Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1866-03-02
National Affairs.
SPEECH OF PRESIDENT JOHNSON.

An immense mass meeting was held
at Growers Theatre, in Washington, on
Wednesday, the 22d ultimo, in support
of the Presidents policy. A series of
resolutions were adopted which we're pre-
scented to the President by committee
appointed by the meeting
After returning his thanks to the COM
mittee which had waited upon him, and
presented him with the resolutions which
had been adopted, the President said:
The resolutions, as T understand
them, are complimentary of the policy
which has been adopted aud pursued by
the Administration since it came into
power. l am free to say to you on this
occasion that it is extremely gratifying
to me to know that so large portion of
our fellow citizens endorse the policy
which has been adopted and which is in
tended to be carried out. Great ap-
plause
This policy has been one which was
intended to restore the glorious Union.
to bring those great States, now the sub
ject of controversy, to their original
relations to the Government of the
United States. And this seems to be a
day peculiarly appropriate for such
manifestation as this-the day that gave
birth to him who founded the Govern
ment--that gave birth to the. Father of
our Country-that gave birth to him
who stood at the portal when all these
States entered into this glorious Con-
federacy say that the day is peculi
arly appropriate to the endorsement of
measures for the restoration of the Union
that was founded by the Father of his
Country Washington, whose ZANE this
city bears, is embalmed in the hearts of
all who love their Government. A
voice, $50 is Andy johnson" and ap-
plause Washington, in the language
of his biologists, was first in peace, first
in war, and first in the hearts of his
countrymen. No people can claim him
no nation can appropriate him. Ills
e:ninence is acknowledged throughout
the civilized world by all those who love
free government. | have bad the pleasure
of visit from the association which has
been directing its efforts towards the
completion of monument erected to his
name. I was prepared to meet them aud
give them my humble influence and
countenance in aid of the work. Let
the monument be erected to him who
founded the Government, and that
almost within the throw of stone from
the spot from which | nov address you.
Let it be completed. Applause. Let
the pledges which all these States and
corporations and associations have pU' !
that monument be preserved as an
earnest of our faith in and love of this
Union, and let the monument be COM
pleted. And in connection with Wash
ington, in speaking of the pledges that
have been placed in that monument, let
me refer to one from my own State--God
bless her which has struggled for the
preservation of this Union in the field
and in the councils of the nation. Let
me repeat, that she is now struggling in
consequence of an innovation that has
taken place in regard to her relation with
the Federal Government, growing out OF
the rebellion-she is now struggling to
renew her relations with this Govern
ment and take the stand which she had
occupied since 1896 Let me repeat tho
sentiment which that State inscribed
upon her stone that is deposited within
the monument of freedom and in COM
memoration of Washington; she is
struggling to stand by the sentiment in
scribed on that stone aud she is now
willing to maintain that sentiment. And
what is the sentiment? It is the senti
ment which was enunciated by the i'm
mortal and iIlustrious Jackson" The
Federal Union, it must be preserved"
tCheers. Were it possible for that old
man, who in statue is before me and in
portrait behind me, to be called forth
we're it possible to communicate with the
illustrious dead, and he could be inform
ed ofihe progress in the work offaction,