Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-07-07
Fourth Of July at Tam
many Hall.
Letters from President Johnson,
Gen. Grant and Secretary Welles.
Important Out-giVings from
Secretary Seward.

INV York, July J.-In acknowledgment
Of an invitation to attend the Tammany
Society's celebration Of the 4th Of July,
President JOHNSON said:
SIR:-I thank you for the cordial invita-
ton of the time-honored society Of Tam
many to participate in the celebration Of
the approaching anniversary Of our ma
tional Independence. The national tone
and patriotic spirit of the invitation meet
my hearty approval. They are indica-
tions of a growing public sentiment which,
now that the bitter strife of civil war has
ceased, requires renewal Of the pursuits
of peace a return to the Constitution of our
fathers, increased reverence for its sa.cred
obligations and 4 restored, invigOrated and
permanent unity and fraternity Of feeling
that shall make us people, one and ildis-
soluble, there can be for that patriot no
higher, no nobler work than the obliteration
Of the passions and prejudices which, result
ing from our late sanguinary conflict, have
retarded reconciliation, and prevented that
complete restoration of all the States to their
constitutional relations with the Federal
Government, which is essential to the perfect
unity, strength and prosperity of the nation.
Regretting that my public duties will not
permit me to be present st your celebration
/ am, very respectfully, yours,
ANDREW JOHNSON.
General GRANT simply directs his Secre-
tary to express his regrets that a previous
engagement will oblige him to decline the
honor Of attendingthe Tammany Association
celebration.
Secretary SEWARD writes: / rejoice with
the society that the conflict Of arms has
ceased; that the authority Of the Govern
ment has been vindicated, and that the flag
of the Union now floats triumphantly over
every foot of national domain.
On the other hand / mourn with the So
ciety that the perfect Union, given to Us by
our forefathers had not yet been entirely re-
stored, that eleven sovereign States are thus
subject to compulsory exclusion, by which
the Centralists deny to eleven States the
representation in Congress, which is guaran-
teed to them by the Constitution. This
doctrine, compulsory exclusion, is scarcely
less offensive than that of voluntary seces-
sion. Each IS fatal to the perpetuation of
the Union After a long and exhausting
war, which has cost sol much blood and treas
ure, the country needs repOse that industry
commerce and arts of peace may revive
again all the friendly relations between the
States and people may re-establish friendly
confidence among the people Is to be encOur-
aged and supercede hatred and revenge. No
portion of the States or people can be de-
prived of their Just rights without prOduc-
ing arrangement. Denied representation in
the Federal Congress, and are not recOg-
nized as coordinate States in national legisla-
ton. How strange is all this. We have
killed divisions outright, and have killed
African slavery with il, and vet we are not
completely reunited. If did not feel as
sured that the American people cannot suf-
fer so great and fatal a sOlecism TO continue,
l should say, rs many others do, that we are
at a crisis; but have unbounded confidence
in the wisdom and virtue of the American
people 1t is said in excuse Of the denial Of
representatives, that the States and their
chosen representatives still continue to be
seditious and disloyal. / ask is Tennessee
disloyal? Is Arkansas seditiOus? Are the
Senators and Representatives of those States
disloyal? l desire, in this respect, that each
Of the two Houses of Congress will apply the
constitutional test oath, with all the inn
provements of legislation upon it, and thus
admit those States and Representatives who
are loyal, and reject only those against whom
the crime of disloyalty shall be established.
! believe, with the Tammany Society, that
the Union was created to be perpetual, and
that the States are equal under the Consti-
tuition; that the restoration of the Union by
the recent war ought TO be acknowledged
and recognized by all the departments Ofthe
Federal Government. 1t is better that
spirit Ofmagnanimity and fraternity should
prevail in our councils, and that the South,
having accepted the lessons of the war, and
relinquished the horrors of secession should,
lust as soon as she comes in an attitude of
loyalty, and in the persons of loyal and
qualified representatives, be admitted to her
Constitutional representation. l want hence
forth and forever, no North, no South, no
East, no West, no divisions and no sections,
and no classes, but are united and harmo-
NOUS people.
Secretary WEILEsr replied: TOthe honor of
your Society it has in all times and under
all circumstances, in war and in peace, been
faithful to the union of the States, and the
rights of the States At no period since its
organization have its blessings and services
been more required than at the present when
the victorious arms of the republic having
been suppressed, that the cry, the Union
can't be divided by secession or the volun-
tary withdrawal of State from its Federal
relations and obligations, we are compelled
to encounter the opposition to the celebra-
ton