the earth and to it's own citizens that
| it has power to resist internal foes; that
it has strength enough to put down
treachery at home, and treason within
its own borders. Cheers. We have
commenced that ordeal, and trust in
God we will pass through it success
fully. Cheers. feel complimented
| by the allusion of your representative to
| the fact that / stood in the Senate in
1860 and 1861, when the nation was en-
tering on its third ordeal, and raised my
voice and hand against treason, treachery
and traitors at home. Cheers and cries
of "Good."l staud here to-day hold
| ing anu HldlulttlHlAS Vic odIuC pm
ciples which then enunciated. Cheers.
I stand here to-day opposing traitors
and treason, whether they be in the
South or in the North. Loud cheers:
stand here to-day, as | then stood,
using all my powers, mental and physi-
cal to preserve this nation in passing
through the third phafe of its existence.
The organized forces and combined pow
ers that recently stood arrayed against
us are disbanded and driven from the
field, but it does not follow that there
are still no enemies against our present
form of government and our free insti-
tutions. Applause.
I then stood in the Senate of the
United States denying the doctrine of
separation and secession. denied, then,
as l deny now, that any State has the
right, of its own will, to separate itself
from the other States, and thereby de-
stroy the Union and break up the Gov
eminent; and I think have given some
evidence that have been sincere and in
earnest. And now want to know why
it is that the whole train of slanderers,
calumniators and traducers have been