The Portland daily press., 1867-11-14
He is Still Hopeful of ''My Policy.
WAsnINGroN. Nov. 13.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.
The proposed serenade to the President came
of this evening. The procession formed az the
headquarters of the Army and Navy Union,
and was composed of delegations aud ass0eia-
tions including the johnson clubs OF Wash
ington and Georgetown, with large number
of soldiers and sailors, and proceeded to the
White House. There We're three bands of
music A broom, about four feet long and
nearly as broad, was Significantly exhibited
On the arrival of the procession at the Eyecu-
tive Mansion Presidential salute was fired
and also salute OF 100 guns The dense mass
OF spectators repeatedly called for and cheered
the President. The committee escorted the
President to the front of the mansion, where
he was greeted with repeated cheers Col
O'Bierne, chairman of the committee, tsen adj
dressed the Presdentin brief congratulatory,
complimentary and hopeful strain, to which he
replied as follows:
Fetiolc-citizenS 1T is not my intention TO
make an address ON this occasion, but simply
to tender you my thanks for this demonstration,
a demonstration approaching what your fellow
citizens have declared in the recent elections
in various States of the Union They will APP
preciate your response TO what they have done
and send back greeting that the union of the
State must he maintained according TO the
original design OF our fathers. | confess am
gsatiiied, but not surprised, at the result Of the
recent elections. L have always had an I'M
doubling confidence ia the people. They may
sometimes be msled by a living spirit in the
Tie mouths OF I1elf prOpuetS, Dub never per
verted, and in the end they are always right
In the gloomiest hours through which L have
passed, and many of them God knows have
been dark enough, when our Constitution was
in the utmost peril, when our free institutions
were assailed by formidable force, and our
great republic seemed totterng 10 its fall. and
when felt how vain were my efforts alone to
preserve these institutions in their integrity
and to save the republic from ruin was still
hopeful. ] had still an abiding confidence in
the npOnle and felt assured that thew in their
might would come to the rescue. They have
come, and, thank God, they have come, and
our republic yet may be saved. 1t was but the
other day that | officially declared that the
remedy for the present unhappy condition OF
the country must come from the people them
selves. They know what that remedy is and
how it is to be applied ut the present time.
They cannot, according to the forms of the
Constitution, repeal obnoxious laws. They
cannot remove or control this military despot-
ism. The remedy is, nevertheless in their
hands, and is a sure one il not controlled by
fraud, overawed by arbitrary power or from
apathy ON their part, too long delayed.
With abiding confidence in THEN. patriotism,
wisdom and integrity, | am still hopeful that
in the end the rod OF despotism will be broken,
the armed heel of power lifted from the necks
OF the people, and the principles OF violated
Constitution preserved. The people have spoh
en- in a manner not to be misunderstood
Thank God that they have spoken, for it is
upon their intelligence and their integrity that
l have always relied and still rely. The Con-
stitution of the country, which was imperilled,
had recently been before them for considera-
ton, and it has had new life and yigor impart-
ed TO it from its original source, the people. 1t
comes back to us with renewed strength and
yigor; let it now be translated high up in-the
Heavens, written in letters of living light, as
the symbol of liberty, union, Justice, magnan-
unity and fraternity.
The President was cheered during the deliv-
ry of this speech, and also at its conclusion
and retired from the stand amid repeated
calls were made for Attorney General Stan
berry. He was on the premises but did not
appear TO make speech.