The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-06-12
Speech of President Johnson, at
RALEIGH. n. c..

FfesldenG Johnson, on his ARRIVAL at
Raleigh, North Carolina, was introduced
by Gov. Worth, to large audience, who
greeted the President with applause, to
which he responded as follows:
SIR: Permit me, through you, to tender
those here present, and the people OF the
State Of N orth Carolina, my sincere thanks
for the welcome rendered me on my re-
turn to my native town. confess that
under the circumstances, and in view Of
the demonstrations which have been mado
since reached Raleigh, as we'll as on the
way, am inspired with emotions which
language is wholly inadequate to express
here in the language of another, and it is
not worth while to attempt to improve
upon it here i'll the city of Raleigh, where
my infant eye first saw the light Of Heav-
en-. Here are the scenes of my childhood;
here is everything to bind man to his fel-
low. and to associate him with surround
ing objects; here is where the tendrils of
the heart had taken firm hold upon eve
rything to which it is attached.
In making my entrance into tho city
to-day, my mind involuntarly wandered
back to the time when i left her streets u
pcnniess and inexperienced boy, to make
my way in the world-[applause] when,
looking back forty-onc years ago, and on
returning here to-day, / begin to enquire,
where are those left behind, and, in the
language Of poetry itself: the friends of
my Childhood, where arc they? Echo
answers where? Some have cmigratcd
and gone to other lands; some have COM
piled with the incXorable and irresistible
call, and have passed to that undiscovered
country from whose bourne no traveller
returns. l again ask, the friends of my
childhood, where are they? Where are
the Harwoods, Hunters and Lanes?
Where are the Pearces, the Registers, the
Smiths and Joneses? Where is the long
list of men who lived at that day, and
who commanded respect for constancy of
principle? Applausc.] Under these cir
cumstances could I feel Indifferent? [
would be false to my nature if forgot
YOU. And not to indulge in self-adulation,
I car. say feel proud of the dcmonstra-
tions in my honor by the citizens of my
native town.
Who never TO himself hath said
This is my own, my native land?'
1Applausc.1 This is not the time or occa-
sion to discuss the political issues which
disturb the public mind; but as allusion
has been made to my first going out from
among you, may say that ever since l
formed an opinion as to the fundamental
principles OF the Government, have adj
hcred to them and to the Constitution,
the Union and the Flag of my country.
[Applause:]
and from the time became connected
with politics, laid down as my rule
conscientious performance OF duty, and
adopted the Constitution Of my country
as my guide (Applause.) And by these,
whctherin prosperity or oradvcrsity, | have
always been guided and controlled; and
come veal or woe, in high places or low
places, with the Constitution rs my guide,
with my hand laid on the altar OF my
country, L will leave these great prnci-
pies for those who are to follow. (Ap-
plause.)
One Of my leading tcnets has been
the prosperity OF the great mass OF the
people, holding that as all persons, with
out regard to condition or color, should
be esteemed according to intrinsic merit
or worth, leaving each to rise on his own
merit, courage and energy. Let this be
the standard, so that to every one may
be assigned his true position | trust and
hope, instead of discussing party issues,
creating factions between North South,
East and West, that all will exert them
selves to the restoration Of the Union OF
these States, so that the flag may float
over a united and prosperous people,
(Applausc) Let us, my friends, repair
the breecchcs made by the war, and re-
store the Union. This being accomplish
ed, we may then make such issues rs the
public prosperity and safety may demand
Let us ctflcc from our minds the memo
rics of the past; leoo us pour oil on the
troubled waters, and restore peace to The
States. This has been my constant OBJ
lcct But let this pass. [ simply came
to this place in compliance with your III
vitation to participate in another ccrc-
mony, to confer an honor upon the memo
ry of one who was, q few years ago. in
your midst. This has not cmanatcd, rs |
understand, from any particular quarter
or family.
One word to you, young men. There
is much said us to education, advantages,
ETC., but if any of you wish to succeed, or,
in common phrase, make yourself men.
YOU will have to do SO through your own
cxcrtions. know some arc familiar with
the hardships and fiery trials through
which I have passed, during the time that
has elapsed since left you. 1t is not for
me to say whether | have succeeded or
not. Let that be as it may. My race Is
nearly run. | am not an aspirins, u, ioi
anything, and the way is open p9io, loi a'l,m ~