Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-03-05
smother Presidential Talk.

adopted by recent meeting IN that city
The President, having read the resolu
tons, responded in these words
GENTLEMEN l cannot make an,
speech in reply, but in response to wha
has been said / will simply remark tina
my policy, to which You have alluded
and which is before the country, was no
announced as the result of impulse, mo-
was it thrown out for any dd capfandun
purpose it was announced as the result
of conviction, of mature consideration
as a necessary consequence OF the prin
ciples upon which this Goyern'h ent rests
That policy which | honestly regard al
being the best for the country, will con
tinue before the people without the slight
est deviation, and without being moved
from on my part | do not say this IN
spirit of menace or threat to anybody
but simply to give assurance that there
will be no abandonment and no shrink
ing from that policy, because It is be,
lieved that the very existence and perpe-
tuity of the Government depend on the
maintenance of the principles which
have thus been enunciated,
| am not insensible to the remarks
which have been made accompanying
the presentation of these resolutions.
The mind and heart Of man who would
not feel more or less inspired or impress
ed by what you have said, must be ex-
tremely dull and barren. feel the full
force Of what you have said, and think
/ know how to appreciate it, and so feel
ing, am impressed with the conviction
that my duty must be performed without
regard TO consequences. Your encour-
agement at this particular time seems
peculiarly appropriate. Your counte-
nance and proffers of support under the
present circumstances, inspires me with
confidence and strength, and hope that
the,country will ultimately triumph and
those great principles will be sustained
1t is not necessary for me to remark to
you that entered this contest at its very
incipiency, and 1 have not deviated a
single hairs breadth from the line of
policy / then laid down. I stand now
precisely on the same ground that stood
on in the Senate on the 18th and 18th
days of December, 1860. / know that it
has been said, and no doubt by many
designedly said, that here is President
who was elected by party, and who, on
coming into power, abandoned that party
that he has Tylerized his administra-
ton; that he has Joined the Copper
heads, and things of this kind. Those
things have nc influence upon me; they
fail wholly to drive me from the discharge
of my duty; but if you and with others
have been employed for four years in
resisting separation and dissolution Of
the Union, and now have reached point
when resistance has ceased, if we can be
instrumental in conciliating and bringing
back all the people to an honest, loyal
and thorough support ofthe Government,
it seems to me we are doing great deal
and accomplishing the work we under
took
1t happens sometimes in the best of
families-if / may be permitted to use
the illustration-thatth there are differences
and feuds, but when these differences are
understood and arranged and the feuds
subside, the parties can approach each
other feeling more kindly toward those
from whom they had been astray than
they did before; then ! do not think we
are doing wrong if we, while maintaining
principles, while trying to preserve the
Government we have succeeded in con-
vincing them of their error and bringing
back to the folds of their fathers those
who strayed. / think this a result of
which all should be proud, and for which
we should not be tainted.
If know myself my only object is to
preserve the Government. / want it to
continue in loyal hands and none others
hope that the time will soon come when
the country will be thoroughly reconciled,
but to secure all that is necessary for this
purpose will require severe struggle,
for | am free TO say to yon it is not worth
while to disguise it, that the very same
spirit which animated the rebellion at
one end of the line, now exists at the
other to some extent. Before the recent
rebellion there was one set of gentlemen
who were trying to dissolve and break up
the Government for the purpose of pre-
serving the Institution of slavery, and
another set of gentlemen we're willing to
break up this Government for the pur-
pose of destroying slavery, and so they
averred; though the respective parties
disagreed in the object they wished to
accomplish. They agreed in one thing,
and that was the destruction of the Gov
eminent; and so far as that point is con-
cerned, the one was as culpable as the
other. The blow was first struck at the
Southern end Of the Ene. The spirit
which was making war upon the princi-
pies of the Government must have some
thing to vent itself upon, and it Joined
with those who were for the Union against
those who were for rebellion.
But now when rebellion is put down
you find an attempt to change the char
acter of the Government, we must equally
resist it. The attempt is TO consolidate
aud concentrate absolute power here 1t
is destructive TO the Government, and it
is a manifestation of the same spirit
which attempted to break up the Gov
eminent / stand opposed TO both. |
stand with you for the Government, for
the Constitution, for the supremacy of
the law, and for obedience to the law and
the Constitution.
Let it be understood that, so far as
making candidates for the future is con-
cerned, have nothing to do with it. If
/ can be instrumental in accomplishing
the great work we have undertaken TO
bring about peace and harmony and re-
Cancellation among all our people, and
again place this Government upon its
firm basis, shall feel that / had reached
the summit Of ny ambition. have no
other object in view, IL / know my own
heart and my own feelings.
What is 1T