The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-05-01
Another Presidential Earthquake.
Radicalism Terribly Shaken
The Presidents Speech to Soldiers
ass a and Sailors

the crowd of soldiers and sailors assem-
bled at the White House this evening to
pay their respects to the President, Pres
ident Johnson said:
1 confess that in the peculiar position
of public affairs, your presence and ad-
dress give encouragement and confidence
to me in my efforts to discharge the du-
ties incumbent on me as Chief Magis-
trate of the Republic; and in what ! have
to say | shall address you in the char
acter of citizens, sailors and soldiers
II Applause We are to-day involved in
one of the most critical and trying stu
ations that has occurred since this Gov
eminent came into existence. Our ma
ton has another test still to undergo, and
that is to give evidence to the nations
of the earth, and to its own citizens
that it has power to restrain internal
foes, that it has strength enough to put
down treachery and treason within its
own borders. Cheers.
/ We have commenced the ordeal. and
| trust in God that we wilfpass through it
successfully. [Cheers. l feel compli-
mented by the allusion to your represen,
tative to the fact that, in the Senate in
1860 and 1861, when the nation was en-
tering on this ordeal, l raised my voice
and hand against treason, treachery, and
| traitors at home. [Cheers, and cries Of
good | stand here to-day holding to
aud maintaining, the same position which
| then enunciated. [Cheers. 1 stand
here to-day opposing traitors and trea-
son, whoever they be, in the South or in
the North. Loud cheers.
/ stand here to-day as / then stood, using
all my powers, mental and physical, to
preserve the nation in passing through
the third phase of its existence. The
organized forces and combined powers
that recently stood arrayed against us
are disbanded and driven from the 6eld
but it does not follow that there are still
no enemies against our present form Of
government and our free institutions
[Applause.] l then stood in the Senate
Of the United States, denying the doc.
trine of separation and secession. 1 de-
mel then, as | do now, that any State has
the right, of its own will, to separate
itself from other States, and the right tc
destroy the Union and break up the
Government, and 1 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 Sian.
derers and calumniators have been bark
ing and swapping at my heels. Loud
Cheers 5
Why is it that they have arrayed them
selves against me? sit because | stand
on tse side Of the people? and when ]
say the people | include sailors and sol
diers. [Cheers] ] Why is it that they
are arrayed in traducing and yilifying
and calumniating me? Where were they
curing the rebellion? l aver at home, il
bed. Laughter. In the Senate, raised
my voice against it, and when it was be
lieved that it would be to the interest 0
the nation, and would assist in puttins
down the rebellion, did l. not leave m,
place inathe. Senate--a place of emolu
ment, case and distinction-and take m,
position where the enemy could be ereach
ed, and where mems lives were in danger
TCheers, and cries of that's sol" &
While [ was thus exposed PERSONAL.
and publicly some OF my present ira
dnceFs and calumniators were far remov
ed from the foe, and we're enjoying cas-
: and comfort. ICheers and laughter.
I But care not for them. Il care not tina
slander, the foul whelp of sin, has bee
turned loose against me. care not TO
all that; and let me tellyo here, to-day
that although pretty we'll advanced i
life, [ feel that / shall live long enoug
to live down the whole pack of tradueer
and slanderers. Applause. They hav
turned the whole pack loose to lower m
in your estimation. Verify, they can
doit. Tray, Blanche and Sweethear
little dogs and all, come along snappin
and snarling at my heels, but / heed the
not. Cheers The American peepl
: citizens, soldiers aud sailors-know thi
from my advent into public life to Il
present moment, I have always stood VI
: Wayeringly the advocate and defender
their rights and interests. Cheers.
i We are now in the nations third o
! deal. We are not yet through. We d
MED that States could go outot the Unio
We denied the doctrine of secession, al
we have demonstrated that we were rigf
We demonstrated it by the strong arl
Yes, the soldiers. and the sailors, Gt
bless them, have demonstrated by the
patriotism and strong arms that Stat
have no right to leave the Union. a
!, plause.l What followed? The Ccnied
i rate arms we're overpowered and disban
st ed, and there was a willingness on Z
T part of the people of those States to cor
back in obedience to the laws. and a
knowledge the supremacy of the Cons
tuition of our fathers. For what ha
we passed through this third ordeal?
was to prove the principle that no Sta
had the power to break up the Cover
ment. It was to put down the reb'
+ lion.
Z The rebellion has been put down, a
for what was it? To destroy the State
Verify, never. For what have all the
lives been sacrificed and treasure expen
ed2 Was it for the purpose of destrc
op ing States2 No; it was for the purpc
of preserving the Union of the States.
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