The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-06-09
FROM vyAsnINGION.
speech OF President johnson.
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS, Orphans FAR.

SOLDIERS AND SAILORS ORPHANS FAIR.
The National Fair for the benefit of
the Home for Soldiers and Sailors or
phans was inaugurated tonight at the
Spacious and beautifully adorned build
ing purpoSely erected for the occasion.
At nine o'clock the President of the
United States entered amid the playing
of music by full band and the cheers
of the multitude, and was, together
with Colonel Cooper, his private secre-
tary, and others vi o accompanied him,
conducted 10 the platform.
Senator Wilson addressed the thous-
ands present, saying he had been re-
quested to preside on this occasion, and
10 introduce the distinguished gentle
men who were TO address them.
Senator Wilson then presented in
succession Major General Banks, Major
General Howard, Colonel Mckee, Rep
resentative from Kentucky, and Sena-
tor Lane, of Indiana, whose remarks
were altogether appropriate TO the oc-
casion, aud were received with repeated
applause.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: L now have
the great pleasure representing to you
the President of the United States.
Applause greeted this announcement,
when the President remarked that he
came here tonight merely to say a
hOIu Tic Va anu "
unite in the expression OF the grati-
tude of the nation to the nations de-
tenders. (Applause.) He did not come
prepared to make II speech, but simply
TO give his countenance and encour-
ageInent in aid of the enterprise which
the ladies had SO nObiy undertaken.
He appeared here with no set phrase of
speech or nicely rounded periods TO
play upon the ear and to please but for
4 moment. If there was a cause which,
more than another, should engage their
sympathieS, it was that OF the orphans,
especially of those who lost their all
and perfled their lives to save the gov
ernment. What nObler and better work
could you be engaged int He was
proud that this great move should have
its origin here at the seat of the nation
al government. Woman-God bless
her!-has been instrumental in the per-
formance ofgreat and noble acts in all
periods of history; and it is not less
becoming to them now than in the time
gone by. But il was not his intention
TO invite his hearers to go back and re-
view the causes of the new-made graves
of the nefnrious rebellion, nor to excite
angry feelings in connection with the
contest, nor to revive the scenes OF the
battlefield where brother was arrayed
against brother. No, moi God forbid
and relieve us from the repetition OF
such calamitiest We can now rejoice
that the land is no longer to be drench-
ed by fratricidal blood. He would not
reopen the wounds and make them
bleed afresh. That was the work of
war and contest and struggle growing
out of mistaken napprehensiOns. Yours,
he said, was the work of peace; 10 pour
the balm, that healing may take place,
aud what is more proper to that end
than to take up the destitute orphans
and educate and guide them, and thus
laying a solid moral basis which may
control them throughout their future
lives3 Yet you will find in these cas-
kets precious gems, (though now dim
med by poverty.) Talents and genius
are not confined to particular
localities and places. Let them
be provided for and educated,
and you cannot fail of accomplish
ing the great end you have undertaken.
You all remember in the story of Cor
uelia, the mother of the Gracchi, the
two greatest Romans who ever lived,
and who lost their lives in vindicatiug
the great cause of the people. A num-
Der OF distinguished ladies, in whose
company she was, eXpatiated on their
fine dress and accomplishments, and
the jewelry they wore, and other srti-
cles, with which they were decorated
and adorned. Cornelia attenIively lis
tened to each in turn, and then looking
out at the door saw her two boys run
ming homewards from school. Her
cheeks flushed with matronly pride,
aud clasping them one on each side,
she exclaimed, "TheSe are my Jewels"
You, ladies, can gather around you the
orphans, the little boys and girls, and
say, "These are our Jewels" This is
your work, and no doubt it will be
well accomplished. Let woman he en-
gagged in the mobile work. God bless heri
Yes. woman Gu n accomplish IL iTShe will.
uFfh to- "A hsoE lrnE . Ass
pure in Thought as angels are, to see
her is to love her," Applause.l Go
on; your efforts will be crowned with
success. One view is of war, the other
of peace. Yes, of peace. The other
day, near this city, aud not only once,
but several times, he walked among
the graves of the dead, and when he
passed along, he looked at the head
boards, and the names of soldiers from
New York, Indiana, and other State
regiments of the Federal army. There
they sleep in peace, the greensward
growing upon theirgrayes. They were
Federal soldiers. He looked next on
the other side, aud what did he seer
"a. B., rebel soldier, belonging TO such
a'regitnent." The strife had ended; tue
contest closed; there was peace. When
they were on The field engaged in strife,
it was war. Now they sleep in alter
nate graves, while IL is peace. lap
pIause.l Let peace do its work He
trusted our country and government
would be blessed with peace, and
that confidence and respect for one an
other everywhere would be restored
(applause)-and that those warning and
disturbing elements, which separated
and divided US in the past, may pass
away. He trusted, too, that the asylum
which it was proposed to este blish
might be extensive enough TO bless all
ornhans We should not INQUIRE what
made them orphans. Charity doth not
thus behave. They are human beings,
and deserve your protection, kindness
and instruction. The President thank
ed the ladies and gentlemen for the
compliment of inviting him to be pres
ent, He should not have liked to come
as an intruder; but in an association of
this kind, he was not sure that he would
be an intruder. This was a cause in
which he had II large amount of stock
and interest. Laughter.l He knew
how to appreciate and admire the efforts
and motives of the friends of organi-
cations OF this kind: and, so far as in
him lay, physically, mentally, peeuni-
arily, and intellectually, he would give
this great work his aid. [Applause.l 1t
was not his purpose 10 make any allu-
sion to politics or the condition of the
country. But as this asylum had been
commenced at the seat of the general
government, at the metropolis of the
nation, he trusted it would take the
character of a national orphan asylum.
If it is a misfortune to be an orphan,
it ought to be our pride as il is our duty
to care for hitn. He wished a great
national church could be provided, not
by law, but by the consent of the Amer
lean people; so that in this church there
could be a pew for every orphan, and
pew for every loyal man from every