Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-03-16
JOHNSON BALTIMORE.
The Toast TO the Ex-Presidenttand HIS
" speech i'm Response.

| The Toast TO the Ex-Presidenatand HIS
~ speech i'm Response.
The following is the toast to President
johnson at the banquet given him In
Baltimore on the 1lth instant |:
Our Guest The patriot statesman,
Andrew johnson. As President of the
United States the bulwark ofequal rights,
the champion of the only true and per-
| manent Union of these States, aud the
defender and martyr Of the constitution.
History will yindicate his fame, and re-
cord an impeachment of his impeachers,
and verdict of guilty" as to them.
Baltimore, standing at the gate OF the
capitol, in front Of the grand procession
advancing to meet and welcome an Illus
trious citizen, in the name of that long
| line of admiring thousands who await bis
coming, bids him welcome to place IN
the hearts of great people fer whose
protection and happiness he barred his
breast to the shafts of calumny and for
| their sake hazarded all that is dear to the
man and the citizen. In his retirement
from the seat of the national government
in the full vigor Of his manly faculties,
stimulated by the applause Of all good
citizens, we look with great assurance to
his future efforts and influence for the
liberation OF the captive States OF the
Union, and the rescue of their now true
and faithful citizens from political slavery.
May his life and destiny ever be radiant
in the list of the long>lived American pa
triots, with the blessings Of the lovers of
the constitution and Union, which have
been the glory of American citizens.
The toast was received with much APP
plause, when Mr.. johnson responded as
follows
GENTLEMEN-In rising after the reso>
luton has been read and sentiments
thereon expressed, it is not for the pur>
pose of making an address, but simply
to return my thanks for the compliment.
have no speech to make relative to
public affairs but what has been already
expressed, and in rising now it is only to
tender my thanks. | am free to say
that during the last four years, in the
arduous struggle going on for constitu>
tional liberty, in its darkest hour, the
confidence and encouragement of the
State of Maryland has been an encour-
agement peculiarly sustaining in its char
acter, for when the crisis arrived, Mary
land seemed to be always standing for
the constitution and the Union. | repeat
my only purpose in rising is to return
thanks, but | will say, in retiring from
the most exalted position in the gift of
free people, and resuming the position of
a citizen, | feel more honored than |
would tomorrow in being President.
| feel more pride in being an American
citizen o-night than would in being in>
augurated President over violated cons
stilution. Yes, my deliVerence is the
greatest case of emancipation since the
rebellion. | stand free man, and would
rather be a free man than be President
and be a slave. The speech you have
made me to day and to night shall be
treasured up as long as one pulsation shall
be sent from my heart, and carried with
me. Accept my thanks, not as simple
utterances, but as the expressions OF a
heart overwhelming with thanks for
the kind reception you have given me.