Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-09-17
THE RETURN OF THE PRESIDENT.

\
The President returned to Washington on
Saturday night, about 7 CLOCK from hls touI
to the Northwest, and the popular demonstra-
ton on the occasion exceeded any ever witness
ed in the National Metropolis, and must have
been most gratifying to him, in whose honor
it was made 1t is estimated that there were
! from twenty to thirty thousand persons there
assembled to greet the Chief Magistrate, and
welcome him back TO the seat of Government,
and amid the booming of cannon, the music
Of The numerous bands and the shouts OF the
people, he was received at the depot OF the
Baltimore and Washington Railroad and
escorted to tie City Hall, where Mayor Wal
ZACH, delivered the address Of welcome which
was very appropriately responded to by the
President. At the conclusion of the address,
amid prolonged cheering, the President, &C
COMMANDED by the Mayors OF Washington,
Georgetown andAlexandria, descended the steps,
and the party being seated, the line of march
was taken up for the Executive Mansion As
the procession passed along the avenue the
cheers of the line were answered by cheers
from the people, who flledt he Sidewalks,
house-tops, windows, and balconies all the way.
Many buildings, were handsomely Illuminated,
and the scene at the Treasury was particularly
animated, the entire colonnade being crowded
with ladies, who waved their haudkerchlets,
and were answered with cheers from the ranks.
Two large flags were suspended over the street
in front Of the City Hall, and one IN front OF
the Baltimore depot, inscribed with "We'come
to the President" At the Executive Mansion
the Old Soldiers Of the War OF 1872 were as
semtIeG On the grounds south OF the man.
sion battery fired salute on the arrival of
the party After the passage of the process
Who spoke as follows:
| Fellow CITIZENS: For this demonstration
you tender me upon my return home to assume
| the discharge of my official duties, you will
please accept my heartfelt thanks. Such a
welcome from a people who have been the daily
eye-wtnesses of the manner in which have
discharged ny duties is peculiarly gratifying.
| AL can promise you for the future is that it
will be continuance OF my conduct in the past.
| have tried to discharge my official. duty in
compliance with the Constitution and the
| principles which deemed to be right. Ap.
| plause Twill add that the sentiment which
you exhibit to night is not peculiar to your
selves, bur is that which pervades the country
wherever | have been. Cheers. My own
optimism is that the expression which has gone
| abroad the country with regard to sustaining a
! Government of constitutional law is unmistaka-
bic and not TO be misunderstood and believe
the day is not distant when the judgment of the
American people will be made manifest that
this Union must be restored-that peace and
prosperity and harmony must again prevail
throughout the United States. Applause. !
| [ believe | can safely testify that the great
portion Of your fellow citizens that [ have visi-
ted and | have seen millions of them since [
| left you-will accord with you in sustaining
| the principles OF free government, in compIi-
ance with the Constitution Of the country
Applause Permit me, in retiring this even
ming to again tender you-a people whom J.
! have known long, in whose midst have serv ed
in various official capacities, and now in that
of Chief Magistrate-my HEARTBEAT thanks for
this cordial welcome, which SHALL be remem-
bcred by me as long as there is a pulsation Of
my heart
The President retired amid great cheering
to the Mansion, when about twenty of the
| soldiers of the war Of 1872 were drawn up in a
| line, and Colonel J. S. Williams addressed the
President as follows:
In the name Of the survivors of the ,Asso-
ciated Soldiers Of the War Of 1912, | tender
to you a cordial welcome upon your return in
health and safety to the Federal city vel
come from the hearts of old and tried patriots.
General Skinner, Assistant Postmaster Gen
cral, remarked that in addition to rendering
their welcome to the President, they desired
to express their gratitude to Providence that he
had passed through his perilous journey and
returned in safety to his home and family.
The President briefly replied, thanking them
for their welcome, and expressing his gratigca-
ton at being afforded an opportunity to shake
by the hand men some Of whom had shaken
the hand Of Washington.