Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-09-12
President johnson in Cleveland
4 Regular "JaW', with the
Crowd.

The President of the United States passe,
through Cleveland, on Monday of last week
on his way to Chicago. We copy from tn
Leader the following account of the
PUBLIC RECEPTION n WELCOME
About ten o'clock, the supper being over
the party retired to the balcony where tn
President was formally welcomed TO tn
Forest City by F. W. Pelton, Esq, Presi
dent of the City Council, as follows:
Mr.. PREsIDENT:-On behalf of the mum
cipal authorities of the city, 1 cordially ex
tend to you the Inequalities Of the citizens o
Cleveland. We recognize you as the Chic
Magistrate of this now free republic and tn,
chosen guardian of their rights and liberties
We are grateful for the opportunity afforded
by your visit to our city, TO honor you as oul
Chief Magistrate, and again 1 extend TO vol
and to the distinguished members of you
party a hearty welcome.
The President and several members of the
party then appeared at the front of the bal
cony and were introduced TO the people
each receiving loud and enthusiastic cheers,
CONDUCT OF THE CROWD.
The vast multitude that filled the street,
below was boistorous, and sometimes bitter
and sarcastic in their calls, interludes and
replies, though sometimes exceedingly apt
They listened with attention part of the
time, and at other times completely drown-
ed the Presidents voice with their vocifer-
ations. After all the presentations had
been made loud calls were made for the
President, who appeared and spoke as fol-
lows:
PRESIDENT JoHNsoN's EECH
FELLOW CITIZENS 1t is not for the pur-
pose of making a speech that 1 now appear
before you. 1 am aware of the great euriOs-
ity which prevails to see strangers who have
notoriety and distinction in the country. 1
know q large number of yon desire to see
General Grant, and to hear what he has to
say. "a voice: '"Three cheers for Grant"
But you cannot see him tonight. He is ex-
tremely i'll. Irepeat 1 I'M not before you
now to make a speech, but simply to make
your acquaintance-to say how are you and
to bid you goodbye. We are on our way to
Chicago, TO participate In or witness the lay
ing of the cornerstone of q monument to
the memory Of a distinguished fellow-citizen
who Is now no more. 1t is not necessary for
me to mention the name of Stephen A.
Douglas to the people of Ohio. Applause.
/ am free to say / am fattered by the DEM
onstrations / have witnessed, and being fat
tered, l don't mean to think it personal, but
as an evidence of what is pervading the pub
lie mind, and this demonstration is nothing
more nor less than an indication of the laten:
sentiment or feeling of the great masses of
the people with regard to this great question.
L come before you as an American citizen
simply, and not as the Chief Magistrate
clothed In the insignia and paraphernalia of
2tate; beng an lnhabitant of q State of this
Union. know 1t has been said that I was
an alien; laughter and that 1 did not re-
side IN one of the States of the Union and
therefore l could not be the Chief Magistrate,
though the constitution declares that I must
be q citizen TO occupy that office. Therefore
ali that was necessary TO depose its occupant
was to declare the Office vacant, or under a
pretext 70 prefer articles of impeachment
And thus the individual who occupies the
Chief Magistracy was to be disposed of and
driven from power.
There wss, two years ago, a ticket before
you for the Presidency. I was placed upon
that ticket with a distinguished citizen, now
no more. [Voices-flts a pity;" Too bad;'
some who say unfortunate" Yes, unfortu-
nate for some that God rules on high and
deals in justice. 1Cheers. Yes, unfortunate.
The ways of Providence are mysterious and
ineomprehensible, controlling all those who
exclaim, unfortunate" LBully for you- 1
was going to say, my eountrymen, a short
time since 1 was elected and placed upon the
ticket There was q platform proclaimed
ana adopted by those who placed me upon it.
Notwithstanding amsndaefous press; notwith-
Standing a subsidized gang of hirelings who
nave not eeesed to traduce me, I have dis
charged all my official duties, and l fulfilled
ali my pledges. And 1 say here tonight
that if my predecessor had lived, the walls of
wrath would have poured out upon him.
Cries 'Neveri" "HeverI" and three cheers