The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-05-01
SPEECH OF PRESIDENT JOHNSON

Washington on the 18th of april.
President johnson said :: 1t is not affectation
in me to say that language is inadequate to con-
vey the heartfelt feelings produced on this oc-
casion by yonr presehce here, and by the pre-
sentation Of your sentiments as expressed by
your representative in his address, aud in the
resolutions which you have thought proper to
adopt. L confess that in the peculiar posture of
public affairs, your presence and address gives
encouragement and confidence to me in ry eff.
forts to discharge the duties incumbent upon
me as Chief Magistrate of the Republic. And
in what have to say, I shall address you in the
character Of citizens, sailors and soldiers. I
shall speak to you in those terms and none
others.
repeat my thanks for the manifestation Of
your appreciation and your encouragement--
[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 strug-
Cling into existence nation passes through its
first trying ordeal.
It is not necessary for me now to carry your
minds back to the struggle when this nation
was born. 1t is not necessary for me to allude
| to the privations and hardships of those who
| engaged in that struggle to achieve the national
birth. 1t is not necessary to point to the blood
shed and the lives lost in accom- plishng that re-
suit. The next ordeal through which nation
has to pass is wien 1t is called upon to give evil
! dence that it has strength, capacity aud power
to maintain itself among the nations of the earth.
| In giving such evidence We passed through
the war of 1872 and throug b the war with Mex
ico and we passed through all the struggles
! the rebellion. That was our second ordeal
But nation has another test still to undergo,
and that is to give evidence to the pations of the
| earth and to its own citizens that it has
power to resist internal foes; that it has strength
enough to put down treachery at home aud trea-
son within its own borders. Cheers We
have commenced that ordeal, and trust in God
we will pass through it successfully. lCheers ]
1 feel compimented by the allusion of your rep
resentative to the fact that l stood in the Sem
ate in 1860 and 1861, when the nation was en-
tering on this third ordeal, and raised my voice
and hands against treason, treachery and traitors
stand here to-day holding to and maintaining
the same principles which then enuneiated.-
| TCheers.
| stand here today opposing traitors and trea-
son, whether they be in the South or in the
North. Loud cheers stand here to-day as
l then stood, using all my powers, mental and
| physical, to preserve this nation in passing
through the third phase OF its existence. The
organized forces and combined powers that re-
Gently stood arrayed against US are disbanded
and driven from the field, but it does not follow
that there are still no enemies against our pre-.
sent form of government and our free institu.
tions. [Applause.
then stood in the Senate of the United
States denying tha doctrine of separation and
secession. denied then, as I deny now, that
any State has the right of its own will. to sepa-
rate itself from the other States, aud thereby to
destroy the Union and break up the govern
ment; and l think have given some evidence
that have been sincere and 10 earnest; and
now want to know why it is that the whole
train of slanderers, calumniators aad traducers
have been barking and snapping at my heels.-
[Cheers. Why is it that they array themselves
against me? Is it because stand on the side
Of the people, and when say the people in-
is it that they arrayed 10 tradacing and vii
lify:ng and calumniating me? Where we're
they during the rebellion? IA voice "Home,
in bed" Laughter In the Senate raised
nv voice against it; and when it was believed
that it would be to the interest of the nation,
and would assist in Iutting down the rebellion,
did not leave my place 10 the Senate place
of emolament, ease and disinction-and take
my position where the enemy could be reached,
aid where mems lives were in danger? (Cheers
and cries of "Tbat's So"
While was thus exposed personally and pub
licly, and in every way, some of my present ira
dueers and calunnators were far removed from
the war, aod were enjoying ease and comfort
GCheers and laughter But care not for them,
care not that slander, the foul whelp Of sin,
has been turned loose against me. l care not
for all that; and let NE tell you here today that,
although pretty we'll advanced in life, feel that
l shall live long enough to live down the whole
pack of traducers and slanderers. Applause ]
They have turned the whole pack loose to lower
me in your estimation. Voices-"They can't
do it."] Tray, Blanche and Sweetheart, little
dogs and all, came along swapping and snarling
a. my heels, but heed them not. Cheers
The American people-citizens, soldiers anc
ssiiors-know that from my advent into public
life to the present moment I have always stood
and defenders of their rig hts and interests
Cheers.
We are now in the nations third ordeal. We
are not yet through it. We said that States
could not go out of the Union. We denied the
doctrine of secession, and we have demonstrated
that We were right-we demonstrated it BY the
strong arm. Yes, the soldiers and the sailors,
God bless them, have demonstrated by their
patriotic hearts and strong arms that States have
not the power to leave the Union. CApplsuse
What followed2 The Confederate armies were
overpowered and disbanded, and there was vii.
ingoess on the part Of the people of those States
to come back, be obedient to the laws and &C.
; knowledge the supremacy of the Constitution Of
our fathers. For What have We passed through