The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-03-01
The Great Speech OF President john
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The following is a report of the Presi-
dents address, at the Executive mansion,
Thursday evening, 22d ult., in response
to the resolutions adopted at the citizens
meeting:
On the procession reaching the Executive
mansion, where an immense crowd had
preceded it, Mr.. Fendall, the President Of
the meeting, and the following gentlemen
OF the Committee, viz: Messrs. VIM. l..
Hodge, DE-, John B. Blake, Charles Knap..
James 6. Barret, j. D. Hoover, Thomas B.
Florence, G. Wendell, Joseph II. Bradley,
J. c. Mcclure, Ward II. Lamon, Augustus
p. Perry, John F. Coyle and William E.
Spalding, presented to the President the
resolutions which had passed the meeting,
with brief and pertinent address from
Mr.. Fendall, in which he informed him
that the assembly had adjourned to the
Presidential mansion to pay their respects
to him. The President was then formally
conducted, by Mr.. Fendall and the gentle
men named above, accompanied by Colo
nels O'Beirne, Reeves, and others Of his
household, to the front portico, from
whence-silence having been obtained in
the vast assemblage, through the efforts
Of the Hon. Green Clay Smith, who stood
with the President-he addressed them as
follows:
FELLow-crr1zENs: For presume 1 have
the right to address you as such-to the
Committee who have conducted and or
ganiZed this meeting so far, have to ten
der my sincere thanks for the compliment
and appreciation they have manifested in
their personal address to myself and In
the resolutions they have adopted. TAT
the attention of . portion Of the crowd,
and created such o disturbance that the
President was unable 20 proceed for seye-
raj minutes. Mr.. Fendall, Chairman of
the Committee, in vain endeavored to re-
store order. Hon. Green Clay Smith then
took the stand, and succeeded in making
himself heard, and i'll bringing the crowd
to something like silence.] The President
proceeded: Fellow-citizens, was about to
teRder my thanks to the Committee who
waited upon me and presented me with the
resolutions adopted on this occa asion-reso-
lutions, as 1 understand, complimentary to
the policy pursued by this Administration
since it came into power. am free to say
to you, on this occasion, that tits extreme
ly gratifying to me to know that 80 large a
portion of my fellow-citizens approve and
endorse the policy that has been adopted
and is intended to be carried out ZAP
plau-e.] That policy has been one which
was intended to restore the glorious Union
OF these States to their original relations
to the Government of the United States.
prolonged applause.]
This seems to be day peculiarly appro-
pirate for such a manifestation.the day
that gave birth to him who founded this
Government-the Father, of his Country
OF him who stood at that period when all
these States entered into this glorious
Confederacy- 1.-THE fremens procession
again succeeded in creating sufficient dis
turbance to make the President unable to
be heard.] The President good humoredly
remarked, Don't interfere with them,
they are right, and always were right"
He proceeded: This day, I say, is pecu-
ton of the Union of these States, founded
by "the Father Of his Country WASH
lngton, whose name this city bears. is en-
balmcd in the hearts Of all who love free
government. A voice, $50 is Andrew
Johnson" Washington, who, in the Ian
guage OF one OF his eulogists, was 'sfirst in
countrymen." No people can claim him,
no nation can appropriate him. His repu-
tatIon and love are com mensurate with
the civilized world, with all those who love
free government
have recently visited the association
which is directing its efforts to the com
pletion Of the monument erected to his
memory. was proud to meet them, and,
80 FAR as could, to give them my humble
influence and patrOnage-a monument
being erected to him who founded the
Government almost within stones throw
OF the spot from which address you. Let
it be completed; [Cheers.] Let the
and corporations, have placed in that
monument of their faith in and love for this
Union be preserved. Let it be completed.
And in this connection let me refer to the
motto upon the stone sent from my own
State-God bless her!-[a voice, "and
bless ,you'l--a State which has struggled
Tor the preservation of the Union in the
field and in the councils of the nation, now
struggling in embarrassment in conse-
quence OF the interruption that has taken
place with the Federal Government grow
ing out of the rebellion, but struggling to
renew her relations with the Government.
and take her stand where she has stood
since l796. [Cheering.l Let me, I say,
repeat the sentiment inscribed upon the
stone sent here to be placed in that m onu-
ment OF freedom, and in commemoration
OF Washington. 1 stand by that senti-
ment, and she is now willing to stand by
1t. 1t was the sentiment enunciated by
the Immortal Andrew Jackson, s'The
Federal Union. it must be preserved"
Were it possible for that old man, who in
statue Is now before me, and in picture
behind me-, In the Capitol, to be called
forth, or were it possible for us to commu-
nicate with the iilustrious dead, and he
could be informed Of or made to under
stand the progress and working of faction,
rebellion and treason, the old man would
turn over in his grave. daughter and
cheers:l He would rise and shaking off
the habiliments of the tomb, stand erect,
and, extending his long, bony finger,
spoke: THE Federal Union, it must be
preserved"
But We see and witness what has trans
pired since his day. We remember what
he did in 1888, when treason, treachery
and lnfidellty to the Government and Con-
stitution Of the United States then stalked
forth. 1t was his power and influence
that went forth then and crushed tho trea-
son in it's infancy. 1t was then stopped,
but only for time