Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-04-20
HOW MANY OF Us WOULD BE LEFT II WE
WERE ALI PUNISHED ACCORDING
To OUR DESERTS?
Never Deceived or BetrayedAny One

WASHINGTON, April lS.-In reply to the
crowd of soldiers and sailors assembled at
the White House this evening TO pay their
respects to the President President john
son said:
l confess that in the peculiar position
of public affairs, your presence and address
give encouragement and confidence to me
in my efforts to discharge the duties incum-
bent on me as Chief Magistrate of the Re-
public; and in what have to say | shall
address you in the character of citizen sail
Ors and soldiers. [Applause.l We are to-
day involved in one Of the most critical and
ii IIiuE situations that has nnourrod siuuu
this Government came into existence. Our
nation has another test still to undergo, and
that is to give evidence 20 the nations of
earth, and to its own citizens, that it has
power to restrain internal foes, that it has
strength enough 70 put down treachery
and treason within its own borders
[Cheers.l
We have commenced the ordeal, and l
trust in God that we will pass through it
successfully. [Cheers. | feel compliment
ed by the allusion of your representative
TO the fact that, in the Senate in 1860 and
1861, when the nation was entering on this
ordeal, raised my voice and hand against
treason, treachery, and traitors at home
[Cheers, ana cries of "good."l stand here
to-day holding to and maintaining, the
same position which l then enunciated.-
[Cheers.l / stand here to-day opposing
traitors and treason. whoever they be, i'm
the South or in the North. Loud cheers. ]
stand here to-day as then stood, using
all my powers, mental and physical, 70 pre-
serve the nation in passing through the
third phase Ofits existence. The organized
forces and combined powers that recently
stood arrayed against us are disbanded and
driven from the field, but it does not fol-
low 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 doctrine of separation and Sc
cessiOn. denied then, as | do now, that
any State has the right, of its own will, to
separate itself from other States, and the
right to destroy the Union and break up
the Government, and 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 slanderers and
calumniators have been barking and snap
ping at my heels. [Cheers.
Why is it that they have arrayed them
selves against me? Is it because stand on
the side of the people? and when say the
people l include sailors and soldiers
fCheers.l Why is it that they are ar
rayed in traducing and. vilifying and ca
Illuminating me? Where were they during
the rebellion? / aver, at home, in bed
[Laughter.l In the Senate, | raised my
voice against it, and when it was believed
that it would be to thejnterest of the ma
ton, and would assist in putting down the
rebellion, did not leave my place in the
Senate-a place of emolument, ease and
distinction-and take my position where
the enemy could be reached, and where
mems lives were in danger? [Cheers, and
cries of That's sov]
While was thus exposed personally and
publicly, some Of my present traducers and
calumniators were far removed from the
foe, and were enjoying ease and comfort
| [Cheers and laughter But care not fol
them, l care not that SANDER, the fou
whelp of sin, has been turned loose agains
me. I care not for all that; and let me tel
youhere, to-day, that although pretty wei
advanced in life, feel that / shall live Ions
enough to live down the whole pack of ira.
ducers and slanderers. [Applause.l They
have turned the whole pack loose to lowel
me in your estimation. Verify, they cam
do it. Tray, Blanche and Sweetheart, littlt
dogs and all, come along swapping anC
snarling at my heels, but heed them not
[Cheers.] The American people-citizens
Soldiers and sailors--know that from my
hdyent into public life to the present mo
Lnent, | have always stood unwaveringll
The advocate and defender of their right
Ind interest. Cheers g.e-
Weare now in the nations third ordeal
I've are not yet through. We denied tina
,tates could go out of the Union. We de
lied the doctrine of secession, and we hav
demonstrated that we We're right. We de
nonstrated it by the strong arm. Yes, tn
.oldiers and the sailors, God bless them
ave demonstrated by their patriotism AM
9trong arms that States have no right Il
ave The Union. [Applause.] What fol
owed !? The Confederate armies wer
.yerpowered and disbanded, and there wa
d Willingness on the part of the people o
hose States to come back in obedience t'
he laws, and acknowledge the supremacy
| ( the Constitution OF our fathers. Fo
| What have we passed through this third or
cal Il was to prove the principle tina
| 10 State had the power to break up tn