Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-08-23
PRESENTATION TO THE PRESI
DENT.
Address OF Hon. Reverdy Johnson.
E9cpEy Of the President.

Tn accordance with the tenth resolution Of
the Philadelphia Convention, the Hon. Rever-
dy johnson, of Nd, on Saturday presented to
the President of the United States a copy Gifts
proceedings. The Honorable Senator was &C
companed by the committee appointed for the
purpose, and by large number of delegates
who had come to Washington on purpose to
see the presentation, and to hear any speech
the President might make Besides the COM
mittee and delegates, several private individuals
and a number of ladies were present. The re-
ception and presentation took place in the
East Room, which soon became inconveniently
crowded
Gen Grant was on the right of the Presi-
dent. As if to end the claims of the Radicals,
who have striyen to create the idea that the
views of the General were opposed in some
measure to those CT the President, the great
soldier came through the crowd, and in pre-
sence of the whole concourse placed himself
beside the President, and there remained dur
ing the whole time of the delivery and address.
A clearer revelation of his sympathy with the
great Constitutional Union Party, and of his
accord with the President, the General could
not have more forcibly or more gracefully gi-
ven. 1t drew him the most hearty cheers Of
I'll present
Members of the Cabinet and other leading
officers OF the Government were also present
We have not room for the speeches. That
of Senator johnson was deli7ered IN his DeSt
STYLE of clearness and emphasis, and created
great enthusiasm.
After the Introductory passages, Mr.. john
son said:
awe wish, Mr.. President, you could have
personally witnessed the spirit of concord and
brotberly affection which animated every mem
Der of the Convention.
Great as your confidence has ever been in
the intelligence and patriotism of your fellow
citizens. in their deep devotion to the Union
and in their present determination to reinstate
and maintain it, that confidence would have
been a positive conviction. If you could have
seen and heard all that was done and said upon
tbe occasion-eVery heart was evidently full OF
iov-every eve beamed with patriotic ANNA
tion-despondency gave place to assurance that,
orr late civil strife ended, the blissfu reign OF
peace. under the protection, not of arms, but OF
tbe Constitution and laws, to be in every part
of our land cheerfully acknowledged and in
nerfect good faith obeyed-you would not have
doubted that the recurrence of dangerous do
tba f,,t, ic IN bp
apprehended.
"In the principles announced by the Con-
vention and in the feeling there manifested,
we have every assurance that harmony through
ont our entire land will soon prevail. We
know that as in former days, as was eloquent
" declared by Webster, the nations most gilt
cd statesman. Massachusetts, and South Caro-
lima went shoulder to shoulder through the
Revolution and stood hand in hand round the
administration of Washington, and felt his own
GREAT arm lean on them for support" So will
thev again, with like unanimity, devotion, and
mower. stand round your administration, and
cause you to feel that you may also lean on
them for support. In the proceedings, Dir.
President. which we are TO place in your hands,
YOU will find that the Convention performed
the grateful task imposed upon them by their
knowledge of yonr devotion to the Constitu-
tion. the laws and interest of your country,
as illustrated by your entire Presidential career,
of declaring that in you they recognize a
Chief Magistrate worthy of the nation, and G.
oual to the great crisis upon which his lot is
cast" And in this declaration it gives US un-
mixed pleasure to add we are confident that the
Convention have but spoken the intelligent and
patriotic sentiment of the country.
"With reunited Union, with industry re-
newcd, with nations faith pledged forever to