Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-08-31
THE PRESIDENTS TOUR.
Progress Enthusiastic
Reception in the City OF
New York.
rhe speech of the President.

The Speech of the President
| New YORK, August 29.-At Borders
town, Trenton, Newark, and jersey. City
the President and party met with mos
cordial receptions. AT Trenton ant
Newark brief speeches were made by
the President of the Council, President
johnson, and Secretary Seward.
The President and party reached thi'
city at one pm, and were met at Plei
No. I by the special committee OF the
common council, and escorted by a,divi
sion of cavalry, and proceeded up Broad
way to the City Hall Broadway was
thronged with people who enthusiastic
cally welcomed the distinguished party.
Arrived at the City Hall. the members
of the common council and heads OF de-
partments were presented to the Presi-
dent by the Mayor, who delivered for
NAL address of welcome on behalf of the
city. At the conclusion of these cere-
monies. the procession passed ont Of the
park and proceeded TO Fifth avenue and
Fourteenth street, where the military
were to be reviewed The procession
was large and imposing one.
At fifteen minutes to two the President
entered the City Hall, accompanied by
| Mayor Hoffman, amid the cheers and
plaudts of the assembled multitude.
The Mayor advanced to the center of the
ROOM where, opposite the writing table
of Washington, he addressed President
johnson as follows
Mr.. PRESIDENT On behalf of the mu-
nicipal authorities and citizens of New
York, / cordially welcome You to this
city and this hall The great men OF the
nation have, in past times. been received
and welcomed here. The portraits of
many of them surround you-soldlers,
statesmen and patriots but none whose
devotion to their country and the Com
stitution is more distinguished than
yours
In recognition of this fact the Common
Council have adopted resolution by an
almost unanimous vote, which | shall
have the honor to present to yon, eX-
tending to you the freedom Of the city
and expressing their confidence in your
craftsmanship and patriotism; and the
citizens with unanimity have united with
them in offer to you reception which
will be as enthusiastic as it will be, |
trust, acceptable This popular demon
stration is not from mere respect to your
high Office, but it is a tribute which the
people offer to the fidelity, ability, and
patriotism which have characterized
your administration of the Government
They recognize and 10 some extent rea-
lie the magnitude Of the responsibilities
which you have been called upon to as
sumo, the endorsements which have
surrounded you, and the difficulties
which have beset your way and they
honor you for the fearlessness You have
manifested in battling for the Union Of
the States against all enemies.
The State OF New York, which now
greets you, has never failed in its devo-
ton to the Union and the Constitution,
and it never will 1t is the metropolis OF
the country, and when it speaks it does
not speak in whisper or uncertain sound
1t speaks to-day.
/ trust this great demonstration, in
which capital and labor have both uni
ted, will cheer your heart and strengthen
your hand in the great work of peace
and restoration in which you are en-
gagged Twill detain you no longer. The
people are impatient to greet you. Their
actions will speak more eloquently than
my words. beg your acceptance Of the
engrossed copy Of the resolutions of the
Common Council, and, with them, extend
to you the freedom and Inequalities Of
the city.
The remarks of the Mayor we're fire.
quently interrupted with applause.
The President, in q voice evidently af-
fected by emotion, replied as follows:
To make a reply TO what you have
Just given utteraDce TO, under the cir
cumstanees, would be more than ] conld
undertake. i am overwhelmed at the
reception yon have accorded me APP
plause Language is inadequate. to
give expression TO my feelings. | ae-
cepted your invitation, and beg you
will now in return accept my most sin
cere and heartfelt thanks Such an
invitation from this great metropolis
ought TO encourage, and ii does encour-
age me in the faithful discharge Of my
duty. Cheers 1t is peculiarly ac-
ceptable at this time, fresh as we are
from the battlefield; but there is still a
greater hattie before us. Cheers. Il
In reference TO what | have done, it
is before you, and for you to determine
what my conduct has been Applause
In conclusion, let silence speak for me
and what | ought to say and what IN
tend TO do Cheers In accepting
these resolutions, accompanied by sen
timents so gracefully uttered, again
return you my sincere thanks
At the conclusion Of the Presidents
remarks he was greeted with three times
three cheers Loud calls we're then
made for Secretary Seward who, advanc-
ing TO the head Of the table, spoke as
follows:
] feel that am at home. thank you
for the welcome you have extended TO
me. Applause j feel more than that,
for have brought with me 70 your and
my home the President Of the United
States [Cheers
United by the arms Of our heroes, by
the virtues Of our citizens, and by the
wisdom and energy Of our chief magis-
trate, II anything is wanting il is the
certificate which we look for in the com
ing fall, to bear Us out in our opinion
that the United States should consist Of
thirty-six, instead Of twenty-five States.
lGrest applause
In the city and State Of New York, the
people should be faithful first 10 these
views Of national duty, then TO their chill
dren, then 70 the city and State, and then
to the country. To this duty adhered.