Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-04-06
YOUR ATTENTION
IF YOU PLEASE"
lEx-President johnson
| in Knoxville.
Great Outpouring of the
People.
An Enthusiastic Wei
come.
A GkkAI SPEEUH Fun
THE TIMES.
vindication of His Course
Indictment of a Usurping
Congress,
: Moses Talks to the
Black Man.
A Few Evidences of
Loyalty.
: Moses Talks to the
Black Man.
A Few Evidences of
Loyalty.

The Knoxville Press and Herald of
Sunday has the following report of the
reception Of President johnson in that
city on Saturday
For days past, the chief topic Of con-
yersatiOn on the streets of Knoxville and
in all the country around was the ex-
pected arrival OF Andrew johnson, Our
Andy" as he is Familiarity called by his
home friends and acquaintance. The
latter constitute nearly all the able bodied
white men of East Tennessee, who, not
outstanding some Of them have been
lately led by designing knaVes to thought
lessly speak iii of him, yet his pi essence
IN their midst has renewed tho feeling
OF proprietary interest which all the cits
liens of this end of the State feel in
ANDY johnson"
At an early hour the friends OF ex-
President Johnson gathered into Knox
vile from the country for scores of miles
around the city. Oh foot and on horse
back, in wagons and on railroad trains,
the sturdy yeomanry Of East Tennessee
swal m ID into the city to greet again, af,
ter eight years absence, the friend Of
the people and the supporter of the Fed
eral constitution.
Gay street was indeed gay with the nu-
merous ladies, who taking advantage of
the pleasant weather, turned out en-
mdsse to add their smile to the APPROX
ing cheers of their husbands, sons and
brothers. The windows of the buildings
on both sides Of the street we're graeed
with the beauty of the city, in anxious
expectancy Of the ex-President, saluting
him as he passed by in barouche. with
every manifestation Of delight, to which
Mr.. Johnson responded.
At ii o'clock A. NJ, the special train
from GreenYille arrived at the depot. As
Mr. johnson alighted he was received
with deafening cheers by the thousands
who stood in expectant waiting. Mr.,
johnson, accompanied by Hon 7. A. K
Nelson and Col John NJ. Fleming Of the
Press and Herald, were escorted to
barouche in waiting, and preceded by
the Knoxville brass band, and followed
by the multitude, proceeded down Gay
street to the Lamar House. Aftera few
minutes Mr.. johnson, with number of
friends, took seats on the platform
erected in front of he hotel.
Hon Thomas A. r. Nelson introduced
the ex>President in lengthy and elo-
quent reference to the career of Mr..
Johnson, and especially of his theory Of
the rebellion and mode Of treating it.
Mr.. Johnson then came forward and
spoke substantially as follows:
FELLow-CITIzENs In appearing before
you to>day, after receiving the cordial
welcome that have, | confess, that if |
were disposed to make speech, discuss
sing the questions that have agitated and
divided the public mind, l should feel
myself almost ineapacitated to do so.
But in reply to- your cordial Invitation
and warm welcome that have been ex-
tended to me on this occasion, through
your hOnOred representative, do | ask
you to accept my sincere thanks. 1t is
peculiarly gratifying to me to be well
coined to this portion of the State by my
fellow citizens, after what has recently
transpired, and while was the Execu-
tive of the United States. In other days
and in other times we had our differences
and our conflicts as Wings and Demos
Gratis, and sometimes these differences
| were indicated by other names. Bot
how pleasing and gratifying to meet
here, on common ground with q common
| platform The time has been when we
met as partisans and when we warmly
commended; but when the canvass was
| over and the result was declared, we met
as friends and laid aside our weapons.
But things do not seem 80 now. You
remember, as has been alluded to to-day,
that, near this very stand, now eight
years ago, your honored representative
and myself stood here, battling for the
constitution of these States. But when
we were in contest as partisans, contend =
ing as Wings and as Democrats, what
were the differences that divided us2
Sometimes they were questions of ex-
principles. But in those days and times,
however We might have differed on mi .
nor matters.ofpOlicy, there was one thing
in which we allagreed and that was in re-
ference to constitutional government. We
agree that there could be no free repub-
lican government without written cons
stitution and constitutional government,
The only difference then, was on the one
hand, some commended for a strict con-
struction fer the letter CT the constitu~
ton, and on the other, more liberal
construction was held But both sides,
and all parties agreed upon constitu-
tional government as the only one prac-
ticabl or SAFE
How now does the matter stand?
care not by what name you call parties
Principle is'the thing. The great matter
is the principle which lies at the founda'
ton of the government And if the time
has ever been, or ever shall come in the
history of our country, when it is neees
, saTy to examine into those principles
J | which lie at the foundation of thr goV~
eminent, that time is now
,, But we all agreed in those former
times, on the great fundamental princi
pie of constitutional government that al
should abide by. These principles you
representative and myself agreed oil
eight years ago; when he stood by me
and | stood by him, amid perils and me
mace and defended them, as he has tol,
= you. | have been standing there eve
d since. expect to stand there. am n
y candidate for anything ! have risel
and gone the rounds of Office, from tn,
highest to the lowest There is almos
no position in the government whie
. could be conferred by the votes of tn
: people, but what / have had cOnferre
l M 10 6 ,