The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-03-06
The Great Speech of
PRESIDENT JOHNSON.


In Washington, on the 22d Of February, 1866
HE STANDS FIRM FOR THE CONSTITUTION
On the procession reaching the Executive
| Mansion, where an immense crowd bad preced
ed it, MIR Fendal, the President of the meeting
presented to the President the resolutions which
had passed the meeting with brief and peril
nent address from Mr. Fendall, in which be 10
formed him that the assembly had adjourned tt
the Presidential Mansion to pay their respect
to him. The President was then formally intro
duced by Mr. Fendall-he addressed them sub
stantialy as follows:
After returning his thanks to the committee
which had waited upon him and presented hin
with the resolutions that had been adopted the
President said: The resolutions, as under
stand them, are complimentary Of the policy
which has been adopted and pursued by the
Administration since it came into power. [ am
free to say to you on this occasion that it is ex-
trcnely gratifying to me to know that so large
a portion Of our felow-citizens endorse the poll.
cy which has been adopted and which is intend
ed to be carried out Great applause
| This policy has been one which was intended
| to restore the glorious Union-to bring those
great States, now the subject of controversy, to
their original relation to the Government of the
United States. And this seems to be day Pc
cullarly appropriate for such manifestation as
thls-the day that gave birth to him who foun-
ded the Goverument-that gave birth to the
Father OF our Country-that gave birth to him
who stood at the portal when all these States
entered into this glorious Confederacy. | say
that the day is peculiarly appropriate to the en-
dorsement of measures for the restoration Of the
Union that was founded by the Father of his
Country. Washington, whose name this city
bears, is embalmed in the hearts of all who love
their Government A voice, $50 is Andy John
son" and applause. Washington, in the Ian
guage of his eulogsts, was first in peace, first in
war, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.
No people can claim him-no nation can appro-
pirate him. His eminence is acknowledged
throughout the civilized world by all those who
love tree government. | have had the pleasure
of visit from the association which has been
directing its efforts towards the completion of a
monument erected to his name. [ was prepar-
ed to meet them and give them my humble in
fuence and countenance in aid of the work
Let the monument be erected to him who found
ed the government, and that almost within the
throw Of a stone from the spot from which l
now address you. Let it be completed. APP
plause Let the pledges which all these States
and corporations and associations have put in that
monument be preserved as an earnest for our
faith in and love Of this Union, and let the mon
ument be completed. And in connection with
Washington, in speaking Of the pledges that
have been placed i'll that monument, let me re-
fer to one from my own S:ate-God bless her !.
which has struggled for the preservation Of
this Union in the field and 10 councils Of the
nation. Let me repeat, that she now is strug
Cling in consequence of an innovation that has
taken place 10 regard to her relation with the
Federal Government, growing out of the rebel
lion.she is now struggling to renew her rela-
tions with this government and take the stand
which she had occupied since 1896. Let me
repeat the sentiment which that State inscribed
upon her stone that is deposited within the mon
ument OF freedom and in commemoration of
Washington; she is struggling to stand by the
sentiment inscribed that stone, and she is
now willing to maintain that sentiment. And
what is the sentiment? 1t is the sentiment
which was enunciated by the immortal and IL
lustrious Jackson-"The Federal Union, it must
be preserved" [Cheers Were it possible
for that old man, who in statue is before me and
in portrait behind me, to be called forth-were
it possible to communicate with the ilustrious
dead, and be could be informed of the progress
in the work of faction, and rebellion, and trea-
son--that old man would turn over in his cofin,
he would rise shake off the hablimens Of the
tomb and again extend that long arm and fin
&c. and reiterate the sentiment before enunciat-
ed, 'the Federal Union it must be preserved"
TCheers1 But We witness what has transplred
since his day. We remember what be said in
1888. When treason, and treachery, and inf
deity to the Government and the Constitution
of the United States stakcd forth, it was his
power and influence that went forth and crush
ed it in its incipiency. 1t was then stopped.
But it only stopped for time, and the spi-
rit continued. There were men disaffected to-
wards the Government in beth the North and
South. There were peculiar institutions in the
country to which some were adverse and others
attached We find that one portion of our
countrymen advocated institution in the
South which others opposed in the North This
resulted in two extremes That in the South
reached point at which the people there were
disposed to dissolve the Government of the
United States, aud they sought to preserve their
peculiar Institutions (What say On this
casion want to be understood There was
portion of our countryme opposed to this, and
they went to that extreme that they were will
ing to break up the Government to destroy this
pecuiiar institution of the South.
assume nothing here to-day but the citizen
ono of ycu-who has been pleading for his
country and the preservation of the Constitution.
TCheers These two parties have been array
ed against each other, and | stand before you
as | did in the Senate OF the United States in
1860 denounced there those who wanted to
disrupt the Government, and / portrayed their
true character. / told them that those who
were engaged in the effort to break up the Gov
ernment we're traitors l have not ceased to re-
peat that, and as far endeavor could accom-
=