Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-04-26
sERENADE TO THE PREsIDEH
HIS SPEECH IN RESPONSE.

WAsHIyeToN, April 49,
sERENApE OF THE PRESIDENT By SOLDIERS AND
sArLoRsAApDREss OF THE PRESIDENT.
At six o'clock this evening a procession Of
soldiers and sailors and such Of their friends rs
sympathize with them in their grateful ac-
acknowledgements to the President for his order
lately issued directing the heads of the depart
mcnts to give preference, in appointments and
promotiens to the subordinate offices, to persons
who have rendered honorable service in the ar
nv and navy, was formed and marched to the
Executive Mansio. with the Marine Band. TO
serenade President johnson, who slgnliied to
the committee that he would accept the COM
pliment.
A very large number Of person:of both sex
cs were previously on the ground awaiting the
asr1onstration. ATI qessI past n ~'-l l. IL
band performed several patriotic airs, when the
President made his appearance. and was greeted
with huzzas by the assembled thousands. lie
took stand on the coping of the wall near the
carriage way on the north side Of the Mansion,
when he was addressed on behalf of the soldiers
and sailors by one Of their number In highly
complimentary terms, saying, in conclusion;
ain return for your kindness we can but OF
fer our sympathics and prayers and trust that
an all-wisc Providence, who has brought our
nation through baptism of blood, and to whom
We consecrate it anew, free from slavery and
by nations tears, will so guide and direct you
that YOU NAV calm the troubled waters, harmo-
nize public opinion, and restore our whole
blessed country once more to peace and prosper
ity."
ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT.
President johnson said: 1t is not affcctaticn
in me to say that language is inadequate TO con-
vev the heartfelt feelings produced on this oc-
casion by your presence here, and by the pre-
sentation of your sentiments as expressed by
vour representative in his address, and in the
resolutions which you have thought proper TO
adopt. / confess that in the peculiar posture OF
public affairs, your presence and address give
encouragement and confidence TO me in my Ell
forts to discharge the duties incumbent upon
me as Chief Magistrate of the Republic. And
in what have tosay, shall address you IN the
character of citizens, sailors and soldiers l
shall speak TO you in those terms and in none
others repeat my thanks for the manifesto
ton of your appreciation and of your encour-
agement TApplause.] We are to-day invol-
we'd in one of the most critical trying strug-
giles that have occurred since this Government
was spoken into existence. Nations, likeindl-
viduals must have a beginning, must have
birth. In struggling with existence nation
passes through its first trying ordeal. 1t is not
necessary for me now to carry your minds BACK
to the struggle when this nation was born. 1t
is not necessary for me to allude to the prlva.
tons and hardships of those who were engaged
in that struggle to achieve the National Oirth:
1t is not necessary 10 point 10 the blood shed
and the lives lost in accomplishing that result.
The next ordeal through which nation has TO
pass is when it is called upon to give evidence
that it has strength, capacity and power 70
maintain itself among the nations OF the earth.
In giving such evidence we passed through the
war of 1912 and through the war with Mexlco :;
and we passed through all the struggles that
have since occurred up TO the beginning oi tue
rebellion. This was our second ordeal. But
a nation has another test still To undergo, and
that is to give evidence to the natlons oil the
earth and to its own citizens that II las power
70 resist internal foes that it, has strength
enough 10 put down treachery at home and
treason within its own borders. Cheers. !
We have commenced that ordeal, and trust
in God we will pass through it successfully
rCbeers.1 feel complimented by the aliusion
of your representative to the fact that stood
in the Sepatein 1860 and 1861, when the nation
was entering on this third ordeal, and raised
nv voice and hand against treason, treachery
and traitors at home. [Cheers, and cries OF
I" Good."1 stand here to-day holding to and
maintaining the same principles which | then
enunciated. TCheers.] / stand here to-day
opposing traitors and treason, whether they be
in the South or in the North. Loud cheers
7 stand here to-day, as then stood, using all
nv powers, mental and physical, TO preserve
this nation in passing through the third phase
ofits existence. The organized forces and com
hincd powers thatrecently stood arrayed against
rs arc disbaudcd and driven from the scld, but