The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-03-26
Andrew johnson as Home

We have been getting Mr.. Johnson's speech
to his neighbors at Greenville, Tennessee, upon
his return to that place, by piecsmeal These
extracts have done the ex-President injustice.
His remarks on that occasion are now printed
in full, and are found to contain many things
which the world would not willingly let die.
They zsha 4eTl M johnson to be - oh;aer
remarkable in this, that the Isatires, carica
lures, squibs and puns of the last four years
have not been able to cure him of rehearsing
the following statement which he faithfully
gave his Gresnville neighbors, as he has all the
world beside: VI
After receiving me as you have, am not
qualified to give expression to my feelings;
and might refer to the tune just played 0y
the band, and say that there is no place like
home" came to this town 1925, a poor boy
and stranger. In your midst pitched my
tent and leaned upon you for succor and sup
friends, and step by step have gone through
what / have, and there is not a parallel in
history. You elevated me to office, and, in
the language OF Mr.. Nelson, have never been
ashamed of my origin and my professions, for
it is merit and worth that makes the man. In
early life 1 was elected Alderman: then May
or; then to the Legislature; then to the State
Senate; then AN elector- for President and
Vice-President. I was then in Congress for
several years; then Governor of the State for
years. After which was elected to the Uni
ted States Senate, and was there when the
war broke out. During the war was made
Military Governor. l was then elected Vice
President of the United States and upon the
death of MI Lincoln, 1 became by an inscrut-
able Providence President of this great ma
ton. 1t is now for the country to Judge of
my action, When In the midst of
faction and might say dia6olisna, stood
for hn naf fVVfi of ,,vfr
after an absence of eight years, I am now in
your midst to receive this welcome. After
having filed all the positions in the gift of the
people, can, in the language of Samuel of old
say Whose ass have taken, and whose OF
have taken, or from whose hand have I re-
ceived bride to blind mine eyes WITH" &C.
Would to God that others could say the same
1 wish that others could say that they have
not violated the Constitution. And now let
me say, and it is no spirit of egotism can say
to this people that have not violated the con-
fdenee of the people. Whom have betrayed?
The very best energies of my life have been de-
voted for the good Of the people, and under all
circumstances I have been able to bear up un-
der the anathemas of my enemies. I now
feel more pride and honor in stepping into
private life than being inaugurated again
President over the ruins Of violated Consti-
tuition. Let me say to you again, that when
vice prevails, would rather be private citi-
zen.
OF course the next point in Mr.. Johnson's
harangue was the stereotyped arraignment of
Congress with which the country is tolerably
familiar. After disposing of Congress in the
usual way he struck sentimental vein that
has no parallel except in his apostrophe to the
diplomatic corps on the 4th of March 1866.
He said: 81 have come back TO live here
among you the remainder of my life, and if it
is the will Of Providence to die and be buried
here Will you not let an old man, after he
has borne the burden of his country's good,
come back and live with you the remainder of
his days? Are there any that will deny him
little earth to lay away his body? Is there
one here so unkind that would deny me lit
tie resting place, when l shall have passed
from the land of defamation and persecution"
The correspondent who reports Mr.. John
sons speech gives the superauous information
that there were more drunken men in town
to-day than have been here for years There
were several fights and arrests made, and many
were imprisoned"