The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-08-20

| In testimony whereof, have hereunto set my
hand, and caused the seal of the United States
| to be affixed. =F e#S> AtAH#
Done at the City of Washington, this 2Oth
day of August, A. D., 1866, and of the Inde-
pendence of the United States the ninety
0rst. ANDREW JOHNSON.
By the Observation-Disclosures H. SEWARD,
Secretary of State. ~rr s-~e
The Mutual Admiration Society.
Tho following is President Johnson's reply
to the address of Hon. Reverdy johnson, who
presented the President on Saturday the pro-
ceedings of the Mutual Admiration Conclave,
recently held at Philadelphia -. ~
''9''tAe 2N WASHINGTON, Aug. 1s.
Mfr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Commit
tee:-Language is inadequate to express the
emotions and feelings produced by this occa-
sion. Perhaps could express more by permit
ting silence to speak and you to infer what r
ought to say. confess that notwithstanding
the experience have had in public life, and
the audiences have addressed, this occasion
and this assemblage, are we'll calculated to and
do overwhelm me. As / have said, have not
language ig to convey adequately my present feel
lngs and emotions. In listening to the address,
which your eloquent and distinguished Chair
man hasjust delivered, the proceedings Of the
convention as they transpired required to my
MIND Seemingly, partook of the inspirationI
PAON1AAOu La ficOuvcnblOn. w l6n III
received dispatch sent by two of its distin-l
guished members conveying in terms the scene
which has just been described, of South Caro-
lima and Massachusetts, arm in arm, marching
into that vast assemblage, thus giving evidence
that the two extremes had come together and
that for the future they were united as they had
been IN the past for the preservation of the
Union; when the dispatch informed me that
IN that vast body Of men, distinguished for .heir
intelligence, intellect and wisdom, every eve
was sufused with tears on beholding the scene,
could not finish reading the dispatch to one as
SOclated with me in the Office for nv own feel
lngs overcame me. L think we may Justly con-
clude we are moving under proper inspira7
tion and that we are not to be mistaken; that
the hnger of an overruling and unerring Prov
idence is in this matter. The nation is in peril!
We have just passed through mighty, a bloody
momentous ordeal, .yetdo not find ourselves
first surrounded us. While our brave men have
performed their duties, both officers and men,
while they have won laurels imperishable, there
are still greater and more important duties to
perform; and whileiwe have had their co-ope1
ration in the field, we now need their support
IN our efforts to perpetuate speech. So far as
the Executive department of the Government
is concerned, the effort has been made to re!
store the Union, to heal the breach to pour oil
into the wounds which were consequent upon
the struggle, $50 to speak in common phrase
to prepare as the learned and wise physician
would plaster, healing in character and CO..
extensive with the wound. We thought, and
we think, that we had partially succeeded; but
as the work progressed, as concilliation seemed
to be taking place and the country becoming
united, we found disturbing and warning ele-
ment opposing us. In alluding to that element
shall go no farther than did your convention
and the distinguished gentlemen who have de-
ivered to me the report of the proceedings I
shall make no reference to it that I do not be-
believe the time and occasion do Justify. We
have witnessed in one department. of the Gov
ernment every effort as it were, to prevent the
restoring of peace and harmony in the Union.
We have seen hanging upon the verge of the
Government as it were, a body called, or what
assumed to be, the Congress of the United
States; but in fact Congress of only part of
the States. We have seen this Congress as
sumo and pretend to be for the Union when its
every step and act tended to perpetuate disun-
ion and make a disruption of the States inevi-
table. Instead of promoting reconciliation and
harmony, its legislation has partaken of the
character of penalties, retaliation and revenge
This has been the course and policy of one de-
partment of your Government. The humble
individual who is now addressing you stands
the representative of another department of
the Government The manner in which he was
called upon to occupy the position, 1 shall not
allude to on this occasion Suffice it to say
that he is here under the Constitution of the
country and being here by virtue of its provis-
ions, he takes his stand upon the charter Of our
liberties as the great rampant of civil and relig-
to hold it sacred, and having practiced upon it
during my whole public career, I shall ever
continue to reverence that Constitution the
Constitution of the fathers of the country and
to make it my guide. 1 know it has been said,
and must be permitted to indulge in the re-
mark that the Executive Department of the
Government has been tyranneal. Let me ask
this audience of distinguished gentlemen
around me here to-day, to point to a vote lever
gave, to speech ever made, to single act of
my whole public life, that has not been against
tyranny and despotism. What position have
l ever occupied, what ground have ever as
sumed where it can be truthfuily charged that
failed to advocate the amelioration and eleva-
ton Of the great masses of my countrymen.
So far as the charges of this kind are concern
ed, will say that they are simply intended to
deceive and delude the public mind into the
belief t1at there is one in power who is usurp-
ing and trampling upon the rights and pervert-
ing the principles of the Constitution. 1t is
| done by those who make such charges for the
purpose Of covering their own acts. I2
1have felt it my duty in vindication of prin-
| clple and the Constitution of my country to
| call attention to these proceedings. When we
| come to examine who has been playing the ty-
| rant, by whom do we find that disposition has
been exercised As to myself, the elements
of my nature and the pursuits of my life have
not made me in my feelings or in my practice
aggressive. My nature on the contrary is
rather defensive in its character, but will say,
that, having taken my stand upon the broad
| principles of liberty and the Constitution, there
is not power enough on earth to drive me from
it. Having placed myself upon that platform,
l have not been awed, discouraged or intimi-
| dated by either threats or encroachments, but
have stood there in conjunction with patriotic
| spirits, sounding the tocsin of alarm whenever
/ deemed the citadel of liberty in danger.
said on previous occasion, and repeat now,
/ that all that was necessary in the great strug-
gle against tyranny anu despotism, was, that
the struggle should be sufficiently audible for
the American people to hear and properly un-
derstand. They did hear and, looking on and
seeing where their constituents were, and
what that struggle was about, they were de-
termined that they would settle this question
on the side Of the Constitution and of princi-
pie. i proclaim here to-day as have on other
occasions, that my faith is abiding in the great