Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-04-21

wait upon him; and a~ccoFdin2iy 8 COM
mittee was appointed % draft q suitable
address expressive &C the feelings OF the
Association, to be presented Il the ex-
President.
A special meeting Of the Association
was held on the EVENING" Of the I7th inst
and the address prepared by the Com
mittee, was read 10 the Association,
which was unanimously adopted; after
which the Association, Cn motion, pro
ceeded to the Overtcu Hotel, and was
received by Mr. Johnson in one Of the
peTlOTs Of the hotel, zhen the following
address was read By John League, Esq =,
President OF the Association
ADDRESS.
IGNORED Sir: We, the President and
members Of the Irish Literary Associa-
ton, come, through your kind permis-
sion, to express to you, in however fee.
8 bic manner, chr sentiments Of respect
and gratitude end we rej5ics that this
opportunity is given US OF expressing
with u lips feelings that have long
Oiled our hearts.
We do not come hare as representing
any political clique OF psrty, but we
come as ITisnmen and American citizens
20 show, SO far IS we are able, cur aDpre-
citation Of your rare worth and sp0tless
integrity. We come TO render homage
to a long life OF honorable and successful
public services life aver devoted to the
purest patriotism, and the PRONUNCIATION
and establishment of tbs sOuadess pOliti-
cal principles.
We come, in III humble, unpretend-
ing way, TO sly to you nov much We ad
mire you, and how sincerely we thank
you for your generous efforts IN the cause
Of freedom and justice.
We do not forget the noble stand you
took ia behalf during the memoirs
ole years Of 1856, when the enemies Of
civil and religious liberty attempted 80
d~isfraDe5ise and prCseTibs Us on account
OF creed sDd nationality. You, sir, met
those proscTiptionists ard snti-repUbli
es1 fanatics, and after many 3 hard
fought battle you finally conquered the
enemy, maintained the principles Of the
Constitution, ard tas Tig1t5 OF your fell
low citizens, both native and aiOpted-
for which y0u are and yer will be emit
lied to cur gratitude.
Sir, We do not forget, but on the con-
traTy, the remembrance OF thst manly
and generous acc is still fresh in our
minds, aud il shsll live glowing and
'AN1A a. 81 t-E AI4A4 Va Jul GQAA~
frsus' children to the rsnotest genera-
ton.
Would that another Andrew Johnson
would now sppear sud 90 alike success
fol 10 removing the political disabilities
under which millions OF cur native 5or1
fellOw-eitizsGs laUOr.
Yes, We desire that they shall enj9y
that liberty for tbs sake OF which We
the homes Of our fathers, and
in search OF which We eagerly sought
these ~h0spits5ie shores.
But it is IS American eitizsns,
however, that We would testify to ysu
our esteem and affection. Tdis is
now Our country, and we necessarily
take a deep interest in is preservation
and prosperity, henos We could not but
regard with anxiety the course Of events
the last four years.
The Constitution, the ae gis Of civil and
religious liberty, that MODEST charter OF
rational freedom eve yet devised by
man, was threatened and Ia too masy
cases ignored by a reckless majority.
The frisndI OF law aad order through
out the country were apprehsnsivs that
the fabric of this great Republic, reared
by the wisdom OF sages, ana esmsnted
by the blood OF heroes, was in imminent
peril, and they took counsel together
with grave concern to see if there was
one voice still powerful enough to BE-
heard throughout the length and breadth
of the land, raised il its dsfslse-they
around to see l. Our times could
Bring forth another Patrick Henry
who would stem the torrent OF
usurpatio1, and who would Ct any
sacrifice vindiease tins liberties Of
tue people. In you they j0yfuly bs-
hold a worthy successor OF that noble
and your voice and your words
3heersd tdsm with the hope that the
lays OF the Republic would be may and
Your intrepid and fearless conduct as
Chief Magistrate Of this great cuuatry
las INST with our hearty approval, sad
is more especially to signify this that
We come into your presence.
Partisan hare and Jealousy may en-
ieavOr to obscure the Iuster Of your ac-
ions, but they might as well try to hide
he splendor of the n~oOn-day sun for the
.eeOrd OF your life will form a OF the
brightest pages Of history, and posterity,
are convinced, will pronounce the
hama of Andrew johnson With the same
emotion that the venerated names OF
Washington, Jefferson and Lafayette
ire nov spoken.
Accept then, hOnored Sir, the humble
OF cur admiration, respect and
gratitude, and may Heaven preserve to
IL aud to the land Of adoption and
owe, q life so useful aHd honorable IS
yours.
Mr.. JoHNsON's SPEECH.
AS Mr.. League ceased Dir. Johnson re.
that not being aware Of the con
or nature Of the address before
land he was not prepared to give a suit
.ble and heightened reply, except to offer
his sincere thanks, and 70 express his
gratitude to the Association for their
complimentary address. and the cordial
language in which it was coueaed, and
n q conversational way to refer briefly
o a few considerations referred to ia the
address,.
10 Congress in 1916, ten years prior to
he time mentioned in your address, as
ne period when / opposed the Know
Nothing party Iopposed the same hos
lie and intolers1t spirit which was in
Existence ut that period.
In assuming the altitude I then took,
acted contrary to my interest, but act
Oh prineipia and guided by integrity,
sought net self-interest, bat only the
Dslntainanee of right and constitutional
.bsrty and in the year 1855 when the
pirit OF direct opposition 10 religious lib
rty was rampant, I did, as you assert in
our address, oppose it with all my
night. It would have been far easier to
ave gone the ether way, and decidedly
aors advantageous to me. My course
Tss repIete with difficulties, and it was
light matter to contend against the
vii and malignant combination that
hen existed ia so powerful 2 form. II
further representing s Congressional
district in which there we're very few
oreiQn born citizens to whom I could
ook for sympathy or support, and
Consequently 1 could have no mo-
on the occasion except 3 love of
roe Liberty. And it strikes me with Pc
u.iar force that the same issues are
as prominently before as as they
ave been ct that period; that the same
emper, the same malignity, and the
anne unchristian spirit are in existence
{ the present day, only mOrs inteE-
FENIANISM,
With regard to my action in connee-
ion with Fenianism, there has been
cry considerable misunderstanding;