Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-06-13

DEDICATION OF ETHE MONUMENT ERECTED
IN MEMORY OF THE PRESIDENTS FATHER.

DEDICATION OF 1.-THE MONUMENT ERECTED
IN MEMORY OF THE PRESIDENTS FATHER.
President Johnson, accompanied by
Secretary Seward, Postmaster General
Randall and others of his party, was es-
COrted to the capitol at Raleigh at 10
o'clock Tuesday morning, by Governor
Worth, Mai. Gen. SiCkles and staff and a
number Of the prominent citizens and
civilians, including the mayor Of the
city. The reception took place in the
hall Of the assembly, aud the visitors,
after sauting the President, were sew
orally introduced to the other officials.
The ceremonies at the city cemetery in
connection with the dedication Of the
monument erected to the memory of the
father Of the President, commenced at
noon. The monument is a single shaft
Of red limestone, ten feet high, with an
ornamental cap. 1t bears the following
inscription:
In memory OF Jacob Johnson, an honest man,
beloved and respected by all who knew him.
Born -; died January, 1912, from disease
caused by an over effort in saving the life of his
friend.
After the preliminary religious exer-
cises D. L, Swain, LII. D., President Of
the State University, delivered an ad-
dress, in which he traced the history Of
the city Of Raleigh, and in this connec-
ton alluded to Jacob Johnson, who by
a deed of noble daring saved from drown
ing Henderson and Callum, at the ulti-
mate cost Of his own life, passing away
eventually martyr to humanity.
The orator among other things alluded
to the fact that three natives of the
State Of North Carolina, Jackson, Polk
and Johnson, had passed from obseCurity
and poverty in North Carolina to COM
parative OpulenCe and eminenCe in Ten
nessee and thence TO the highest point
of honor in the Union and the world.
DR.. Swain concluded his address as fol-
lows "Of the history Of the son of
Jacob Johnson, who commenced life
under such comparatively unfavOrable
auspices, this is not the time to speak.
The companion Of his bOyho0d, Leoni-
das Polk, whose character | have at
tempted to portray, has passed the rOr.
tails of the grave. The President of the
United States is before you, scarcely
more time-worn than the lieutenant
general seemed at our last interview.
His career in life thus far, is one Of the
most remarkable in any age or nation.
His country and the world have decided
between the two parties which divided
North Carolina aad the South that he
who achieved success, if not pure and
patriotic, was as brave, as disnterested
and wiser than his Compeer. The monu-
ments Of the sires are before you. The
crossed swords may be suspended as
mement0 of past and q warning for the
future. The blood Of the noble heroes
on both sides Of the conflict will soon
form union in the veins of the descend
ants OF those who met in deadly strife
on many well fought fields. The most
patriotic hearts North and South, East
and West already beat in unison. The
time has arrived when patriotism, not
less than Christianity, requires forgive
ness Of all that we cannot forget. Let
the crossed swords on this monument
surmounted by the stars and stripes,
form an appropriate memorial assOcia-
| ton for the confederate and Union dead
| and no strife be engendered above their
| graves, but patriotic and generous emu
lation to be first and foremost to promote
harmony and goodwill aud to restore
| the Union, and that Union the perfect
one designed by the constitution of our
! common country"
The ceremonies were closed with 8
benedicuon, when two young coored
girls came forward and tenderly laid
punches Of the choicest flowers on the
| grave.
In the afternoon the President and
party attended the state dinner at the
Tarboro house. No toasts were drank
or speeches made. The President in
company with Messrs. Seward, Randall
and others, visited the State Charitable
Institutions in the vicinity of Raleigh.
The Presidential party left Raleigh
Wednesday morning to attend the COM
| mencement exercises at the State Uni