Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-06-07
Arrival of the President and His At
tendants at Raleigh.
HIS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, &C., &c.
RALEIGH, N. c., June 3-P. III.

Best, Comptroller Burgin, United States Marshal
Goodloe and also, by a committee OF the City
Council.
Mr., Battle addressing the President, said:-Mr
President in behalf of the people of North Caro-
lima it is my grateful province to welcome you to
our State. Born and raised to manhood on ou1
soil YOU forty years ago. left our borders to bat
lie with the difficulties and strive for the rewards
of the great West. After being crowned with
the most distinguished honors by Tennessee, the
daughter of North Carolina, you have by the aid
of the people of the United States reached the
highest point to which human ambition at
tain. We believe that you have, with singular in
trepidity, used the powers Of your great Office
with sinCel e desire to heal the wounds and ad-
vance the prosperity Of our common country.
On this your return 10 revisit the scenes OF your
early days we extend to you our cordial greeting
as our President, our feilow-ctiZen and our
friend.
The President reped--I have no language ade-
QTate to express my feelings and emotions on this
occasion. / shall not recur to the scenes of
nv early life, for it has not been my intention
desire to make any general remarks on this tour
but simply tc acknowledge and express my sin
cere thanks for the manifestations of the respect
Of my fellow-ctizens l acknowledge to you, sir,
and to those whom you represent my gratitude
for the welcome which you have thus given TO me.
must leave you and others to infer what ought
to have said if / had ventured upon full reply to
THAT you have said. Again, gentlemen. sincere
" and heartily thank yoE.
Mr.. Battle then said Ir. Secretary OF State
and Mr. Post Master General am likewise COM
missioned to offer You a cordial welcome to
state. We earnestly hope that IN your proglesa
you will pass your time agreeabiy, and on your
return will retain pleasant Impressions Of our peO
Fle and State.
Secretary Seward replied can certainly say,
for myself, for do not undertake to speak for Mr..
Post Master General Randall, that here, at the
threshold Of North CoroIina find myself under
2 peculiar embarrassment. find the Secretary
0fState OF the United States oyershadowed by the
Secretary of State of North Carolina This pro
luced laughter in the crowd, owing to the marked
contrast III the weight and statue between the two
Secretaries, the North Carolina Secretary being
six feet fouc inches and half high, and heavy in
proportion. Mr.. Seward resumed, hope my re-
spected and esteemed associate W Ill not meet with
& similar embarrassment while travelling through
this State come here with the President, with
pride and satisfaction this visit to his native
State pride and satisfaction because he has hon
ored me with his confidence in his administration,
and satisfied because l can bear testimony before
the people among whom he was born, as always
cheerfGIIy do before the people Of my own native
State the people OF common country and the
g. world that his only objects are restoration OF
peace, harmony and prosperity throughout the
Union: satisfied still more because believe his con-
duet of public affairs has been, IL all respects, not
only patriotic but wise and benevolent. THANK you
for this cordial welcome, in the name of the au-
thOrities Of North Carolina All the world know
that we, of tho National administration, hold all
the Federal States closely within their proper
stitutiona spheres, and it becomes to show, IS
trust We shall while remain here, respect for
the proper rights of North Carolina with loyalty
and submission to the constituted authorities Of
this ancient and hOnOred commonwealth.
Post Master Gen Randall remarked, also re-
turn my thanks, the only reason suppose, an
not overshadowed is become there is but one Post
Master General. Like my FRIEND the Secre-
tary OF State [ also have much pride
in visiting North Carolina proud because
come to visit the birth place of the honored
President of this great nation; proud, becaue the
Office of President is higher than any place occu
ped by any potentate Of the old world, and be-
cause all may see the most prominent man who
represents the power and institutions Of the PEG |
pie and because he, after the tribuation thrOu Il |
which We have passed, has an earnest hope that |
prosperity may III all it's fullness follow the peace
which now prevails throughout the land, and that |
may in all respects be united people, speak |
ing with one voice, and that voice for the SlCr! |
and perpetuity Of the nation. l know this is the |
feeling which animates the President, as well as
the great mass of the american people, th"irhOpe
and prayer being that we may have one body, and
that sound one, one faith, and that stern one
for the glory OF the republic.
The ceremonies having closed, the party re
sumed their journey. At the several stopping
places on the way to Ealeigh many persons, white
and black, approachei the car to shake han s |
with the President and converse with him; among |
the incidents, an old negro woman rushing throug |
the crowd at Warren depot, selling the Presidents
hand exclaimed, " Bress de Lord, Pse been pray
ing night and day f. dis day to come round, DAT |
[ might see de President" genuine black man |
came up and introduced himself as Cesar John
son, saying Oats good name" The President
pleasantly replied, YES I think 80, it will not
digrace you if you do not disgrace it,
The party arrived at quarter past four O'Clock; |
large crowd in waiting the President was cheer
ed on landing. Generals SickIes, Burns and Miles |
were at the depot. Repeated cheers were given |
in honor of the President. Mayor Haywood ad- |
dressed the President as follows: " Allow me- sir, |
in behalf Of the City Council and citizens general
~, to tender to You cordial welcome to the hos
FATALITIES of the city of Raleigh. I trust sir the
visit you now make to your native State and CITY,
after an absence of many years, may be as agree
able to yourself and friends who accompany you,
as I know it will be pleasing to our people. Many
Of the friends and associates of your youthful
days have passed away, but there are still some
remaining who will be delighted to honor one who
has by his own exertions assembled the ladder of
fame, step by step, to its topmost round, the
proud and honorable position of President of the
United States of America. The President re- |
sponded, by remarking it would be affectation in
him were he to say he was Indifferent or insensi-
Die to this manifestation. He could not prove
false to his nature manhood such welcome
as this from those who had known him first and
longest on his return to his native city, high
~ appreciated He had nothing further to say,
than to tender to the Mayor and those whom he
represented, his thanks for this cordial welcome.
The procession was then formed-the Pres-
dent being accompanied By military escort. He
was cheered as he passed thr0uob the rrinciral